Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta Lite (Print Version)

Succulent shrimp sautéed in lemon-garlic butter over delicate angel hair pasta. Fresh, light, and ready in just 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 8 oz angel hair pasta

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
07 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp 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 - In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. 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 if using, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for 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. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • The lemon butter sauce clings to every strand of pasta, ensuring no bite is bland
  • Shrimp cooks so quickly that you can have dinner ready even on chaotic weeknights
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp turns rubbery, so remove them from the pan the moment they turn pink and opaque
  • Reserved pasta water is your secret weapon for creating a silky, emulsified sauce that clings to the pasta
  • Lemon loses its punch quickly, so squeeze it fresh right when you need it rather than bottling it ahead
03 -
  • Room temperature shrimp sear more evenly than cold ones, so let them sit out for fifteen minutes before cooking
  • Invest in a microplane for zesting—it catches the aromatic oils while leaving behind the bitter pith
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