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Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe 15-Minute Homemade Dinner

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A quick and easy garlic butter shrimp pasta that delivers rich, buttery, and garlicky flavors in just 15 minutes. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner with simple ingredients and a silky sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Juice of half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ cup heavy cream (optional for creamier sauce)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat dry 1 pound of shrimp with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes if using. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on one side until pink, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until opaque and slightly curled.
  5. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the shrimp, sprinkle 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, and stir to combine.
  6. Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet. Pour in reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce and coat the noodles evenly. Toss everything together for 1-2 minutes so the pasta absorbs the buttery garlic flavor.
  7. If using, stir in ¼ cup heavy cream after adding lemon juice and let warm through before tossing pasta.
  8. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley or a lemon wedge if desired.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry before cooking to ensure proper searing and avoid steaming. Keep garlic moving in the pan on medium heat to prevent burning and bitterness. Use reserved pasta water gradually to achieve a silky sauce consistency. Avoid overcooking shrimp to keep them tender. For a creamier sauce, add heavy cream after lemon juice. Swap pasta for zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta for dietary adaptations.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, easy dinner, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta, garlic shrimp, buttery shrimp pasta

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