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Quick Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and easy creamy lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta perfect for busy weeknights, combining buttery richness with bright citrus flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta (regular or gluten-free)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Lower heat to medium-low. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Once melted, pour in 1 cup heavy cream, stirring constantly. Add lemon zest and juice. Let sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  5. Stir in ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired creaminess is reached.
  6. Add cooked pasta and shrimp back into skillet. Toss gently to coat in sauce. Warm through for 1-2 minutes but avoid overcooking shrimp.
  7. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and add red pepper flakes if desired. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to avoid steaming. Add lemon juice after cream has thickened to prevent sauce separation. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Toss gently to avoid breaking shrimp or making pasta mushy.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon garlic shrimp, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/quick-creamy-lemon-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-for-easy-dinner/