Description
This Lemon Shrimp Pasta is a delightful Italian-American dish featuring tender shrimp sautéed in a fragrant lemon-garlic butter sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked spaghetti and finished with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese. It’s a quick and flavorful main course perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 lemon zested
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Finishing
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Additional Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook Shrimp: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and are just cooked through. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Red Pepper: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make Sauce: Pour in chicken broth, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir in the unsalted butter until melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce, adding some reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce for a silky texture.
- Combine Shrimp and Finish: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet along with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve: Serve the Lemon Shrimp Pasta immediately with extra Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top for garnish.
Notes
- You can substitute fettuccine or angel hair pasta if preferred.
- For extra richness, add a splash of cream to the sauce.
- Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the brightest and most vibrant flavor.
