Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Linguine
A quick, creamy, and satisfying shrimp linguine recipe ready in 20 minutes, featuring a luscious garlic butter sauce and tender shrimp.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 8 ounces linguine pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Slowly pour in heavy cream, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle simmer, then stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add cooked linguine and shrimp back to skillet. Toss to coat evenly with sauce. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
- Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley if using. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
- Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan or parsley if desired.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; remove as soon as they turn pink and curl. Use low to medium heat when sautéing garlic to prevent burning. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Fresh lemon juice added at the end brightens the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 17
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: shrimp linguine, garlic butter shrimp, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal