🍤 Garlic Shrimp Pasta (Quick & Flavorful)
A simple, restaurant-style dish that’s ready in about 20 minutes — garlicky, buttery, and bright with lemon.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 8 oz (225g) spaghetti or linguine
- 1 lb (450g) shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp olive oil or butter (or half & half)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ¼ cup pasta water (reserved)
- Salt & black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: grated Parmesan
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta
- Boil in well-salted water until al dente.
- Reserve ¼ cup pasta water before draining.
2️⃣ Sauté the Shrimp
- Heat oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add shrimp in a single layer.
- Cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Remove and set aside (don’t overcook).
3️⃣ Build the Sauce
- In the same pan, add garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Sauté 30 seconds until fragrant (not browned).
- Add lemon juice and a splash of pasta water.
4️⃣ Combine
- Return shrimp to the pan.
- Add drained pasta.
- Toss well, adding more pasta water if needed for a silky sauce.
5️⃣ Finish
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle parsley and optional Parmesan.
💡 Pro Tips
- Pat shrimp dry before cooking for better browning.
- Add a splash of white wine after sautéing garlic for extra depth.
- For creamy garlic shrimp pasta, stir in ¼ cup heavy cream before combining.
If you’d like, I can give you:
- 🧄 A buttery garlic-butter version
- 🌶 A spicy Cajun twist
- 🥦 A lighter, veggie-packed option
- 🧀 Or a baked garlic shrimp pasta
Which version sounds good?
