20-Minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Easy Weeknight Dinner)

20-Minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Easy Weeknight Dinner)

Picture this: plump, juicy shrimp sizzling in golden butter, minced garlic perfuming the whole kitchen, and silky linguine twirled through a glossy, buttery sauce. This is the kind of dinner that makes everyone gather at the table a little faster, and it is on the table in 20 minutes flat. One pan, simple ingredients, and a sauce you will want to lick off the fork.

If you love easy pasta dinners that taste like a restaurant night but cook like a weeknight, this garlic butter shrimp pasta is about to become your new favorite. It is quick enough for a busy Tuesday, yet fancy enough to impress guests on a Friday night.

Recipe Details

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 10 minutes
• Total time: 20 minutes
• Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 oz linguine or spaghetti
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 tbsp butter, divided
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

1. 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine until just al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
   2. While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the shrimp for about 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through, then transfer to a plate.

1. 1. Lower the heat to medium and melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.

1. 1. Pour in the reserved pasta water and lemon juice, scraping up all the flavorful bits from the pan. Add the drained pasta and toss well so every strand is coated in the glossy garlic butter sauce.

1. Return the shrimp to the skillet and toss everything together for 1 minute. Shower with parmesan and fresh parsley, season with extra black pepper, and serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Shrimp Pasta

• Pat the shrimp completely dry before searing so they get a beautiful golden crust instead of steaming.
• Do not overcook the garlic; one fragrant minute is plenty, or it can turn bitter.
• The reserved pasta water is liquid gold. Its starch turns the butter into a silky sauce that clings to every noodle.
• Squeeze the lemon over the finished dish for brightness, and add the parmesan off the heat so it melts smoothly.

One pan, twenty minutes, and a dinner that tastes like pure comfort. Make this garlic butter shrimp pasta once and it will earn a permanent spot in your weeknight rotation.