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Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a light pasta dish mixing shrimp, fresh parsley and a lemon garlic butter sauce. This seafood pasta recipe is a great for a romantic date night, a dinner party or a light weeknight meal. Pair with a good bottle of white wine, crusty bread and a salad.
There is something so delicious about a pasta dish the perfect balance of lemon and garlic. It uses such bright flavors. We often rotate this pasta dish alongside this Mediterranean Pasta, Lemon Ricotta Pasta and this Lemon Basil White Bean Pasta.
This Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta is so light, but filling and bursting with citrusy fresh flavor. If you like shrimp recipes, especially shrimp scampi, you will love this easy pasta dish. I like to make this dish for special days like Valentine’s Day, Christmas or New Years Eve. It also works as the perfect weeknight meal.
When I serve this dish I like to serve a big green salad like this Arugula Salad, white wine and crusty bread. My kids love shrimp and this is one of their favorite pasta dishes that I make. If you like shrimp recipes try my Simple Greek Shrimp Marinade, Spicy Shrimp, Easy Breaded Shrimp or this Shrimp Creole Recipe.
Why We Love this Lemon Shrimp Pasta
Here are more reasons it’s a must-try dish:
• Easy to Make: This pasta comes together quickly and with a small list of simple ingredients. It is great for a nice quick weeknight meal or meal-prep.
• Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses fresh shrimp along with lemon, white wine and fresh herbs along with pasta.
• Perfect Flavor Combo: The flavors of the shrimp with the lemon and garlic butter sauce are perfectly paired together. The sweet and savory flavors work well together.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients we’re using. Jump to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and printable instructions.
- Pasta: I used linguine, but any pasta shape works.
- Shrimp: I like to use peeled and deveined shrimp with tails on to add flavor.
- Lemon: The lemon zest and lemon juice add citrusy flavor.
- Wine: Use a drinkable white wine like a Pinot Grigio for the sauce.
- Herbs: Stir in fresh parsley before serving to brighten the dish.
If you like light shrimp recipes try this Shrimp Orzo Pasta Salad.
How do you Make Lemon Shrimp Pasta
Step 1: Cook the Pasta: Cook linguine according to instructions on the packaging in a large pot of water. Save some of the pasta water in case you want to thin out the sauce at the end.
Step 2: Make the Butter Sauce: While the pasta cooks heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the garlic for 2 minutes. Add the onion, a sprinkle of salt and continue to sauté for 2 more minutes until the onion is soft.
Step 3: Cook the Shrimp: Add the shrimp and a dash of salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp turns pink, about 4-6 minutes.
Step 4: Finish the Sauce: Add the white wine and fresh lemon juice and cook for 2 more minutes.
Step 5: Finish the Dish: In a large mixing bowl add the pasta, shrimp mixture and salt and pepper to taste, stirring to combine. Add the lemon zest and the freshly parsley and stir again. Serve on plates with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and lemon slices.
Ways to Modify this Simple Lemon Shrimp Pasta
- Pasta: I have used linguine but you can swap for spaghetti, fettuccine, angel hair or tagliatelle. Try to make sure to cook the pasta to al dente.
- Zoodles: For a great low carb option, swap the linguine for the noodles {zucchini noodles} or any other vegetable noodle.
- Cream: Make a creamy lemon sauce by adding half and half or heavy cream.
- Heat: If you enjoy some spice add some red pepper flakes to the finished dish.
- Vegetables: Load the pasta up with vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes, asparagus or green beans.
- Protein: You can swap the shrimp for a different protein like chicken, steak, scallops or salmon.
What to Pair with Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- I like serving potatoes with our meals throughout the week. Some of my favorites are these Gouda Smashed Potatoes, Spicy Lebanese Potatoes or these Lemon Cilantro Potatoes.
- Adding a salad to your meals is a nice way to get those vegetables and greens in. A few of the ones I serve on repeat are this Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts, Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing or this Mediterranean Bean Salad.
- Simple side dishes work nicely with this shrimp dish. A few I make are this Simple Roasted Broccoli, Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower with Yogurt Tahini Sauce or these Za’atar Roasted Carrots.
Storage Tips
- Store the leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat you can either quickly sauté in a skillet or microwave it.
- You might want to add a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh herbs to freshen the dish back up.
Recipe FAQ
For the best flavor, I recommend leaving the tails on the shrimp as it will add flavor to the pasta sauce. The tails are easy to remove when you eat the dish.
Make sure not to overcook the shrimps. Only cook for 4-6 minutes until they have turned pink, then finish the dish and serve.
This dish that is best served freshly made, straight from the pan. If you try and make the dish ahead of time and warm it up, you risk overcooking the shrimps and they will become tough.
More Pasta Recipes
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Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces linguine, cooked
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced {you can mince your garlic if you prefer}
- 1/4 sweet onion or a small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1/2 cup white wine {I used pinot grigio}
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese, garnish
- Serve with Lemon slices
Instructions
- Cook linguine according to package. While the pasta cooks heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add the onion, a sprinkle of salt and continue to sauté for 2 more minutes until the onion is soft.
- Add the shrimp and a dash of salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp turns pink, about 4-6 minutes. Add the white wine and lemon juice and cook for 2 more minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl add the pasta, shrimp mixture and salt and pepper to taste, stirring to combine. Add the zest of the lemon and the freshly parsley and stir again.
- Add the zest of the lemon and the freshly parsley and stir again. Serve on plates with freshly grated parmesan cheese and lemon slices.
Notes
- Leave Tails on Shrimp: For the best flavor, I recommend leaving the tails on the shrimp as it will add flavor to the pasta sauce. The tails are easy to remove when you eat the dish.
- Garlic: I like to slice the garlic for the butter sauce which imparts a milder flavor. If you want more intense garlic flavor you can mince the garlic cloves.
- Wine: Use a good quality white wine, one that you would drink yourself as it is being used to flavor the sauce.
- Don’t Overcook Shrimp: Make sure not to overcook the shrimps. Only cook for 4-6 minutes until they have turned pink, then finish the dish and serve.
- Make Ahead: This dish that is best served freshly made, straight from the pan. If you try and make the dish ahead of time and warm it up, you risk overcooking the shrimps and they will become tough.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love shrimp “scampi” recipes and I think I will try this with some spaghetti squash since pasta tends to upset my stomach. Can’t wait to try it!
Great idea Jennifer! I think that would work great or even zoodles {maybe zucchini noodles or some other vegetable noodle}.
Yummy, can’t wait to make this!
Love how quick and easy this recipe is. Perfect for a weeknight or date night.
Thanks so much Christie! It is a simple recipe and lots of light, fresh flavors.
Julia,
You’ve got me craving that garlic scape pesto-seasoned shrimp scampi I made last year. I frequently hate to re-do dishes, but your linguine looks so fresh and I can just taste that lemon!
Thanks!
Oh that sounds amazing! I am heading over to check out that recipe now. And yes…the lemon is so great in this dish!
Seafood pastas are some of my favorites. Love the flavors you incorporated into this!~
Thanks Nicole! They are my favorite too mixed with pasta.
I love easy shrimp dishes! I always have a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer! Thanks for the recipe! Pinning to try it and sharing as well!
Thanks Michelle. I hope you try it and enjoy it. It is a great recipe to make when you are in a hurry and it helps to have that frozen shrimp ready to use!
Thanks for the shout out! Love your recipe as well! 🙂
Of course–thanks so much!
This looks delicious! I love that it’s quick and easy 🙂
Thanks Aida! It is so quick which is so nice.
This is totally the type of meal I want on Valentine’s day!!! We will be making something similar!!
Great minds think alike Liz! I love doing a pasta dish like this on V-day!
We’re on the same page with quick and fresh date night pastas — forget the chocolates, bring on the pasta!
Haha, yes we are!! I love the main dishes more than the desserts, which I know is weird. 😉
Wow…I made this quick easy for my daughter and granddaughter and we Loved It. Thank you
So glad you liked it!