Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta 🧄🍤 Quick, Bold, and Irresistibly Buttery with a Hit of Garlic and Heat

This is weeknight pasta turned restaurant-level indulgent — seared shrimp tossed with spaghetti or linguine in a glossy garlic butter sauce kissed with lemon and a hint of spice.

Fast enough for a Tuesday. Fancy enough for a Friday.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• ¼ cup pasta water (reserved)
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• Optional: freshly grated Parmesan, extra lemon wedges

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.

Step 2: Sear the Shrimp

Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 3 tbsp butter to the same pan. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.

Step 4: Combine

Add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss to coat in the buttery sauce. Return shrimp to the pan and toss again until everything is hot and glossy.

Step 5: Finish & Serve

Sprinkle with parsley. Add Parmesan if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more lemon. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges on the side.

Flavor Variations

• Add white wine (¼ cup) to the pan before the butter for depth
• Toss in cherry tomatoes or baby spinach for color and freshness
• Finish with a drizzle of chili oil for extra heat
• Use brown butter for a nutty twist

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the shrimp — they should be just opaque and springy
• For extra silky sauce, swirl in a spoonful of butter right before serving
• Use fresh garlic, not jarred — it’s the core flavor here
• Good pasta water = free liquid gold. Always save some.

Final Thoughts

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta hits every note: buttery richness, garlicky depth, fresh brightness, and a little kick of heat. It’s fast, flavorful, and always feels a bit fancy.

Twirl it up. Serve it hot. Let the butter do the talking. 🍤🧄🍝🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.

🧄 Garlic Butter Recipes Collection

Explore them all → Rich, golden, and versatile — garlic butter is the flavor bomb your weeknight meals (and fancy dinners) need.

🔥 Garlic Butter Proteins (Main Dishes)

• Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fast, juicy shrimp with bold garlic butter flavor.
• Garlic Butter Chicken – Crispy thighs smothered in a buttery garlic glaze.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – Bite-sized skillet gold.
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites – Quick-seared steak cubes in sizzling garlic butter.
• Garlic Butter Tilapia – Mild fish with a rich, buttery finish.
• Garlic Butter Salmon – Buttery, flaky salmon perfect for weeknight dinner.

🍝 Garlic Butter Pastas & Noodles

• Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Seafood and carbs in harmony.
• Garlic Butter Pasta – Minimalist magic with max flavor.
• Garlic Butter Noodles – A simple classic that pairs with anything.
• Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese – Rich, decadent, and over-the-top good.
• Garlic Butter Parmesan Fettuccine – Creamy, cheesy, and craveable.
• Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake – Bubbly and golden with garlic and seafood.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Lasagna Rolls – Creamy, rolled seafood pasta baked in butter sauce.

🍚 Garlic Butter Sides, Bases & Sauces

• Garlic Butter Rice – Buttery rice with bold flavor and fluff.
• Garlic Butter Sauce – Base for seafood, pasta, and more.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Bold, spicy, and ready for dunking.
• Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes – Creamy with a garlicky punch.
• Garlic Butter Green Beans / Asparagus – Your favorite veg made crave-worthy.
• Garlic Bread with Homemade Garlic Butter Spread – Essential upgrade for any carb lover.

🌶️ Garlic Butter Fusion Recipes (Flavor Bombs)

• Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp – Spicy, buttery, and bold.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos – Crispy shells, buttery shrimp.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo – Creamy fusion of two comfort classics.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi – Bright lemon and rich butter make magic.
• Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles – Lazy, comforting, deeply satisfying.