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Quick Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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A fast and flavorful shrimp pasta dish with a creamy lemon garlic butter sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or date nights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti pasta
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon (about 2 tablespoons juice)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden, then flip and cook another 1–2 minutes. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
  4. Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Pour in 1/2 cup heavy cream and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Add grated Parmesan cheese slowly, stirring until melted and sauce is smooth.
  6. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes (if using). Taste and adjust salt and pepper. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
  7. Add the drained pasta and cooked shrimp back into the skillet. Toss everything gently to coat evenly with the creamy lemon garlic butter sauce. Heat for a minute or two just to marry the flavors.
  8. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top and serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated. Add extra lemon juice at serving for brightness.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon garlic butter sauce, quick dinner, creamy pasta, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/quick-creamy-lemon-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-and-perfect/