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Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: The Best Party Favorite

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This buttery, garlicky shrimp pasta comes together in under 20 minutes and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Perfect for parties or a quick weeknight dinner, it’s made with simple ingredients and delivers restaurant-quality flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) linguine or spaghetti
  • Salt for pasta water
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (21–25 count)
  • 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup (15g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on the first side until pink and slightly golden. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until just cooked through. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside.
  5. Pour white wine or broth into the skillet. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Let simmer for 1 minute to reduce slightly.
  6. Add drained pasta directly to the skillet. Toss with garlic butter sauce, adding splashes of reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce (about 1/2 cup).
  7. Return shrimp to the skillet. Add Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon juice. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
  8. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, use fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan. Reserve more pasta water than you think you need—it helps emulsify the sauce. Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp; cook in batches if necessary. This dish is best served immediately; reheating may cause shrimp to become rubbery.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, easy shrimp pasta, party pasta, quick dinner, seafood pasta

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/easy-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-the-best-party-favorite/