Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Easy 20-Minute Dinner)
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.
Servings: 4
Calories: 572kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz linguine or fettuccine
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 pound garlic butter shrimp
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine or fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente.8 oz linguine
- Before draining, reserve some pasta water. Drain the pasta, rinse, and set aside.½ cup reserved pasta water
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn.1 tablespoon butter, 2 garlic cloves
- Pour in the heavy cream, then stir in the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and paprika.1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Let the sauce simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the leftover garlic butter shrimp to the skillet and cook just until warmed through.1 pound garlic butter shrimp
- Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together until evenly coated in the creamy sauce.If needed, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley.1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon fresh parsley
- Top with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 572kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 226mg | Sodium: 886mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1495IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 268mg | Iron: 1mg