Weeknight • Pasta
Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Indulge in this quick and luxurious pasta dish featuring succulent shrimp, rich cream sauce, and plenty of garlic.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Level
- Weeknight
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Dinner in under 30 minutes that tastes like a fancy restaurant meal? Yes, please! This Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is an absolute dream. Succulent shrimp, a decadent garlic-butter cream sauce, and tender pasta come together for an unforgettable weeknight treat. It's surprisingly simple, yet utterly impressive!
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Main
- 8 oz linguine or fettuccine pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for a kick)
Preparation
Step 1
Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
Step 2
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 3
Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
Step 4
Reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant (do not brown). Pour in the white wine or chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced.
Step 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
Step 6
Add the cooked pasta, cooked shrimp, chopped parsley, and lemon juice to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to reach your desired sauce consistency.
Step 7
Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Tips
- Use fresh shrimp for the best flavor and texture, but frozen (thawed and patted dry) works too.
- Don't overcook the shrimp; they cook very quickly and can become rubbery.
- A good quality Parmesan cheese will make a noticeable difference in the sauce.
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