Craving a restaurant-quality meal without the fuss? This garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe is your answer. It’s a dish that feels incredibly elegant yet comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend dinner. We’ve perfected this recipe to ensure you get succulent, perfectly cooked shrimp and a luscious, glossy garlic butter sauce that clings to every single strand of pasta. Forget bland, watery sauces; this is the real deal.
This recipe focuses on simple, high-quality ingredients and a straightforward technique. It’s designed for the enthusiastic home cook who appreciates the beauty of a well-executed classic. Prepare to make this your new go-to pasta dish.
Why This Will Be Your Go-To Shrimp Pasta
We’re not just giving you steps; we’re sharing the secrets to a truly memorable meal. Unlike other recipes, we focus on the technique to create a perfectly emulsified sauce. This means no greasy separation, just a rich, flavorful coating that makes the dish sing. It’s simple, quick, and delivers every single time.
The Simple Ingredients for Restaurant-Quality Pasta
The magic of this garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe lies in its simplicity. You don’t need a long list of fancy ingredients. Just a few well-chosen pantry staples come together to create something truly special. This is about letting good ingredients shine.
- Pasta: Linguine is our top choice for its elegant shape and ability to hold the sauce.
- Shrimp: Large, peeled, and deveined shrimp are the star.
- Fat: A combination of unsalted butter and extra virgin olive oil creates a rich flavor base.
- Aromatics: Fresh garlic is non-negotiable for that signature taste.
- Sauce Base: A dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio adds depth, while reserved pasta water is the key to a creamy sauce.
- Flavor and Garnish: Red pepper flakes for a touch of heat, fresh parsley for brightness, lemon juice for acidity, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese to finish.
- Seasoning: Salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
Choosing Your Ingredients: A Quick Guide
While the recipe is simple, the quality of your ingredients makes all the difference. Here’s what to look for.
The Best Shrimp for Pasta
For the best texture and flavor, use large (21-25 count) or jumbo (16-20 count) shrimp. We recommend buying them raw and already peeled and deveined to save time. If using frozen shrimp, make sure they are fully thawed and patted completely dry before cooking. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Buying Seafood (coming soon) for more tips.
What Pasta Shape Works Best?
Long pasta shapes are ideal here. Linguine, fettuccine, or even spaghetti work beautifully because they allow the garlic butter sauce to coat them evenly. The wider surface area of these noodles is perfect for carrying the rich sauce.
A Note on Wine and Substitutions
A dry white wine deglazes the pan and adds a crucial layer of acidity and flavor. If you prefer not to use wine, you can substitute it with chicken or vegetable broth, adding an extra squeeze of lemon juice at the end to compensate for the acidity.
How to Make Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Step-by-Step
This recipe moves quickly, so have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking. This French culinary principle, known as ‘mise en place’, is the key to a stress-free cooking experience. You might also like our Easy Weeknight Dinners (coming soon) collection.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about 1 ½ cups of the starchy pasta water.
- Sauté the Shrimp: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the shrimp completely dry and season with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and just opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Build the Sauce Base: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant. Do not let it brown.
- Deglaze and Emulsify: Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until it has reduced slightly. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Combine Everything: Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss continuously to coat the pasta. Add the cooked shrimp back to the pan, along with the fresh parsley and lemon juice. Toss everything together, adding the grated Parmesan cheese as you go. If the sauce is too thick, add another splash of pasta water until it reaches a silky, coating consistency. For other quick meals, see our 30-Minute Meals (coming soon) guide.
- Serve Immediately: Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve right away, garnished with extra parsley and Parmesan.
The Secret to a Perfect, Glossy Garlic Butter Sauce
The number one secret to an amazing pan sauce? Starchy pasta water. This cloudy liquid gold is full of starches that help the butter and wine emulsify, creating a smooth, creamy sauce that won’t break or feel greasy. Never skip reserving it, and add it gradually until you get that perfect consistency.
Pro Tips for a Flawless Dish
- Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: Shrimp cook in minutes. The key is to sear them just until they turn pink and then remove them from the pan. They will finish cooking when you add them back to the pasta.
- Use Fresh Garlic: This is a garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe, so fresh, finely minced garlic is essential. Avoid the jarred kind, which can have a muted or sour taste.
- Salt Your Pasta Water: The water should taste like the sea. This seasons the pasta from the inside out and is the first layer of flavor for the entire dish.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this recipe is a classic, it’s also a fantastic base for customization. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:
- Add Vegetables: Stir in a cup of baby spinach or sun-dried tomatoes at the end until wilted.
- Make it Creamy: For a richer sauce, add a splash of heavy cream along with the pasta water.
- Increase the Spice: If you love heat, double the amount of red pepper flakes or add a finely chopped chili.
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
This dish is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette, some crusty bread for soaking up the extra sauce, or a side of roasted asparagus are all excellent choices. For bread, our No-Knead Focaccia (coming soon) is a perfect match.
The Recipe
The Ultimate Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe (Ready in 30 Mins!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about 1 ½ cups of the starchy pasta water.
- Sauté the Shrimp: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the shrimp completely dry and season with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and just opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Build the Sauce Base: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant. Do not let it brown.
- Deglaze and Emulsify: Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until it has reduced slightly. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Combine Everything: Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss continuously to coat the pasta. Add the cooked shrimp back to the pan, along with the fresh parsley and lemon juice. Toss everything together, adding the grated Parmesan cheese as you go. If the sauce is too thick, add another splash of pasta water until it reaches a silky, coating consistency.
- Serve Immediately: Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve right away, garnished with extra parsley and Parmesan.
Nutrition
Notes
Use Reserved Pasta Water: This is the key to a creamy, emulsified sauce that coats the noodles perfectly. Don't skip this step!
Fresh is Best: Use fresh garlic, parsley, lemon juice, and Parmesan for the most vibrant flavor.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Frequently Asked Questions
Long pasta shapes like linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine are best for this recipe. Their surface area is perfect for clinging to the light yet flavorful garlic butter sauce, ensuring a perfect bite every time.
The key is to cook the shrimp separately for just 1-2 minutes per side until they are pink and just opaque. Remove them from the pan immediately and add them back at the very end to toss with the pasta and sauce. This prevents them from becoming tough and rubbery.
Yes, absolutely. If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are completely thawed before cooking. Pat them thoroughly with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible, which helps them sear properly instead of steaming.
If you prefer not to use wine, you can substitute it with an equal amount of chicken broth or vegetable broth. To replicate the acidity of the wine, add an extra squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end of cooking.
The secret is emulsification using starchy pasta water. The starch in the water helps bind the butter and liquids together, creating a creamy, glossy sauce that coats the pasta perfectly instead of separating and becoming greasy.
We Hope You Love This Recipe!
This garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe is a true testament to the power of simple, well-cooked food. It’s a dish we’re proud to share, and we know it will become a favorite in your home. If you make it, we’d love to see! Share your creations and tag us on Pinterest. Happy cooking!
