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Flavorful Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Pasta

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A quick and easy garlic butter shrimp scampi pasta recipe that balances buttery richness with garlicky zing, perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225g) linguine or spaghetti pasta
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
  • Lemon zest (optional, for extra brightness)
  • Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of linguine or spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup (120ml) of pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. Pat 1 pound (450g) of shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted and sizzling, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. When melted, add minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Pour in 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and concentrate flavors.
  6. Return shrimp to the skillet. Add cooked pasta and toss everything together. Squeeze in juice of 1 lemon and add chopped parsley. If the sauce feels dry, splash reserved pasta water little by little until desired consistency is reached.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Optionally, sprinkle with lemon zest and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Cook shrimp in batches if needed to avoid steaming. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini noodles. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil or vegan butter and skip Parmesan or use vegan cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp, shrimp scampi, pasta recipe, easy dinner, weeknight meal, seafood pasta, quick shrimp recipe

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/flavorful-garlic-butter-shrimp-scampi-pasta-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner-idea/