Description
A rich, velvety shrimp pasta dish that comes together in just 15 minutes. This recipe combines seared shrimp with a luxurious garlic butter cream sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or an elegant date night.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Drop in pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- While water boils, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted and foaming, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Pour in heavy cream. Stir to combine with garlic butter. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat. Add parmesan cheese and toss until melted. Add splash of reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Return cooked shrimp to the pan. Add lemon juice and fresh parsley. Toss everything together for another minute. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when searing shrimp to ensure a good crust. Use freshly grated parmesan as pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Shrimp cooks very quickly; remove as soon as pink to avoid rubberiness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate per serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: shrimp pasta, creamy garlic butter pasta, quick dinner, 15 minute meal, easy weeknight dinner, date night dinner, seafood pasta