Garlic Shrimp Pasta
A quick and flavorful garlic shrimp pasta recipe ready in just 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners. This dish features tender shrimp in a garlicky, buttery sauce tossed with spaghetti or linguine.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225 g) spaghetti or linguine
- 1 pound (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 g) of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions, usually 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup (120 ml) of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound (450 g) of peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels.
- Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add 5 cloves minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until opaque and cooked through.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until melted. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lemon, stirring to combine.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with reserved pasta water (start with 1/4 cup or 60 ml). Toss everything together over low heat until pasta is coated and silky. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Plate the garlic shrimp pasta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Pat shrimp dry before cooking to get a nice sear and prevent steaming. Keep garlic moving in the pan to avoid burning. Use reserved pasta water to loosen and bind the sauce. Watch shrimp closely to avoid overcooking. Add more pasta water if sauce feels dry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic shrimp pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, shrimp pasta, weeknight meal, garlic pasta, seafood pasta