Description
This Easy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is everything you want in a weeknight dinner: quick to make, loaded with flavor, and packed with juicy shrimp and garlicky goodness. It’s one of those dishes that feels fancy without the effort — perfect for busy weeknights, cozy dinners, or even impromptu guests. With a light lemon-butter sauce, a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley, it’s a standout among quick dinner ideas, easy pasta recipes, and seafood meals. If you’re searching for easy recipes, dinner ideas, or healthy comfort food, this one’s a keeper.
Ingredients
1 lb shrimp, large, peeled and deveined
8 oz spaghetti or linguine
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
1. Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper.
2. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
3. In a skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for about 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 1.5 to 2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
5. In the same skillet, add lemon juice, zest, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 1 minute.
6. Add pasta and a splash of reserved water to the skillet. Toss to coat.
7. Return shrimp to the skillet. Toss gently to reheat and combine. Add more pasta water if needed.
8. Turn off heat, garnish with fresh parsley and optional Parmesan. Serve hot.
Notes
Be sure to dry the shrimp well before cooking to get a proper sear.
Use freshly minced garlic — it makes a noticeable difference.
Add the shrimp back at the end to avoid overcooking them during reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 190mg
Keywords: easy dinner, shrimp pasta, garlic shrimp, seafood pasta, quick meals