Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta Lite (Printable)

Fresh shrimp sautéed in zesty lemon-garlic butter over delicate angel hair pasta. Light, satisfying, and ready in just 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 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
11 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta according to package instructions 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 - In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Add lemon zest, juice, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for a silky texture.
07 - Return shrimp to the skillet, toss gently to combine, and heat through for 1 minute.
08 - Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something from a neighborhood Italian spot
  • Light enough for weeknights but impressive enough for unexpected guests
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp become rubbery and sad—remove them the second they turn pink and opaque
  • The pasta water is your secret weapon for turning melted butter into a glossy, emulsified sauce
03 -
  • Buy frozen shrimp and thaw them overnight in the refrigerator—often fresher than what sits at the seafood counter
  • Zest your lemon before juicing it, otherwise you will wrestle with a squishy, difficult fruit
Go Back