This Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is the ultimate weeknight dinner hero. In just 20 minutes, you can have a restaurant-quality meal on the table that’s bursting with flavor. Succulent shrimp are tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a hint of lemon and fresh parsley, then served over your favorite pasta. It’s simple, elegant, and incredibly satisfying.
We’re combining a few simple ingredients to create a truly spectacular dish. Forget complicated recipes with long ingredient lists; this is all about high-quality flavors that shine. Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or for a special occasion, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Why This Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is Your New Weeknight Favorite
When it comes to easy and delicious meals, this Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta checks all the boxes. It’s the kind of recipe you’ll turn to again and again. Here’s why you’ll absolutely love it:
- Incredibly Fast: From start to finish, this entire meal is ready in about 20 minutes. It’s perfect for those busy evenings when you need to get dinner on the table quickly.
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry staples like pasta, butter, garlic, and shrimp. No fancy or hard-to-find items required.
- Packed with Flavor: The sauce is a luxurious combination of savory butter, pungent garlic, bright lemon juice, and fresh parsley. It’s a classic pairing that never disappoints.
- Versatile and Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic base. Feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat, a splash of white wine for depth, or some cherry tomatoes for a pop of color. For another incredibly flavorful weeknight meal, try this one-pot Italian sausage orzo.
The Essential Ingredients
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity. Here are the key players that come together to create this amazing Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta.
- Shrimp: Large or jumbo shrimp work best here. Make sure they are peeled and deveined to save on prep time.
- Pasta: Long pasta like linguine, spaghetti, or angel hair is classic. However, feel free to use penne or fusilli if that’s what you have.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is the base of our sauce, providing a rich, creamy flavor.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a must for the best flavor. Don’t be shy with it!
- Lemon Juice: A splash of fresh lemon juice cuts through the richness of the butter and brightens up the entire dish.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley adds a touch of color and a clean, peppery flavor.
- Reserved Pasta Water: This starchy water is liquid gold! It helps to emulsify the sauce, making it silky smooth and helping it cling to the pasta.
How to Make Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide
This recipe is as easy as 1-2-3. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result every time.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about one cup of the starchy pasta water.
- Sauté the Shrimp: While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn it. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, flipping once, until they are pink and opaque. Season with salt and pepper.
- Create the Sauce: Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside. Pour the lemon juice into the skillet to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add about half a cup of the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer.
- Combine Everything: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and the fresh parsley. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated in the glorious garlic butter sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a little more of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
For a similarly easy and cheesy pasta dish, you might also enjoy this Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe.
Pro Tips for Restaurant-Quality Results
Want to take your garlic butter shrimp pasta to the next level? Here are a few expert tips.
- Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: Shrimp cook very quickly. As soon as they turn pink and curl into a “C” shape, they’re done. Overcooked shrimp become tough and rubbery.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor, use fresh garlic, fresh lemon juice, and fresh parsley. It makes a world of difference compared to the pre-packaged versions.
- Salt Your Pasta Water: Make sure your pasta water is well-salted (it should taste like the sea). This seasons the pasta from the inside out and is the foundation of a flavorful dish. For another seafood favorite, check out this brown sugar glazed salmon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. You can use frozen shrimp. For the best results, thaw them completely before cooking. You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or place them in a colander under cold running water for a few minutes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a skillet over low heat. You may need to add a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce and prevent it from drying out.
Shrimp cook very quickly, typically in just 2-3 minutes. The key is to watch them closely. As soon as they turn from translucent to opaque pink and curl into a ‘C’ shape, they are done. Immediately remove them from the heat to prevent them from becoming tough.
This recipe is very versatile! For extra flavor, you can add a splash of dry white wine to the pan after cooking the garlic, a handful of spinach or cherry tomatoes with the shrimp, or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese at the end.
Large or jumbo shrimp (about 16-20 per pound) are best for this pasta recipe as they remain juicy and have a satisfying bite. Make sure to use raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp to save time.
More Delicious Dinners
This Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a perfect example of how simple ingredients can create an elegant and satisfying meal. It’s a recipe that proves you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to enjoy incredible food. We hope you love it as much as we do! If you make it, please leave a comment below or share it on Pinterest!
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Ready in 20 Minutes!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add the shrimp in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Do not overcook. Remove shrimp from the skillet.
- Add the lemon juice to the skillet to deglaze, scraping up any flavorful bits. Pour in 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Return the shrimp to the skillet, then add the drained pasta and chopped parsley. Toss well to coat everything in the sauce. If needed, add more pasta water to reach the desired consistency. Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
