Description
A quick and flavorful lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta that comes together in about 20-25 minutes, perfect for easy weeknight dinners with simple ingredients and big flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (about 1.5 tablespoons)
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: mince garlic, zest and juice lemon, chop parsley, and peel/devein shrimp if needed. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with a drizzle of olive oil and set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and cook in a single layer about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Return shrimp to skillet, add drained pasta, and toss together. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until sauce clings to pasta. Stir in lemon zest and chopped parsley. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, topped with extra parsley and freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; use fresh lemon zest and juice for best flavor; save pasta water to help sauce cling to pasta; cook garlic gently to prevent bitterness; butter is essential for rich sauce; can prep shrimp and sauce ahead but toss with freshly cooked pasta before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 450
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta, easy weeknight dinner, shrimp pasta, quick pasta recipe, garlic butter sauce, lemon pasta, seafood pasta