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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Easy 15-Minute Recipe)

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This quick garlic butter shrimp pasta is a 15-minute weeknight hero, featuring tender shrimp, nutty browned butter, and garlic in a silky sauce. It’s restaurant-quality flavor made simple with pantry-friendly ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or linguine
  • Salt, for pasta water
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
  • 1/3 cup reserved pasta water
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with water, add a generous tablespoon of salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, scoop out 1 cup of starchy pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta (do not rinse).
  3. While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound of shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  4. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once melted and shimmering, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer to a clean plate.
  5. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Let it melt and cook, swirling, until it foams and turns a light nutty brown (about 1-2 minutes). Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  6. Pour in 1/4 cup white wine (or chicken broth). Scrape up any browned bits from the pan. Let the liquid bubble and reduce by half (about 1 minute).
  7. Add fresh lemon juice and 1/3 cup reserved pasta water. Stir to combine.
  8. Add drained spaghetti and cooked shrimp to the skillet. Use tongs to toss everything together, coating the pasta and shrimp in the sauce. If sauce is too thick, add more pasta water until desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
  9. Serve immediately in warm bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry for best sear. Don’t crowd the pan. Reserve more pasta water than needed. Taste as you go. For dairy-free, use vegan butter or olive oil. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat in a skillet with a splash of water or broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, 15 minute pasta, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight dinner, shrimp scampi style

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