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Quick Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe Easy Zesty Lemon Sauce Dinner Idea

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A quick and easy garlic shrimp pasta with a zesty lemon sauce that comes together in under 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions (about 9-11 minutes) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound of peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, avoiding browning the garlic.
  4. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
  5. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in juice and zest of 1 large lemon. Pour in about 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and toss to combine until sauce is glossy and slightly thickened.
  6. Add drained pasta directly to the skillet. Toss everything together with tongs or a pasta fork, adding more reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce seems dry.
  7. Stir in chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or extra lemon juice if desired. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubberiness; cook until they curl into loose ‘C’ shapes and turn pink. Use reserved pasta water to create a silky sauce that clings to the pasta. If dairy-free, substitute butter with extra olive oil. Cook shrimp in batches if pan overcrowded. Fresh parsley adds color and aroma.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, lemon shrimp pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, zesty lemon sauce, seafood pasta

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