Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta Lite (Printable)

Vibrant shrimp tossed in lemon-garlic butter sauce with angel hair pasta. Light, fresh, and ready in 25 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 8 ounces 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

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve 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 in a large skillet 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 minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Add lemon zest, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and scrape up any browned bits from the skillet.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the 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. Remove from heat and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • Perfect balance of bright lemon and rich butter without feeling heavy
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and tough, so remove them from the pan as soon as they turn pink
  • The pasta water creates an emulsion that makes the sauce silky and helps it cling to the noodles
03 -
  • Room temperature shrimp cook more evenly than cold ones straight from the fridge
  • Grate the lemon zest before you cut the fruit to avoid bitter white pith
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