Quick Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe
A bright, buttery, and quick shrimp pasta dish ready in under 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. The tang of fresh lemon combined with garlic butter creates a flavorful sauce that clings to tender pasta and perfectly cooked shrimp.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons), plus zest
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook gently, stirring, until fragrant and garlic is golden but not burnt, about 1-2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes if using.
- Stir in the juice and zest of one lemon. Let it bubble for about 30 seconds to marry the flavors.
- Add the drained pasta and cooked shrimp back into the skillet. Toss gently to coat everything in the lemon garlic butter sauce. Add reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time if the sauce needs loosening.
- Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and chopped fresh parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately with an extra sprinkle of parsley or lemon zest and a little cracked black pepper on top if desired.
Notes
Dry shrimp thoroughly before cooking to ensure a good sear and avoid steaming. Keep heat moderate when cooking garlic to prevent bitterness. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Multitask by prepping garlic and zesting lemon while pasta cooks. Adjust lemon juice to taste as some lemons vary in tartness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, easy dinner, 15 minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta, lemon pasta, garlic butter sauce