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Quick Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

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A fast and flavorful shrimp pasta dish ready in under 15 minutes, combining fresh lemon, garlic, and tender shrimp for a perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225 g) linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 pound (450 g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Optional: grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 g) of linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 9-11 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup (120 ml) pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound (450 g) of shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Sauté gently for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes without moving, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until pink and opaque.
  5. Stir in juice and zest from 1 large lemon. If using, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and let it melt completely while stirring the sauce.
  6. Add drained pasta to the skillet with shrimp. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the noodles.
  7. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Plate immediately, topping with freshly grated Parmesan if desired. Finish with a fresh crack of black pepper.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Use fresh lemon zest for best flavor. Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling to noodles. For dairy-free, omit butter and Parmesan or use plant-based alternatives. Gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini can be used as substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon garlic shrimp, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/quick-lemon-garlic-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-15-minute-dinner-idea/