Description
This Shrimp Spaghetti recipe is a quick, flavorful, and satisfying meal combining tender shrimp with perfectly cooked spaghetti and a savory, garlicky sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it offers vibrant flavors of garlic, lemon, and herbs, perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests with a simple yet delicious dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti pasta
- 12 ounces raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 garlic cloves, freshly minced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Shrimp and Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions. Meanwhile, rinse the shrimp and pat them dry to ensure they sear nicely.
- Sauté Garlic and Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add the shrimp, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook until pink and opaque, roughly 2 minutes per side.
- Combine Everything: Drain the cooked spaghetti, reserving a bit of pasta water. Toss the pasta with the shrimp in the skillet, adding lemon juice, zest, and some reserved pasta water to create a light sauce that coats every strand beautifully.
- Finish with Fresh Parsley and Cheese: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top and stir in grated Parmesan cheese if using. Give it a final toss to meld all the flavors, then serve immediately for the best freshness.
Notes
- Don’t overcook shrimp: Shrimp cook very fast; remove them from heat as soon as they turn pink.
- Use pasta water: Adding reserved pasta water helps the sauce cling to the noodles perfectly.
- Fresh garlic is key: Avoid pre-minced garlic for the freshest, most vibrant flavor.
- Lemon zest over juice: Zest adds concentrated citrus aroma without overpowering the dish.
- Rest before serving: Let the pasta sit for a minute with the sauce so flavors meld beautifully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
Keywords: shrimp spaghetti, quick dinner, seafood pasta, easy shrimp pasta, garlic lemon shrimp, weeknight meal