This easy garlic butter shrimp pasta is about to become your new weeknight favorite.

Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe 16

It’s a quick and delicious meal that brings together succulent shrimp in a rich, flavorful garlic butter sauce, all tossed with your favorite pasta. It’s the kind of dish that feels special but comes together in a flash, making it perfect for busy evenings when you still want a homemade meal.

Whether you’re cooking for your family or looking for a comforting dish for yourself, this recipe delivers on both taste and simplicity. The combination of tender shrimp and a silky, aromatic sauce is truly irresistible, and the best part is how little effort it takes to achieve such a satisfying result.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This recipe is a true winner because it’s incredibly fast, flavorful, and uses simple ingredients you likely already have or can easily find. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a delicious dinner solution that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen. Busy parents will appreciate how quickly it comes together after a long day, and even beginner cooks will find the steps straightforward and achievable. You can serve this dish any night of the week, whether it’s a casual family dinner, a quick lunch, or even when you want to impress a guest without all the fuss. It’s a versatile meal that always hits the spot.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients ahead of time makes the cooking process much smoother. This recipe relies on fresh, quality components to really make the flavors shine. Don’t worry, there are plenty of easy substitutions if you need them!

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
Salt and black pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

For the pasta, feel free to use any long pasta you prefer, such as fettuccine or even angel hair for an even quicker cook time. If you don’t have fresh garlic, a teaspoon of pre-minced garlic from a jar can work in a pinch, though fresh is always best for flavor. If you don’t keep white wine on hand, chicken broth is a perfect non-alcoholic substitute that still adds depth. And while fresh parsley is recommended for its bright flavor, a tablespoon of dried parsley can be used if that’s what you have.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it ideal for those busy weeknights.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

These times are realistic and assume you have your ingredients ready to go. The pasta cooking time will be the longest part of the process, and the shrimp cooks very quickly, so timing is key to ensure everything is ready at once.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Follow these simple steps to create your delicious garlic butter shrimp pasta. Pay attention to the visual cues to ensure perfect results every time.

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Prepare the shrimp: While the pasta cooks, pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. Season them lightly with salt and black pepper. This helps them sear nicely and absorb flavor.
Melt the butter and sauté garlic: In a large skillet or pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to burn it.
Cook the shrimp: Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until they turn pink and opaque. Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary to ensure they cook evenly and don’t steam. Remove the cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside.
Deglaze the pan and build the sauce: Pour the white wine or chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes to reduce slightly.
Combine ingredients: Add the cooked pasta, cooked shrimp, fresh parsley, and lemon juice back into the skillet. Toss everything together thoroughly. If the sauce seems too thick or dry, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Final seasoning and serving: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This garlic butter shrimp pasta is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit different tastes or occasions. For a kid-friendly version, you can omit the red pepper flakes entirely and perhaps add a handful of frozen peas or corn to the pasta for extra veggies and color.

To add more greens, stir in a handful of fresh spinach or arugula during the last minute of cooking, letting it wilt into the hot pasta. You could also add some cherry tomatoes, halved, for a burst of freshness and color. For a richer sauce, a splash of heavy cream can be added with the wine or broth.

This dish makes a fantastic main course on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette or some crusty garlic bread for soaking up that delicious sauce. If you’re serving it for a larger gathering or buffet, consider making a larger batch and keeping it warm in a slow cooker on a “warm” setting, adding a little extra broth or pasta water if it thickens too much.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for will help you achieve perfect results every time.

One common mistake is overcooking the shrimp. Shrimp cooks very quickly, and if left on the heat for too long, it becomes rubbery and tough. Cook it just until it turns pink and opaque, which typically takes only 1-2 minutes per side. Remove it from the pan as soon as it’s done.

Another slip-up is under-seasoning the dish. Don’t be shy with salt and pepper. Season the shrimp before cooking, and then taste the final pasta dish and adjust as needed. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end also brightens all the flavors.

Not reserving pasta water is another common oversight. That starchy water is gold! It helps emulsify the sauce, making it silky and ensuring it clings beautifully to the pasta. Always scoop out at least a cup before draining.

Finally, burning the garlic can ruin the entire dish. Garlic cooks very quickly and can turn bitter if overcooked. Keep the heat at medium and watch it closely, sautéing just until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1 minute.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This garlic butter shrimp pasta is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, they can be stored and reheated.

To store, place any leftover pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. The texture of the shrimp might change slightly upon reheating, becoming a bit firmer, but it will still be delicious.

When reheating, gently warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, or in the microwave. If the pasta seems dry, add a splash of chicken broth or water to help loosen the sauce and restore some moisture. Avoid high heat when reheating, as this can further toughen the shrimp.

Making this dish ahead isn’t ideal for the best texture, especially for the shrimp. However, you can prep some components in advance. You can peel and devein the shrimp a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator. You can also mince the garlic and chop the parsley in advance. This will cut down on your active cooking time when you’re ready to make the meal.

Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

Can I use frozen shrimp? Yes, absolutely! Just make sure to thaw the frozen shrimp completely before cooking. Pat them very dry with paper towels to ensure they sear properly.

What kind of pasta is best for this recipe? Linguine or spaghetti are classic choices, but fettuccine, angel hair, or even penne would work well. Choose a pasta that the sauce can easily cling to.

Is red pepper flakes essential? No, red pepper flakes are completely optional. They add a subtle kick of heat. If you prefer a milder dish, simply omit them.

Can I add more vegetables? Certainly! Spinach, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, or even bell peppers would be great additions. Add softer vegetables like spinach at the end, and harder ones like bell peppers with the garlic to soften.

What if I don’t have white wine? Chicken broth is an excellent

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.