Print

Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

creamy lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and easy creamy lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe that combines tender shrimp, a silky garlic butter sauce, and fresh lemon zest for a bright, comforting dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen shrimp)
  • 8 ounces (225g) fettuccine or linguine pasta
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of fettuccine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 10-12 minutes). Reserve ½ cup (120ml) of pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound (450g) of shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
  3. Lower heat to medium, add 2 tablespoons (28g) butter to the skillet. Once melted, add 4 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Pour in 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream and stir to combine with the garlic butter. Add juice and zest of 1 large lemon. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  5. Stir in ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If the sauce feels too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired creaminess is reached.
  6. Add the cooked pasta and shrimp back into the skillet. Toss gently to coat pasta and shrimp evenly with the sauce. Heat through for 1-2 minutes.
  7. Turn off heat, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons (28g) butter for extra richness. Season with more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use firm shrimp to avoid mushy texture. Do not overcook shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. If sauce separates or looks oily, add a splash of reserved pasta water and whisk vigorously to bring it back together. For gluten-free option, swap pasta for zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta. For dairy-free, use coconut milk or cashew cream and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://tastypierecipes.com/creamy-lemon-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner/