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Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Sauce

A plate of Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Sauce, featuring plump shrimp and fresh parsley garnish.
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Make a restaurant-style creamy lemon shrimp pasta featuring a rich garlic sauce. This recipe is quick enough for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, season the shrimp lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. If using, pour in the white wine and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
  7. Reduce the heat to low. Whisk in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat. If the sauce seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  9. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss gently to heat through.
  10. Stir in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

  • For a brighter flavor, use fresh lemon juice only; avoid bottled juice.
  • If you skip the wine, substitute it with an equal amount of chicken broth or reserved pasta water.
  • To make this dish richer, add 2 ounces of cream cheese along with the heavy cream.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://magazinemeal.com/creamy-lemon-shrimp-pasta-with-garlic-sauce/