Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta Lite (Printable)

Fresh shrimp sautéed in lemon-garlic butter, tossed with delicate angel hair pasta. Quick, light, and bursting with flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 8 oz angel hair pasta

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
11 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Add lemon zest, juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to achieve a silky texture.
07 - Return shrimp to the skillet, toss gently to combine, and heat through for 1 minute.
08 - Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The lemon butter sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something from a neighborhood Italian spot
  • Its impressive enough for date night but simple enough for solo Tuesday evenings
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery fast, so remove them from heat as soon as they turn pink
  • The pasta water is your secret weapon for silky sauce consistency
03 -
  • Dont crowd the pan when cooking shrimp or they will steam instead of sear
  • Add the lemon juice off the heat to prevent the sauce from separating
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