Creamy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 12 oz pasta (such as linguine or fettuccine)
• 4 garlic (minced)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 lemon (juiced and zested)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• red pepper flakes (to taste)
• fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
• salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.

2. 2

   While the pasta cooks, season the shrimp with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

3. 3

   In a large skillet or pan, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat.

4. 4

   Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Sear for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.

5. 5

   In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

6. 6

   Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes to slightly thicken.

7. 7

   Stir in the parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.

8. 8

   Add the cooked pasta and the seared shrimp back into the skillet. Toss everything together to coat the pasta in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.

9. 9

   Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.

10. 10

    Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and extra red pepper flakes before serving.

Notes

For a lighter version, you can substitute half of the heavy cream with chicken broth or pasta water, though the sauce will be less thick. Ensure the shrimp are patted dry before searing to get a better crust.

Nutrition per serving

• shrimppasta
• creamypasta
• pastarecipe
• onepanmeal
• dinnerinspo
• seafood
• main course
• summer dinner