Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A quick and easy creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights, featuring a rich but light sauce and tender shrimp.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen shrimp)
- 8 ounces pasta of choice (fettuccine or linguine recommended)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Red pepper flakes, optional
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain the rest.
- While pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté gently for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and stir to combine. Let it simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Stir in ½ cup grated Parmesan until melted and smooth. Add lemon juice and a pinch of red pepper flakes if using. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Add the drained pasta and cooked shrimp back into the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until the sauce coats evenly and reaches desired consistency.
- Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm with extra Parmesan on the side.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry before cooking to avoid steaming. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Avoid burning garlic by cooking gently. Can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to lighten sauce. For dairy-free, use olive oil and coconut milk with nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: shrimp pasta, garlic butter shrimp, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal, comfort food