Quick Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe
A fast and flavorful lemon garlic shrimp pasta ready in just 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) peeled and deveined shrimp, medium or large size
- 8 ounces (225g) linguine or spaghetti, cooked al dente
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup (60ml) dry white wine or chicken broth (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces linguine and cook according to package instructions until just al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and cook until fragrant and golden, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn it.
- Add seasoned shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on one side until pink and opaque, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- Pour ¼ cup dry white wine or chicken broth into the skillet to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits. Let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in juice and zest of 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until butter melts and sauce is glossy.
- Return cooked shrimp to the skillet along with drained pasta. Toss everything together gently, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta evenly.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra parsley or lemon zest.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling to pasta. Fresh lemon zest is recommended for best flavor. For dairy-free, skip butter and add extra olive oil. Deglazing with white wine or broth adds depth but is optional.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: lemon garlic shrimp pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, shrimp pasta, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta