Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta Lite (Printable)

Succulent shrimp in zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce over angel hair pasta, ready in 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
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 Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer; cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Add lemon zest, juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, scraping up browned bits from pan bottom.
06 - Add drained pasta to skillet, tossing to coat in sauce. Add splash of reserved pasta water if needed for silky consistency.
07 - Return shrimp to skillet, toss gently, and heat through 1 minute. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The balance of tangy lemon and rich butter creates this incredible sauce that clings to every strand of pasta
  • It feels restaurant fancy but uses pantry staples you probably already have on hand
  • Everything cooks in one skillet meaning less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp is the saddest thing, so pull them the second they turn pink and opaque
  • That reserved pasta water is liquid gold, it creates this emulsified sauce that actually sticks to the pasta
  • Room temperature ingredients help the sauce come together smoothly, so take the butter out while you prep everything else
03 -
  • Patting shrimp completely dry before cooking ensures they sear instead of steam, giving you those gorgeous golden edges
  • Room temperature butter melts more evenly into the sauce, creating that velvety restaurantstyle finish
Go Back