Recipes › Seafood › Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Recipe by Pedro M. A. Neves

This Italian-inspired dish combines tender shrimp with a rich garlic butter sauce that coats each strand of pasta with silky flavor. The simplicity of garlic butter allows the quality of fresh seafood to shine through, creating an elegant yet approachable meal ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

• 400g spaghetti or linguine (14 oz)
• 500g large shrimp, peeled and deveined (1.1 lb)
• 120g unsalted butter (4.2 oz or 8.5 tbsp)
• 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 120ml dry white wine (½ cup)
• 30ml fresh lemon juice (2 tbsp)
• 240ml chicken or seafood stock (1 cup)
• 30g fresh parsley, finely chopped (1 oz or ¼ cup packed)
• 5ml red pepper flakes (1 tsp)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 30g Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (1 oz or ⅓ cup)
• 15ml extra virgin olive oil (1 tbsp)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and add pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente, approximately 9-11 minutes. Reserve 240ml (1 cup) of pasta cooking water before draining.

2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.

3. Heat 15ml (1 tbsp) of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-1.5 minutes per side until just opaque. Transfer to a clean plate.

4. Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Once melted and foaming, add sliced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.

5. Pour white wine into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Let wine reduce by half, approximately 2-3 minutes, then add stock and lemon juice.

6. Return shrimp to the skillet and simmer for 1 minute to gently warm through. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.

7. Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the shrimp and sauce. Toss gently for 1-2 minutes, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce lightly coats each strand without being soupy.

8. Remove from heat and stir in fresh chopped parsley. Divide among serving bowls and top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Substitutions

• Use linguine, fettuccine, or even angel hair pasta instead of spaghetti for different texture preferences
• Replace white wine with additional seafood stock or dry vermouth for an alcohol-free version
• Substitute frozen shrimp if fresh is unavailable; thaw completely before cooking
• Use butter-flavored cooking spray and omit additional oil for a lighter preparation

Tips

• Pat shrimp completely dry before searing to ensure proper browning and prevent the skillet from steaming rather than searing
• Reserve pasta water generously—its starch is essential for creating a cohesive sauce that clings to the pasta rather than pooling at the bottom of the bowl
• Avoid overcooking shrimp; it becomes tough and rubbery quickly, so use the 1-1.5 minutes per side guideline strictly
• Finish with freshly grated cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice at the table for maximum brightness and flavor

Garlic butter shrimp pasta draws inspiration from Italian coastal cooking, particularly Sicilian and southern Italian traditions where seafood and pasta combine simply to highlight fresh ingredients. This dish reflects the philosophy of Italian cuisine: quality ingredients prepared with restraint and respect for their natural flavors.

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