Description
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Succulent shrimp tossed in creamy garlic butter sauce, a comforting and quick crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) linguine or spaghetti
- 1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, divided
- 6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup (120ml) dry white wine or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of one lemon
- ¼ cup (15g) fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Pasta Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta but don’t rinse it—those surface starches will help the sauce adhere better to your Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta.
- Step 2: Prepare the Shrimp While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. When the butter starts to foam, add the shrimp in a single layer (work in batches if needed—overcrowding the pan will steam rather than sear them). Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm.
- Step 3: Create the Garlic Butter Sauce Reduce the heat to medium-low and add 3 more tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Your kitchen should now be filled with that intoxicating garlic aroma that makes this Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta so irresistible.
- Step 4: Deglaze and Reduce Pour in the white wine or broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Allow the liquid to simmer and reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes. This concentration of flavors forms the backbone of your sauce.
- Step 5: Combine and Finish Add the cooked pasta directly to the skillet along with the reserved shrimp. Toss gently to coat, adding splashes of reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, lemon juice, and zest. Toss until the butter melts and everything is well combined. Remove from heat and fold in the parsley and Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Your Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is ready to serve immediately while hot and at its most aromatic.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 480 calories per serving
- Sugar: 2 grams sugar
- Sodium: 560 mg sodium
- Fat: 23 grams total fat
- Saturated Fat: 13 grams saturated fat
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 grams unsaturated fat
- Trans Fat: 0 grams trans fat
- Carbohydrates: 39 grams total carbs
- Fiber: 2 grams fiber
- Protein: 27 grams protein
- Cholesterol: 250 mg cholesterol