Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Printable Version)
Succulent shrimp in garlic butter tossed with angel hair pasta, lemon, and Parmesan for a quick weeknight meal.
# What You Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
→ Pasta
02 - 12 oz angel hair pasta
→ Sauce
03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
06 - ¼ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
07 - 1 lemon, juiced and zested
08 - ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
10 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
11 - ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
12 - Lemon wedges, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the angel hair pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
02 - Pat the shrimp thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season both sides lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tbsp of butter with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Arrange the shrimp in a single, even layer and sear for 1 to 2 minutes per side until they turn pink and become opaque throughout. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tbsp of butter and 1 tbsp of olive oil. Sauté the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to let the garlic brown.
05 - Pour in the dry white wine or chicken broth along with the lemon juice, scraping up any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the liquid simmer and reduce for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest.
06 - Return the seared shrimp to the skillet and toss gently to coat evenly in the garlic butter sauce.
07 - Add the drained angel hair pasta to the skillet along with splashes of the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and the sauce reaches a silky consistency.
08 - Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon wedges alongside.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The entire thing comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta, which means weeknights are officially rescued without ordering takeout.
- Garlic butter and shrimp are a power couple that never disappoint, and the angel hair soaks up every last drop of that lemony sauce like a sponge.
02 -
- The entire thing comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta, which means weeknights are officially rescued without ordering takeout.
- Garlic butter and shrimp are a power couple that never disappoint, and the angel hair soaks up every last drop of that lemony sauce like a sponge.
03 -
- Reserve that pasta water every single time, as the starch in it is what makes the sauce cling to the noodles instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
- Never let the garlic turn brown, because burnt garlic is bitter garlic, and it will hijack the entire dish no matter how perfect everything else is.