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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Pasta

    Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

    Published: Jul 7, 2020 · Modified: Dec 11, 2020 by Marissa Stevens · 99 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 38 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.

    More Pasta

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    • Shrimp Carbonara
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shar says

      February 25, 2023 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      I added small amount or spinach for pop of color, and it was absolutely delicious, my family can't wait to make again.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 26, 2023 at 9:20 am

        aww...that's wonderful to hear, Shar!

        Reply
    2. Eddy says

      February 05, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy , but lots of flavor. I doubled pretty much the garlic, butter, red pepper and added 1/4 cup of white wine. My adult kids said it was a wonderful Sunday dinner.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 06, 2023 at 2:58 pm

        Hi Eddy! So glad you enjoyed this and made it your own!

        Reply
    3. Shel says

      January 15, 2023 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful and fast. We added cherry tomatoes and some artichoke hearts. Finished with pine nuts. Love this recipe!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 18, 2023 at 11:12 am

        So glad you enjoyed this, Shel! And that you added your own touches to the recipe.

        Reply
    4. Roxanne says

      December 21, 2022 at 7:10 pm

      THIS DISH WAS AMAZING! LOVED IT!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        December 23, 2022 at 9:53 am

        aww...thanks so much, Roxanne! So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Stephanie Vaillancourt says

      October 13, 2022 at 3:17 pm

      Easy, quick and delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 13, 2022 at 4:09 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Stephanie!

        Reply
    6. Annette says

      September 19, 2022 at 3:01 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent flavor

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 20, 2022 at 2:46 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it, Annette!

        Reply
    7. Lori Oakley says

      September 18, 2022 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      Finally a lemon and shrimp pasta dish where you can actually the lemon! It's super simple to make and is a great dish to make for company, it's fast and easy.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 19, 2022 at 9:59 am

        So glad you enjoyed this, Lori! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    8. Char says

      August 30, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and very yummy!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 30, 2022 at 1:01 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this, Char! Thank you for coming back to tell me.

        Reply
    9. Brent Jaime says

      August 26, 2022 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      Another recipe recommends adding 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning while the shrimp is cooking and it turned out divine with fettuccine pasta. We paired it with Mexican wine soda (Sangria Señorial) … memorable dish!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 29, 2022 at 1:06 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this, Brent! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
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