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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Easy 20-Minute Dinner

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This quick garlic butter shrimp pasta is ready in 20 minutes and uses simple pantry ingredients. It’s a weeknight dinner that even shrimp skeptics will love, with a nutty browned butter sauce that makes it feel restaurant-quality.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted and foaming, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer to a plate.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Let melt and bubble until nutty and light golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
  5. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Pour in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and lemon juice. Stir, scraping up browned bits. Simmer about 1 minute until slightly thickened.
  7. Add drained pasta and cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Add more pasta water if needed for a silky sauce.
  8. Remove from heat. Stir in fresh parsley. Adjust salt and pepper. Serve immediately with Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry for best sear. Brown butter until nutty but not burnt. Reserve more pasta water than needed. Cook pasta al dente. Work in batches if doubling.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, shrimp pasta, 20-minute recipe

Find it online: https://cravemila.com/quick-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-easy-20-minute-dinner/