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Weeknight • Seafood

Speedy Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta

A bright and zesty pasta dish featuring succulent shrimp, fragrant garlic, and a silky lemon-butter sauce, ready in under 30 minutes.

Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Servings
4
Level
Weeknight
Speedy Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta

When you need dinner on the table FAST but don't want to skimp on flavor, this Speedy Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta is your new best friend! It's a gorgeous dish that tastes gourmet but comes together with minimal effort. Plump shrimp, bright lemon, and a rich butter sauce coat your favorite pasta for a truly satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Main

  • 8 oz linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tbsp)
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Red pepper flakes (optional, for a kick)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.

  2. Step 2

    While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.

  3. Step 3

    Add minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant (do not burn!). Pour in white wine or chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, until slightly reduced.

  4. Step 4

    Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Add reserved pasta water (starting with 1/4 cup, adding more if needed) and toss to coat. Stir in the cooked shrimp, lemon zest, and chopped fresh parsley. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to taste. Toss gently until everything is well combined and heated through. Serve immediately.

Tips

  • Ensure your shrimp are patted dry before cooking; this helps them sear nicely.
  • If you don't have white wine, chicken broth works perfectly well and keeps it alcohol-free.

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