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Easy Zesty Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and flavorful shrimp pasta dish with bright lemon and garlic, perfect for busy weeknights and ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 ounces of linguine and cook according to package instructions, usually 9-11 minutes for al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate.
  4. Lower heat to medium, add 2 tablespoons butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the skillet. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
  5. Add drained pasta and shrimp back into the skillet. Toss with chopped parsley and adjust salt and pepper to taste until pasta is glossy and coated with sauce.
  6. Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan and extra parsley if desired.

Notes

Dry shrimp before cooking to avoid steaming and ensure a nice sear. Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook shrimp in batches if needed. Add lemon juice at the end to keep flavor fresh. Save some pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. For dairy-free, skip butter or substitute with olive oil. Use gluten-free pasta for gluten-free diet.

Nutrition

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

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