Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe

This 20-minute garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe can be made in the comfort of your kitchen with simple ingredients and little effort. The plump fresh shrimps are tossed in a buttery, herb-infused sauce, folded into a pool of al dente pasta, and then topped with grated Parmesan cheese. A healthy, flavorful family-sized meal is now achievable in a quick and fool-proof way.

Is Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Healthy?

As we intentionally kept the quantities of butter, oil, and salt down (which take-outs usually push way too high), this shrimp pasta recipe is brimming with healthy ingredients. You can think of it as a simpler and lighter take on the popular shrimp scampi.

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When you make this dish, you can be certain that you won't have a giant pile of carbs on your plate. Instead, you’ll have a perfectly balanced medley of shrimp and pasta.

For the creamy sauce, we managed to make good use of garlic, lemon juice, and some easily available spices so we could omit the heavy cream and white wine. Butter alone is enough to complement the juicy plump shrimp twirled with pasta on your fork.

Main Ingredients

All the ingredients for our garlic butter shrimp pasta need just 10 minutes on the heat to bring together a dish that tastes just like the one you might find on a fine dining menu. Let's take a brief look at them.

1. Best Pasta for this Recipe

Any thin round pasta will work well with this dish (here we use linguine). To have the shrimp delicately shine through those long strands of noodles, tube-shaped pasta isn’t a good choice; they work better with dishes comprising glossy thick sauces.

Remember to only cook the pasta until almost-al-dente as it will continue to cook when being tossed with the shrimp in the skillet later.

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2. How To Season the Shrimp

Either fresh or frozen raw shrimp will work for our recipe. To save time, feel free to look for packages of frozen shrimp that are already peeled and deveined but spend a few minutes before cooking to thaw them before heading on to other steps.

For this recipe, we kept it quick and simple by skipping the marinating. Instead, we toss the shrimp with the spice mix right on the heat.

Because shrimp are done so quickly, it's best to cook the pasta and the shrimp separately, then combine them on the heat before serving. If you're not good at multi-tasking in the kitchen, don't rush, just handle these two tasks successively adding just a few extra minutes to the cooking process.

You’ll need a blend of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, and lemon juice to enhance the big and bold flavors of the shrimp. While garlic adds vibrancy and fragrance to the flavor base, lemon juice will add a freshness and brightness to complement the whole dish.

Finally, shredded Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top to add more creaminess to our pasta, while red pepper flakes are also added for a mild heat.

How to Store and Reheat the Leftover

If cooked fresh, a portion of leftover shrimp pasta will last well in the fridge in a sealed container for 3 days.

You can either reheat the portions on the stovetop or in the microwave. Simply turn the stove on to medium heat, add a little water or any cooking liquid of choice (milk, meat broth, or veggie stock), and cook until warmed through.

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You might also need to reheat the shrimp and the pasta separately since these two don't take the same time to cook. Always reheat the pasta just before serving for the best possible texture.

To keep shrimp pasta for even longer, consider freezing it. Wait for it to cool down and put the leftovers in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags and they will last for up to 6 months. Before the day of serving, thaw them in the fridge, then reheat on the following day as instructed above.

Garlic, butter, and seafood make an unparalleled combination, so we couldn’t just stop with only this dish. Check out our Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe for another delectable dinner option.

What to Serve with

Shrimp salad goes best with a simple veggie salad to balance the bright and rich flavors. Take a look at our recommended combination meal:

• Beet And Feta Cheese Salad:

By making this light salad, you’ll get to enjoy a diverse range of textures and flavors in one big bowl: hearty wedges of roasted beets, succulent navel oranges, crunchy walnuts, and salty feta cheese crumbles. It’s a true burst of freshness, especially when dressed with a tangy olive-oil-infused vinaigrette.

• Lime Watermelon Juice:

Finally, let's chase the heat away with our super fragrant and refreshing lime watermelon juice! This drink is hands down a satisfying ruby concoction of watermelon juice and fresh lime; it will refresh your palate, make your day less hectic, and keep you energized for hours.

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And not just for this pasta meal alone — you can make a large pitcher of it kept readily chilled in the fridge so you can have it on the go whenever you feel like it.

Other Shrimp Recipes to Try

• Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi Recipe
• Shrimp Fra Diavolo Recipe
• Shrimp Primavera Recipe
• Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe

5 from 2 votes

This 20-minute garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe can be made in the comfort of your kitchen with simple ingredients and little effort. The plump fresh shrimps are tossed in a buttery, herb-infused sauce, folded into a pool of al dente pasta, and then topped with grated Parmesan cheese. A healthy, flavorful family-sized meal is now achievable in a quick and fool-proof way.

- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-08-03

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• cook TIME 10 mins
• prep TIME 10 mins
• total TIME 20 mins

• COURSE Main Course
• CUISINE American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 454 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 14.5 oz raw shrimp (peeled and deveined, equals 26 oz unpeeled)
• 14 oz cooked spaghetti
• 0.5 oz shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp coriander (chopped)

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

In a cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Sauté 4 tbsp minced garlic until fragrant (for about 30 seconds).

2

Add 14.5 oz peeled, deveined shrimp together with 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp lemon juice to the skillet. Cook until the shrimp turns pink (for about 1 minute).

3

Add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and stir constantly for 3 minutes.

4

Add 14 oz cooked spaghetti to the skillet. Still until well combined (for 5 minutes).

5

Turn off the heat. Sprinkle 0.5 oz shredded parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, and 2 tbsp chopped coriander on top. Portion it out and serve hot.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 454Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g

23%

Saturated Fat 7g

44%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 322mg

107%

Sodium 574mg

25%

Potassium 602mg

17%

Carbohydrate 35g

12%

Fiber 3g

13%

Sugar 1g

1%

Protein 45g

90%

Vitamin A 372IU

7%

Vitamin C 3mg

4%

Calcium 198mg

20%

Iron 2mg

11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keywords: how to make shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta recipe