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Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Best 20-Minute Dinner

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This easy garlic butter shrimp pasta comes together in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients like butter, garlic, shrimp, and pasta. It’s a quick, foolproof weeknight dinner that tastes like restaurant-quality comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225g) spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup (120ml) reserved pasta water
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup (15g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Use about 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water.
  2. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. About 2 minutes before the pasta is done, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Then drain the pasta in a colander—do not rinse it.
  3. While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season them lightly with salt and pepper.
  4. Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter stops foaming and starts to smell nutty (about 1 minute), add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a plate.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the minced garlic. Stir constantly for 30-45 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Add the red pepper flakes (if using) and pour in ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  7. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Add the drained pasta and use tongs to toss everything together. If it looks too dry, add more pasta water a tablespoon at a time until it’s silky and loose.
  8. Remove the pan from the heat and squeeze the lemon juice over everything. Toss once more. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  9. Divide the pasta among warm plates and top with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry for best browning. Reserve pasta water for silky sauce. Don’t overcook shrimp—they’re done when pink and curled into a C-shape. For dairy-free, use vegan butter or additional olive oil. For low-carb, swap pasta for zucchini noodles.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, easy shrimp pasta, 20-minute dinner, weeknight dinner, shrimp recipe, garlic butter sauce

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