These garlic butter noodles with shrimp are tossed in a rich, buttery garlic sauce with juicy shrimp, a little spice, and plenty of flavour. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy garlic butter shrimp pasta is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. It tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant, but it's surprisingly simple to make at home!
P.S. I think you will love my French Onion Pasta or Creamy Pasta with Goat's Cheese next time!
Let’s be honest: shrimp + butter + garlic = instant happiness. 🦐
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These Garlic Butter Noodles with Shrimp
🍤 Ready in 25 Minutes: This quick and easy shrimp pasta is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a delicious homemade dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
🧄 Rich Garlic Butter Flavour: Juicy shrimp and tender noodles are tossed in a buttery garlic sauce with Parmesan cheese and a little spice.
🍝 Simple Everyday Ingredients: You only need a handful of ingredients, including pasta, butter, garlic, shrimp, and Parmesan cheese. Nothing complicated!
💛 Family-Friendly Dinner: This comforting pasta dish is easy to customise. Leave out the chilli for a milder version that everyone can enjoy.
💰 Better Than Takeaway: Make a restaurant-style garlic butter shrimp pasta at home using simple ingredients, without the restaurant price tag.
Ingredients You'll Need & Substitutions
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these creamy garlic butter noodles with shrimp. Here's what you'll need and a few easy swaps!
Noodles or Pasta: Use 8 oz (225 g) of spaghetti, linguine, or your favourite noodles. I love using spaghetti because it catches all that delicious garlic butter sauce. Remember to reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining!
Shrimp: You'll need 1 lb (450 g) of large shrimp, peeled and deveined. Fresh or frozen shrimp work well. If using frozen, thaw completely and pat dry before cooking.
Butter: Use 4 tablespoons of butter for that rich, buttery garlic sauce. Salted or unsalted butter works, but adjust the seasoning accordingly.
Garlic: Five fresh garlic cloves give this pasta its delicious garlicky flavour. Freshly minced garlic is best, but you can use ready-minced garlic if you're short on time.
Red Pepper Flakes: Add ½ teaspoon for a little heat. Reduce the amount or leave it out completely for a milder, family-friendly pasta.
Salt: Use ¼ teaspoon to season the dish, then taste and adjust before serving.
Lemon Juice & Zest: Two tablespoons of lemon juice and one teaspoon of lemon zest brighten the buttery sauce. Fresh lemon gives the best flavour.
Heavy Cream: Just ½ cup makes the garlic butter sauce beautifully creamy. You can use thickened cream in Australia.
Parmesan Cheese: Use ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan for a savoury, cheesy finish. Pecorino Romano is another option, although it's saltier.
Baby Spinach: Fresh baby spinach adds colour and a little extra goodness to this creamy garlic butter shrimp pasta. Stir it into the sauce towards the end of cooking until just wilted. You can substitute it with chopped kale or rocket (arugula)..
How to make Garlic Butter Noodles and Shrimp
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 8 oz (225 g) of pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. You'll use this later to make the garlic butter sauce beautifully silky.
Step 2: Cook the Shrimp
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the peeled and deveined shrimp, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook for approximately 2–3 minutes per side, depending on their size, until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Step 3: Make the Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce
Reduce the heat to medium-low and melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.
Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, heavy cream, and a splash of reserved pasta water. Warm gently, then remove from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until smooth.
Step 4: Add the Baby Spinach
Return the skillet to low heat and add 1 cup of fresh baby spinach. Stir gently for 1–2 minutes until the spinach has wilted into the creamy garlic butter sauce.
Step 5: Combine and Serve
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until every strand is coated in the garlic butter sauce. Add a little more reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss gently until warmed through.
Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon, if desired.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Garlic Butter Noodles with Shrimp
Don't Overcook the Shrimp: Shrimp cook quickly! Remove them from the pan as soon as they're pink, opaque and cooked through. Overcooking can make them tough and rubbery.
Keep an Eye on the Garlic: Fresh garlic only needs about 30–60 seconds to become fragrant. Cook it over medium-low heat and stir frequently to prevent burning.
Save That Pasta Water: Before draining your pasta, reserve ½ cup of the starchy cooking water. Add a splash at a time to help create a silky garlic butter sauce that coats every strand.
Use Real Butter: Butter gives this shrimp pasta its rich flavour. I recommend unsalted butter so you can control the seasoning.
Add Parmesan Off the Heat: Stir the freshly grated Parmesan into the warm sauce after removing the pan from the heat. This helps prevent clumping and keeps the sauce smooth.
Add Spinach at the End: Baby spinach only needs 1–2 minutes to wilt. Adding it towards the end keeps its lovely green colour and prevents it from becoming overcooked.
Don't Skip the Lemon: Fresh lemon juice and zest balance the richness of the butter and cream. Start with the recipe amount, then adjust to your taste.
Adjust the Spice: Love a little heat? Add extra red pepper flakes. Cooking for the kids? Leave them out for a milder, family-friendly dinner.
❓FAQS
Absolutely! Frozen shrimp work just as well as fresh shrimp. Thaw them completely in the refrigerator, then pat them dry with paper towels before cooking. This helps them sear nicely instead of releasing too much water into the pan.
Absolutely! Replace the heavy cream with a little extra reserved pasta water for a lighter garlic butter sauce. It won't be quite as creamy, but it will still be delicious.
This creamy pasta pairs beautifully with garlic bread, a fresh green salad or roasted vegetables. A simple side salad is my favourite way to balance the rich garlic butter sauce.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚
Garlic Butter Noodles with Shrimp (Easy 25-Minute Recipe)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These garlic butter noodles with shrimp are tossed in a rich, buttery garlic sauce with juicy shrimp, a little spice, and plenty of flavour. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy garlic butter shrimp pasta is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. It tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant, but it's surprisingly simple to make at home!
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or pasta of choice
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 garlic cloves, crushed or minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach (approximately 30 g)
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 8 oz (225 g) of pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. You'll use this later to make the garlic butter sauce beautifully silky.
Step 2: Cook the Shrimp
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the peeled and deveined shrimp, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook for approximately 2–3 minutes per side, depending on their size, until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Step 3: Make the Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.
- Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, heavy cream, and a splash of reserved pasta water. Warm gently, then remove from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until smooth.
Step 4: Add the Baby Spinach
- Return the skillet to low heat and add 1 cup of fresh baby spinach. Stir gently for 1–2 minutes until the spinach has wilted into the creamy garlic butter sauce.
Step 5: Combine and Serve
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until every strand is coated in the garlic butter sauce. Add a little more reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss gently until warmed through.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon, if desired.
Notes
Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: They cook fast! Remove them as soon as they turn pink.
Don't forget to reserve that pasta water: It’s liquid gold for making the sauce silky and clingy.
Make It Spicy: Extra red pepper flakes = serious flavor.
For a Lighter Version: Swap cream for half-and-half or even a splash of chicken broth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Family Dinners, Main Course
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: per serving
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
The nutritional and calorie information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the information listed is not guaranteed.
Comments
No Comments