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Easy 15-Minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Best Light Recipe

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A quick and delicious garlic butter shrimp pasta that comes together in just 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this light yet indulgent dish features tender shrimp, al dente pasta, and a silky garlic butter sauce without heavy cream.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • Salt for pasta water
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lemon, juiced and zested (about 2 tablespoons juice, 1 teaspoon zest)
  • ¼ cup reserved pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once melted and sizzling, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes without moving. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until pink and opaque. Transfer shrimp to a plate.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  5. Add lemon juice and zest to the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Let bubble for about 30 seconds.
  6. Add ¼ cup reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir to combine. Let simmer for about 1 minute until slightly thickened.
  7. Add drained pasta and cooked shrimp to the skillet. Use tongs to toss everything together for 1-2 minutes until pasta is well coated and shrimp is heated through. Add more pasta water if sauce is too thick.
  8. Remove from heat. Stir in fresh parsley and half the Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  9. Serve immediately with remaining Parmesan on top. A final squeeze of lemon over each plate brightens everything up.

Notes

Pat shrimp very dry for a good sear. Reserve a full cup of pasta water even if you think you won’t need it. Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp. Taste as you go and adjust lemon, salt, and pepper. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and skip Parmesan. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and reserve extra pasta water.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, 15 minute pasta, easy weeknight dinner, shrimp pasta recipe, light pasta, garlic butter sauce

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/easy-15-minute-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-best-light-recipe/