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Creamy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Close-up of rich Creamy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta, topped with fresh parsley.

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Make a restaurant-quality shrimp pasta featuring a bright, creamy sauce flavored with fresh lemon and garlic.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound linguine or capellini pasta
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, season the shrimp lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. If using, pour in the white wine and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
  7. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  8. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together to coat well.
  9. Stir in the fresh parsley. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  10. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

  • For extra brightness, add a small handful of fresh basil along with the parsley.
  • If you skip the wine, substitute it with an equal amount of chicken broth or reserved pasta water.
  • Do not overcook the shrimp; they cook very quickly in the hot pan.

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