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Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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A fast and creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe perfect for easy dinners and last-minute meals, featuring tender shrimp and a rich, buttery sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
  • Salt, for pasta water
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions, about 9-11 minutes, until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to skillet in a single layer. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and let melt. Pour in heavy cream, stirring to combine. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  6. Return shrimp to skillet. Add drained pasta and toss gently to coat in sauce.
  7. Squeeze juice of half a lemon over pasta and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Toss and serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Gluten-free pasta can be used as a substitute.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, garlic butter shrimp, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/quick-creamy-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-perfect-for-easy-dinners/