This creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta is rich, silky, and packed with comforting garlic Parmesan flavor. Made with leftover garlic butter shrimp, this easy pasta recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dinner in just about 20 minutes. Tender shrimp are tossed with linguine in a creamy, buttery sauce finished with fresh lemon juice and parsley. Perfect for a simple weeknight meal.

Creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta topped with Parmesan cheese.

This creamy shrimp pasta recipe is one of the easiest ways to turn leftover shrimp into a rich and comforting seafood dinner. We'll be using my leftover Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe as the flavorful base, but this pasta works just as well with almost any cooked shrimp you have in the fridge from the previous day. The leftover shrimp gently warms in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce, taking on all the flavors!

Recipe Overview

⏱️ Ready in: About 20 minutes
👩‍🍳 Hands-on time: 10–12 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 4 portions
🍤 Best for: Quick weeknight seafood dinners
🍝 Cooking method: Stovetop skillet & pasta pot
🥛 Diet-friendly: Gluten-Free Adaptable
💪 High-protein: Shrimp + Parmesan cheese

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Recipe Overview
Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
Step-by-Step Instructions
Top Tips for the Best Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving suggestions
Other delicious seafood recipes
Recipe
Comments

Why you'll love this recipe

Ready in about 20 minutes: perfect for busy weeknights when you need a quick and comforting dinner.
Great way to use leftover shrimp: transforms leftovers into a completely new meal.
Simple ingredients: made with easy pantry staples and minimal prep work.
Restaurant-style comfort food: feels elegant while still being easy enough for any night of the week.
Easy to customize: add vegetables, spice, or extra cheese to make it your own.
Family-friendly: creamy pasta and shrimp make a satisfying meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

Leftover garlic butter shrimp: Using leftover garlic butter shrimp adds incredible flavor, and it's what makes this an easy 20-minute dinner. You can also use freshly cooked shrimp if needed, or if you made my Citrus Shrimp Salad or my Crispy Onion Shrimp Lettuce Tacos, you can use any leftover shrimp here.
Linguine or fettuccine: Long pasta works best because it holds the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce well. Fettuccine creates a slightly richer and more restaurant-style texture.
Heavy cream: Creates the rich and silky base for the sauce. Heavy cream gives the pasta its smooth, creamy consistency without needing flour.
Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts best into the sauce and adds a rich savory flavor. Do not use pre-shredded cheese, if possible.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds depth and that classic garlic butter flavor to the creamy sauce. Fresh garlic works much better than garlic powder here.
Parsley: Fresh parsley adds color and freshness to finish the dish and helps balance the creamy flavors.

See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact measurements.

Substitutions and Variations

Pasta: Linguine and fettuccine work best, but spaghetti (like in this Chicken in Spaghetti Nests recipe), penne, or even zucchini noodles can also be used depending on what you have on hand.
Shrimp: This recipe is perfect for leftover garlic butter shrimp, but freshly cooked shrimp works just as well. Just avoid overcooking the shrimp when reheating.
Heavy cream: You can use half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though the pasta will be slightly less rich and creamy.
Parmesan cheese: Though freshly grated Parmesan gives the smoothest sauce, Pecorino Romano can be used. Just keep in mind that it's sharper and much saltier than Parmesan.
Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes, Cajun seasoning, or a dash of hot sauce for extra heat.
Add vegetables: Spinach, mushrooms, peas, broccoli, or cherry tomatoes pair nicely with the creamy shrimp pasta.
Make it dairy-free: Use dairy-free butter, unsweetened oat cream or coconut cream, and a dairy-free Parmesan alternative for an easy dairy-free version.
Make it gluten-free: Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles.

Step-by-Step Instructions

STEP 1: Cook the Pasta

cooked al dente pasta in a pot of water on the stove.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta, rinse, and set aside.

STEP 2: Make the Cream Sauce

creamy garlic sauce cooking in a pan on the stove.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Pour in the heavy cream, then stir in the Parmesan cheese and seasonings. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.

STEP 3: Add the Shrimp and Pasta

shrimp and cooked pasta added to garlic butter sauce.

Add the leftover shrimp to the skillet and cook just until warmed through. Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together. If needed, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.

STEP 4: Finish and Serve

Stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Top with extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while warm and creamy!

Top Tips for the Best Creamy Shrimp Pasta

Cook the pasta al dente: Slightly firm pasta holds up better in creamy sauces and prevents the dish from becoming too soft.
Use freshly grated Parmesan: Fresh Parmesan melts smoother into the sauce and gives the pasta the best creamy consistency.
Use medium heat for the sauce: High heat can cause cream sauces to separate or become too thick too quickly.
Don’t overcook the shrimp: Since the shrimp is already cooked, warm it gently at the end to keep it tender instead of rubbery.
Add lemon juice at the end: Fresh lemon juice brightens the rich garlic butter sauce and balances the creamy flavors perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Simply reserve some pasta water before draining the pasta and add a splash as needed to loosen the sauce. Also, make sure not to overheat the cream sauce so it stays smooth and silky.

Reheat the pasta gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of cream, milk, or reserved pasta water to help loosen the sauce and keep it creamy. You can also reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to prevent the sauce from separating. For larger portions, reheat it in an oven-safe dish covered with foil at 325°F until warmed through.

Cream-based sauces can sometimes separate after freezing, so this recipe is best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated for short-term storage.

Yes! Spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, peas, corn kernels, or cherry tomatoes all pair so well with the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.

Serving suggestions

This pasta pairs great with simple sides that balance the rich and creamy sauce.

Garlic bread: Perfect for soaking up the extra garlic Parmesan sauce.
Caesar salad: Adds freshness and crunch alongside the creamy pasta. Try it with my Tuna Caesar Salad.
Roasted asparagus: A light vegetable side that pairs nicely with seafood pasta. You can also serve it next to simple blanched asparagus.
Steamed broccoli or green beans: Simple vegetables help balance the richness of the dish. You may like to serve it with this Easy Healthy Lemon-Dijon and Honey Baked Salmon for a full fish and seafood meal.
Cherry tomato salad: Fresh tomatoes add brightness and acidity that complement the creamy sauce. Try it with my Cherry Tomato and Asparagus Salad.

Other delicious seafood recipes

If you tried this Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And feel free to tag me on Instagram @cre8athome so I can see your creations! Thanks for visiting!