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Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta - featured image
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A rich and comforting shrimp pasta dish with a creamy garlic butter sauce, ready in about 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want a flavorful, indulgent meal without the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces dry pasta (fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Pat shrimp dry and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
  3. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1.5-2 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30-45 seconds until fragrant, avoiding browning.
  5. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
  6. Stir in ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
  7. Add cooked pasta and shrimp back to the skillet. Toss gently to coat evenly with sauce and cook together for 1 minute.
  8. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan or parsley if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and omit Parmesan or use dairy-free cheese. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make the dish gluten-free.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/quick-creamy-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-20-minute-dinner/