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Flavorful Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and easy lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta with fresh spinach, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that balances tangy lemon, rich butter, and garlicky shrimp.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Red pepper flakes, optional
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Cook for about 2 minutes on one side until pink edges appear, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until opaque and firm. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low and add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in lemon zest and juice. Let the sauce bubble gently for 1-2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits.
  6. Toss in fresh spinach and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute, keeping it vibrant green.
  7. Return shrimp to the skillet, add drained pasta, and toss together. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce as needed for a silky coating.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or lemon juice. Garnish with chopped parsley and Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry before cooking for better searing. Avoid overcooking shrimp to keep them tender. Add spinach last to keep it vibrant and slightly crisp. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce as needed. Cook shrimp in batches if pan is small to avoid steaming.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta recipe, quick dinner, easy pasta, spinach pasta, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta

Find it online: https://recipebelle.com/flavorful-lemon-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-dinner/