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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and easy 15-minute dinner featuring tender shrimp in a buttery garlic sauce tossed with spaghetti. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want something comforting yet fancy.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces spaghetti (regular or whole wheat)
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined medium-sized shrimp (thawed if frozen)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels to ensure proper searing.
  3. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once butter melts and foams, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to the skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes on one side until pink and opaque, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes. Avoid overcooking.
  5. Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with shrimp and garlic butter. Toss to coat evenly. Slowly add reserved pasta water starting with 1/4 cup, stirring to loosen the sauce. Add more if needed for a silky coating.
  6. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  7. Serve immediately, spooning extra buttery sauce on top.

Notes

Start cooking shrimp just before pasta finishes boiling to keep everything warm and fresh. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce and help it cling to noodles. Use medium heat to prevent butter burning and garlic bitterness. For gluten-free, substitute gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini. For dairy-free, use vegan butter or olive oil instead of butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, easy dinner, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner, shrimp recipe, garlic pasta

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