Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Featured in Family Dinner Ideas.

Start pasta boiling while you cook shrimp with lots of garlic in butter till pink. Make quick cream sauce in same pan, adding cheese and pasta water to get it smooth. Toss hot pasta right in with shrimp and sauce, stir till everything's coated nice. Finish with fresh herbs on top. Takes just 15 minutes total.

Fatiha
Updated on Fri, 02 May 2025 12:23:21 GMT
A close-up of creamy pasta with shrimp, garnished with parsley and black pepper. Pin it
A close-up of creamy pasta with shrimp, garnished with parsley and black pepper. | zestplate.com

Whip up this delicious Garlic Shrimp Pasta when you're craving something speedy yet impressive. Combine a silky sauce with tons of garlic and plump shrimp on steaming pasta. You'll only need 15 minutes, but everyone will think you slaved away for hours. Great for a cozy night in or when you've got company coming.

Benefits of This Pasta Dish

Imagine juicy shrimp sautéed in garlic butter, mixed with velvety sauce and noodles - it's absolutely mouthwatering! I created this dish by combining some leftover cream with garlic-infused pasta and shrimp, and the results were fantastic. It's not as heavy as what you'd get at a restaurant but doesn't skimp on taste. Try it for your next family supper or romantic evening at home.

Ingredients List

  • Linguine: Feel free to swap for your favorite pasta
  • Olive Oil: To sauté your seafood
  • Butter: Adds richness to everything
  • Shrimp: Already peeled and deveined
  • Salt and Pepper: Season to your preference
  • Old Bay: Not necessary but adds nice flavor
  • Garlic: Nothing beats freshly minced
  • Heavy Cream: Creates that luxurious texture
  • Parmesan: Grab a block and grate it yourself
  • Parsley: Brightens up the finished dish

How To Make Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Boil Your Pasta:
Get a large pot of salted water boiling. Drop in your pasta and cook until al dente. Remember to keep a cup of that starchy cooking water before draining.
Prepare The Shrimp:
Melt butter with oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once bubbly, add your shrimp and season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay if you're using it. Cook just until they turn pink and opaque.
Create Your Sauce:
Remove shrimp and add another pat of butter to the pan. Toss in your minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the cream and scrape up all those flavorful bits from the bottom.
Incorporate The Cheese:
Mix in your parmesan until melted. If the sauce seems too thick, splash in some of that reserved pasta water. Give it a taste and add more seasoning if needed.
Combine Everything:
Add the pasta to your sauce, then return the shrimp to the pan. Stir everything together until well coated and heated through.
Garnish And Serve:
Top with chopped fresh parsley and bring it to the table while still hot.

Elevated Home Cooking

This isn't your everyday pasta dish - it's got that wow factor. Take a few basic ingredients and watch them transform into something that seems fancy but was actually super easy. The luscious sauce and flavor-packed shrimp will have everyone wanting more, without leaving you stuffed and uncomfortable like restaurant versions often do.

Selecting Quality Shrimp

Go for frozen raw shrimp that's already peeled to cut down on prep work. Fresh works wonderfully too if you don't mind cleaning them yourself. The size isn't critical - just watch your cooking time to avoid toughness. You can even use pre-cooked shrimp in a pinch, but only add them at the final stage so they don't become chewy.

Perfecting Your Sauce

Heavy cream gives you the richest results - it naturally thickens as it reduces. Don't forget that pasta cooking water before draining - it's the secret to a silky sauce that clings to every strand. The cheese adds body too. Want something a bit lighter? Try half and half instead, though it won't deliver quite the same luxurious texture.

Pasta Cooking Tips

Keep your pasta slightly firm since it'll continue cooking in the hot sauce. That reserved cooking water is truly magical - it creates a creamy emulsion and helps the sauce stick perfectly. Make sure you toss the pasta thoroughly in the sauce so it can absorb all those amazing flavors.

A close-up of a skillet filled with creamy fettuccine pasta topped with shrimp and garnished with parsley and a pat of butter. Pin it
A close-up of a skillet filled with creamy fettuccine pasta topped with shrimp and garnished with parsley and a pat of butter. | zestplate.com

Perfect Pairings

Toss together a simple green salad as a side to complete your meal. Got some crusty bread? Bring it along to mop up that amazing sauce. Roasted veggies make a great addition if you want something heartier. The creamy garlic goodness makes just about anything taste better when served alongside.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Got cooked shrimp?

Just warm em up last. Don't cook long though. Watch they don't get tough. Add right at end. Still tastes good.

→ What pasta's best?

Long thin kinds work. Flat ones hold sauce. Round ones good too. Fresh cooks faster. Just cook it right.

→ Want less rich?

Use less cream. Save pasta water. Mix them both in. Sauce gets silky. Still stays good.

→ Adding more stuff?

Green things work great. Tomatoes pop nice. Cut em small though. Cook quick with shrimp. Don't add wet stuff.

→ Saving some food?

Box it up tight. Good three days cold. Heat real slow. Add splash milk. Stir while warm.

→ Getting too dry?

Keep pasta water. Add bit by bit. Less heat helps too. Sauce thins nice. Easy fix quick.

→ Taking it places?

Pack sauce separate. Cook pasta there. Take extra cream. Heat up slow. Mix just before eat.

→ Need it faster?

Buy peeled shrimp. Have stuff ready. Boil pasta first. Chop quick, cook fast. Still tastes fresh.

→ Making big batch?

Double works fine. Need bigger pan. More sauce maybe. Watch cooking time. Don't crowd shrimp.

→ Want more kick?

Add red pepper. More black pepper. Fresh garlic loads. Even wine helps. Lemon wakes it up.

→ Shrimp not pink?

Cook bit longer. Keep heat medium. Don't crowd pan. Cut to check one. They curl when done.

→ Pasta too soft?

Cook less time. Save some water. Finish in sauce. Test it lots. Al dente's best.

Conclusion

Like this? Try butter shrimp next. Or make hot tomato shrimp. Both quick and good.

Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Quick shrimp pasta fix.

Prep Time
~
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
15 Minutes
By: Fatiha

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Italian

Yield: 4 Servings

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 8 ounces (225 grams) linguine pasta.
02 1 tablespoon olive oil.
03 1 ½ tablespoons butter, divided.
04 1 pound (450 grams) raw shrimp, frozen, peeled, and deveined.
05 ½ teaspoon salt.
06 ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
07 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning (optional) or smoked paprika or cajun.
08 1 clove garlic, minced.
09 ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (double cream in the UK).
10 ½ cup (40 grams) parmesan, grated.
11 ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped.

Instructions

Step 01

In a medium-sized saucepan, bring water to a boil and generously salt it. Add your linguine pasta, cooking according to the package instructions until it reaches al dente perfection. Once done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the rest.

Step 02

In a skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and add the olive oil. Introduce the shrimp, cooking briefly for a minute, then season with salt, pepper, and if desired, Old Bay seasoning or paprika.

Step 03

Continue to cook the shrimp, watching for it to turn a lovely pink. If needed, cook in batches to avoid overcooking. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a plate and set aside.

Step 04

In the same skillet, melt the rest of the butter and stir in the garlic, cooking it for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the heavy cream next, using your spatula to deglaze the flavorful pan.

Step 05

Sprinkle in the grated parmesan, letting it melt smoothly, then loosen the sauce by introducing some of the reserved pasta water. Allow the mixture to simmer for a minute, tasting to adjust salt and pepper to your preference.

Step 06

Gently toss the pasta in the sauce until each strand is luxuriously coated. Reintroduce the shrimp, softly reheating it within the pasta. Finish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

  1. If cooking shrimp from frozen, expect some liquid release; simply simmer it down without overcooking the shrimp.
  2. Thawing shrimp prior to cooking is preferable for the best results.
  3. Always reserve about a cup of your pasta cooking water; it's starchy and perfect for adjusting the sauce consistency.
  4. This recipe serves 4 as a regular meal or 3 generously.
  5. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  6. For reheating, gently warm the pasta in a skillet with a little added water or use the microwave, taking care not to freeze the creamy pasta.

Tools You'll Need

  • Saucepan.
  • Skillet.
  • Spatula.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Shellfish.
  • Dairy.
  • Gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 334
  • Total Fat: 22 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 4 g
  • Protein: 29 g