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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Pasta

    Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

    Published: Jul 7, 2020 · Modified: Dec 11, 2020 by Marissa Stevens · 71 Comments

    Quick MealsPescatarian

    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    lemon garlic shrimp pasta served in a white bowl

    A contrast of rich and bright flavors, this succulent Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta will be on your table in just 20 minutes.

    Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta served in a white bowl

    When you need a meal in a hurry, you can't go wrong with shrimp. It’s sweet, tender, juicy, and cooks quickly. Whether you're grilling it, cooking it on the stovetop, or roasting it in the oven, it takes very little time and effort to transform shrimp into a dinner that everyone will love.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You Need to Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
    • Mistakes to Avoid
    • Recipe Options
    • What to Serve Alongside
    • How to Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
    • Recipe Video
    • Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
    • 💬 Comments

    This Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta recipe is a great alternative when the temptation strikes to call for takeout. You’ll have the best of both worlds: a restaurant-quality meal that you can get on the table fast, perfect for busy weeknights. It's one of those easy recipes using simple pantry staples and freezer ingredients that you may already have on hand.

    Ingredients You Need to Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

    ingredients for Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta on a white marble surface
    • Pasta: any long and thin pasta you have in your pantry will work for this. Whether it’s spaghetti, linguine, fettuccini, or angel hair, simply follow the package directions to cook until firm to the bite (al dente).
    • Shrimp: Medium or large shrimp work well here.
    • Butter: Your choice of salted or unsalted butter.
    • Olive Oil: Use whatever variety you have on hand.
    • Parsley: Fresh, flat leaf Italian parsley.
    • Lemon: You'll need the juice and zest.
    • Parmesan Cheese: Grated for finishing the dish - optional.
    • Garlic: 5 large garlic cloves
    • Crushed Red Pepper: Just enough for a hint of heat.
    • Freshly Ground Black Pepper and Kosher Salt: To taste.

    You'll notice that there is no heavy cream. Instead, the shrimp cook in a creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce of butter, olive oil, and plenty of garlic. Fresh lemon juice and zest give this dish its distinctive zing, similar to the Italian classic, Pasta al Limone. And fresh parsley adds earthy, bright flavor, while crushed red pepper flakes add gentle heat and a pop of color.

    Though this pasta dish is simple to prepare, it's elegant enough for company or a date night. It plates up beautifully and tastes like it took hours to make, though it takes just 20 minutes from start to finish.

    Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta served in a white bowl

    Mistakes to Avoid

    A common mistake when preparing shrimp is to overcook it. Take care to sauté it just until pink and cooked through, so your shrimp will be juicy and tender, not tough and rubbery. The same goes for overcooking pasta. It should cooked until tender, but retain some bite (al dente).

    Recipe Options

    This recipe is delicious both with and without parmesan cheese. Without it, the pasta has a fresh simplicity that allows the fresh lemon flavor to shine. With parmesan, you add another layer of flavor that mellows the lemon and adds complexity. A splash of white wine along with the lemon is also an option. And to make this dish a meal on its own, toss in a few handfuls of baby spinach at the end. No shrimp? Make this Lemon Garlic Pasta, Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta or this Tuna Pasta with a no-cook sauce instead.

    What to Serve Alongside

    • Arugula Salad (This simple salad is easy to prepare and a perfect match for pasta.)
    • Wedge Salad (The classic steakhouse side dish is always a good idea.)
    • Creamy Cucumber Salad (So creamy and delicious, but just shy of 100 calories per generous serving!)

    How to Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

    Step 1: Cook pasta according to package directions until firm to the bite. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid.

    Cooking pasta

    Step 2: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook olive oil and butter until sizzling. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir 30 seconds. Add shrimp; cook and stir until pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

    cooking shrimp in butter olive oil garlic and red pepper flakes

    Step 3: Once pasta is cooked and drained, return shrimp mixture in skillet to medium heat. Add pasta and ¼ cup of cooking liquid; stir until heated through, adding more cooking liquid if pasta is too dry.

    tossing cooked pasta with shrimp and butter olive oil sauce

    Step 4: Remove skillet from heat and stir in parsley and lemon juice and zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving platter or bowl and sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired. Serve.

    stirring lemon garlic shrimp pasta together

    Recipe Video

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    Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta served in a white bowl

    Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

    Marissa Stevens
    Quick and delicious pasta with bright flavors and succulent shrimp!
    5 from 28 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 643 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 ounces dried spaghetti or other long, thin pasta
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 5 large garlic cloves minced
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more
    • 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined
    • 1 large lemon juice and zest
    • ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
    • 2 ounces parmesan cheese freshly grated, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until firm to the bite (al dente), about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
    • Meanwhile, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp; cook and stir until shrimp is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
    • Once you've drained the pasta, set skillet with the shrimp mixture over medium heat. Add drained, cooked pasta and ¼ cup of reserved pasta water; toss to coat. Cook and stir until heated through, adding more pasta water if pasta seems too dry.
    • Remove pasta from heat and stir in fresh lemon juice and zest, and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl or platter; top with grated parmesan cheese if using and serve.

    Notes

    1. Use any long, slender pasta you like for this recipe.
    2. I switch back and forth on finishing this dish with parmesan cheese. Sometimes I want just the clean bright flavors of lemon and parsley with the sweet juicy shrimp. Up to you!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 643kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 40gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 310mgSodium: 1170mgPotassium: 373mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 744IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 371mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword comfort food, date night, dinner party, easy, quick
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.
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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Suzy Deger says

      May 15, 2022 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      I didn't have any parsley so I used cilantro. Wonderful!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 18, 2022 at 3:33 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this, Suzy!

        Reply
    2. Crunch says

      April 26, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight. Left out the cheese. It was an excellent dish! Quick,easy and delicious!
      I wouldn’t change a thing!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 26, 2022 at 8:11 pm

        So glad you're enjoying the recipe!

        Reply
    3. njmedia2 says

      February 28, 2022 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      Really really good! Thanks so much!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 28, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Dorinda says

      January 31, 2022 at 5:38 pm

      Can you reheat this recipe? What do you put in the pasta to reheat it and do you use the stove top or microwave.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 10:13 am

        Hi Dorinda! I reheat this with a little oil (or leftover pasta cooking water if I have it) in a skillet over medium-low heat on the stovetop.

        Reply
    5. Nicole says

      October 28, 2021 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      I made the other night and it was delicious and easy. The lemon was so refreshing. Highly recommend it.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 28, 2021 at 3:58 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this, Nicole! I appreciate you coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    6. Cynthia Harris says

      October 04, 2021 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for this! It is very similar to a recipe my mom used to make, the exception being she used white wine instead of the pasta water, reduced by half before adding the shrimp back in. I split the difference, added much less white wine, then the pasta water and proceeded per your directions. Also added fresh basil as she used to do. I’d lost her recipe and she’s gone now, and this was even better than hers! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 04, 2021 at 11:55 am

        Cynthia, I love this. I'm so glad you took this recipe and the memory of your mom's recipe to make it your own. Sweet of you to let me know.

        Reply
    7. Sharon says

      September 22, 2021 at 6:24 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh! So easy and delicious! I used cooked shrimp. I removed the tails and heated it in the butter garlic sauce. This will be a new favorite for entertaining.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 24, 2021 at 11:03 am

        I love to hear this, Sharon! Thank you for letting me know.

        Reply
    8. Jeff & Brittney says

      September 08, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      Amazing me and my wife are trying new things out to cook and this one is on the top of our list thank u so much

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 09, 2021 at 7:16 am

        My pleasure! I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe, Jeff!

        Reply
    9. Ila Pauline Faith Woodard says

      September 08, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely amazing! I CANNOT wait to try THIS!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 09, 2021 at 7:16 am

        Thank you, Ila! I hope you love it.

        Reply
    10. Hinda Burke says

      July 26, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      This was terrific. I added fresh mushrooms just after sautéing the garlic and red pepper flakes. Lemon juice and zest made all the difference in this recipe. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 26, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it, Hinda!

        Reply
    11. Don Arnold says

      July 24, 2021 at 11:14 am

      Made this 2-3 times and love it. Have you ever added cherry tomatoes? Andouille sausage? Pros/cons....

      Appreciate your work!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 25, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        So glad you're enjoying the recipe, Don! I think that either or both of those additions would be delicious! I'd sauté the sausage first to get it just the way you like it without overcooking the shrimp, then add it back just long enough to reheat. And if I were adding cherry tomatoes, I'd add them to the oil with the garlic and cook 2-3 minutes until they're blistered and starting to burst before adding the shrimp. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    12. Sally says

      July 15, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and really delicious! One of our new favorite recipes that we really enjoy and is great for company.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 17, 2021 at 12:47 pm

        This is wonderful to hear, Sally! So glad you're enjoying the recipe.

        Reply
    13. Liane @ Foodie Digital says

      July 11, 2021 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      Such a delicious light and flavorful recipe. Perfect for summer. I mixed in a little arugula and it was so tasty. Thank you for the recipe Marissa.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 12, 2021 at 11:21 am

        My pleasure, Liane! So glad you enjoyed the recipe and made it your own!

        Reply
    14. Cindy says

      June 26, 2021 at 6:24 am

      5 stars
      My husband and I love this dish. I have made it once before and loved it, but this time I added sauteed sliced zucchini and mushrooms and had a side green salad to balance out the meal. It was so good.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 27, 2021 at 11:32 am

        That's wonderful to hear, Cindy, and I love that you've made it your own!

        Reply
    15. Sherman W says

      June 16, 2021 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      Sooo delicious! Perfect for a warm Summer dinner!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 16, 2021 at 3:15 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Sherman!

        Reply
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