Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A fast and easy shrimp pasta dish with a rich, creamy garlic butter sauce, ready in just 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or a comforting dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 grams) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, fresh or thawed frozen
- 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta (linguine, fettuccine, spaghetti, or penne)
- 4 tablespoons (60 grams) unsalted butter, divided
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 grams) of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Sauté the shrimp: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons (30 grams) unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Make the garlic butter sauce: Lower heat to medium, add remaining 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter to skillet. Add minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream and stir, scraping browned bits from the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add cheese and seasoning: Stir in ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water 1-2 tablespoons at a time to loosen. Add red pepper flakes if desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine everything: Return shrimp to skillet and coat with sauce. Toss in drained pasta and squeeze juice from ½ lemon over the top. Mix gently to coat evenly.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle with chopped parsley and toss once more. Serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
Use medium shrimp peeled and deveined for best texture. Avoid browning butter to keep sauce silky. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Do not overcook shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and heavy cream with coconut cream. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make this recipe gluten-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 30
Keywords: shrimp pasta, creamy garlic butter shrimp, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, garlic butter sauce, seafood pasta