Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

An easy peasy pasta dish that’s simple, flavorful and hearty. And all you need is 20 min to whip this up!

Spring is here and it’s all about staying in, wearing your favorite sweatpants and cooking up some major comfort food. Specifically, 20 min quick comfort food with al dente pasta, quick pan-fried garlicky shrimp, and sneaked in greens, all topped with freshly grated Parmesan.
And let me share with you again – this comes together lightening fast. You can whip up the garlicky, buttery shrimp so quickly while your pasta cooks through. And with wide, long strand fettuccine noodles, we have just enough space to coat all that silky buttery heavenly goodness.
It’s the most perfect quick and easy dinner – for family, for friends, for company. All of the above. It’s all just so so good.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
- Fresh pasta goes a long way. We love using homemade pasta whenever possible as it is much smoother and silkier (and cooks much faster than store-bought!).
- Use high-quality shrimp. Medium or large wild-caught shrimp are much more meatier and juicier than farm-raised shrimp.
- Long strand-like pasta is ideal. Fettuccine is a great pasta to use because it holds up sauce very well. Linguine, spaghetti or angel hair pasta are also good options.
- Add in leafy greens. This is a great recipe to sneak in leafy greens for those picky eaters. Arugula, spinach, kale, collard greens or swiss chard are all great options.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SHRIMP PASTA
- Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- No Knead Rosemary Bread
- Best Chicken Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
- Parmesan Zucchini and Corn
TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
Large cast iron skillet
GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP PASTA: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You can thaw frozen shrimp overnight, transferring it from the freezer to the fridge the day before. For a quick thaw, you can run them under cold water until completely thawed, about 5-10 minutes. Pat them dry as thoroughly as possible to remove any excess moisture (so they can brown nicely and evenly).
Fresh or dried long strands of pasta such as fettuccine, linguine or spaghetti will all work very well.
Absolutely! You can substitute thyme or rosemary (dried or fresh!) or any other herb of your choosing. And because dried herbs are often more potent/concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less when using dry. The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
Baby spinach and kale are both nutrient-rich and great alternatives.
Recipe
Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.
2. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, to taste; set aside.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Add shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.
5. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Stir in pasta, arugula and Parmesan until arugula begins to wilt, about 2 minutes. Stir in shrimp.
6. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
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