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Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy 15-minute meal featuring tender shrimp in a silky garlic butter cream sauce tossed with linguine or spaghetti. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe combines simple pantry staples for a comforting and indulgent dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine or spaghetti and cook according to package instructions, about 9–11 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and keep warm.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer, season with salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden, flip and cook 1-2 more minutes until shrimp curl and are firm but not rubbery. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer and add grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen.
  5. Add cooked pasta and shrimp back to skillet with sauce. Toss gently to coat evenly. Cook 1-2 minutes to heat through and combine flavors.
  6. Stir in fresh lemon juice and red pepper flakes if using. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
  7. Serve immediately, optionally garnish with extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to keep them tender. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce and help it cling to pasta. Use fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor. Cook shrimp in batches if pan is small to avoid steaming. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and heavy cream with coconut or cashew cream. Gluten-free pasta can be used as a substitute.

Nutrition

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

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