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Quick Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe Easy 20-Minute Dinner for Busy Weeknights

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A fast and flavorful shrimp scampi pasta recipe ready in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. It features a buttery, garlicky sauce with fresh lemon zest and tender shrimp tossed with linguine.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Red pepper flakes, optional
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine or low-sodium chicken broth
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 9-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry and season lightly with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on one side without moving, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
  5. Pour in white wine or chicken broth and let simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up browned bits.
  6. Lower heat, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter, stir until melted. Squeeze in lemon juice and add chopped parsley.
  7. Return shrimp to pan and add drained pasta. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen sauce and coat pasta evenly.
  8. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Serve immediately with extra parsley or lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; cook just until pink and opaque. Use fresh lemon juice for brightness. Adding reserved pasta water helps create a silky sauce that clings to pasta. If sauce is too thick, add more pasta water. Burnt garlic tastes bitter, so sauté just until fragrant and golden. Substitute chicken broth or water with lemon juice if no wine is available. For gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles. For dairy-free, replace butter with extra olive oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp scampi, quick dinner, pasta recipe, easy shrimp pasta, weeknight meal, garlic butter sauce, lemon shrimp pasta

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