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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Easy 15-Minute Dinner

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This quick garlic butter shrimp pasta is a simple, 15-minute weeknight dinner that tastes like restaurant food. With juicy shrimp, nutty garlic butter sauce, and perfectly coated pasta, it’s the ultimate comfort meal for busy nights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • Salt for pasta water (at least 1 tablespoon per 4 quarts)
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (21–25 count)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (flat-leaf preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
  • ¼ cup reserved pasta water
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes for spaghetti). Stir occasionally.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it stops foaming and just starts to turn golden.
  4. Add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes without moving them. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until pink and opaque. Remove to a plate.
  5. Reduce heat to low and add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant but not brown.
  6. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining pasta. Drain pasta well.
  7. Add drained pasta directly to the skillet with garlic butter. Toss with tongs to coat.
  8. Pour in ¼ cup reserved pasta water and toss again. Add more if needed for a glossy, silky sauce.
  9. Return shrimp to skillet along with any accumulated juices. Add parsley and lemon juice. Toss gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  10. Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

Don’t crowd the pan when cooking shrimp to ensure a golden sear. Watch garlic carefully—it burns in seconds. Reserve more pasta water than needed for a silky sauce. Use room temperature shrimp for better browning. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet with a splash of water.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick dinner, 15-minute meal, shrimp pasta, weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe

Find it online: https://lindabake.com/quick-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-easy-15-minute-dinner-2/