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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Easy 20-Minute Dinner

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This Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a 20-minute weeknight dinner that feels restaurant-quality. With a silky garlic butter sauce, tender shrimp, and simple pantry ingredients, it’s a family-friendly meal that’s ready faster than takeout.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 g) spaghetti or linguine
  • Salt (for pasta water)
  • 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound (450 g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with 4-5 quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Add a generous tablespoon of salt.
  2. Add the spaghetti or linguine to the boiling water and stir. Cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. While the pasta cooks, place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt completely.
  4. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the melted butter. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let the garlic brown.
  5. Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook undisturbed for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until pink and opaque. Remove from heat.
  6. Just before the pasta is done, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water using a liquid measuring cup.
  7. Drain the pasta in a colander. Do not rinse.
  8. Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the shrimp and garlic butter. Pour in ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water and the lemon juice. Use tongs to toss everything together for about 1 minute until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta. Add more pasta water if needed.
  9. Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the top and toss once more. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper if needed.
  10. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese on the side.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels before cooking to ensure proper browning. Work quickly once pasta is drained to prevent it from getting sticky. For a silkier sauce, add a tablespoon of cold butter at the end and toss off the heat. Reserve more pasta water than needed in case the sauce requires extra liquid.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, 20-minute dinner, easy weeknight pasta, shrimp spaghetti, garlic butter sauce

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