Description
A quick and easy 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring shrimp, garlic, and pasta cooked in a creamy butter sauce in a single pot for minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 12 ounces linguine, fettuccine, or other pasta
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup dry white wine (optional)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, mince garlic, grate Parmesan, and pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
- Sear shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink, then remove to a plate.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter, diced onion, and cook until soft (2 mins). Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cook 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Deglaze and add liquids: Pour in white wine (if using) and scrape up browned bits. Simmer 1 minute. Add chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine.
- Cook pasta: Add dry pasta to the skillet. Stir to coat. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 8-10 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes. Add more broth/water if needed.
- Finish sauce: When pasta is al dente, remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan until melted. Add lemon juice and zest. Adjust seasoning.
- Combine and serve: Return shrimp to skillet to warm through. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry to ensure they sear rather than steam. Do not overcook shrimp as they will cook again at the end. Remove from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Sauce can be thinned with pasta water or broth if too thick.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: shrimp pasta, one-pot meal, garlic butter, quick dinner, weeknight dinner, easy pasta, creamy shrimp