How to Make Shrimp Pasta
Learn how to make restaurant-quality creamy garlic shrimp pasta at home in just 30 minutes. Easy weeknight dinner recipe with tender shrimp, fresh lemon and butter sauce.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Tongs
- Colander
- Knife and cutting board
- Grater
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
Protein:
- 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Salt and pepper
Pasta:
- 12 oz linguine or fettuccine
- Water for cooking
- Salt for pasta water
Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup pasta water
- 1 lemon juice and zest
- Red pepper flakes optional
Finishing:
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- Parmesan cheese grated
- Extra olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
How To Make It
- 1. Get a big pot of salted water boiling for pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions minus two minutes. Save a cup of pasta water before draining. Don't rinse the pasta.
- 2. Pat shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- 3. Heat skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil. When hot, add half the shrimp in single layer. Cook 90 seconds per side until pink and golden. Remove to plate. Add more butter and oil, cook remaining shrimp. Remove those too.
- 4. Add garlic to the same pan. Cook 30 seconds till fragrant. Add chicken broth and let reduce by half, about 2 minutes. Pour in cream and let simmer 1-2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes if using.
- 5. Add pasta water to thin the sauce. Toss in drained pasta and mix with tongs till coated. Add more pasta water if too dry.
- 6. Add shrimp back in. Squeeze lemon juice over everything. Add lemon zest. Toss together for 1 minute to heat through.
- 7. Turn off heat. Add chopped parsley and toss. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- 8. Serve immediately with lots of grated parmesan on top.