15-Minute Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta

Some nights you need dinner on the table fast, but you refuse to sacrifice flavor. That’s exactly when I reach for this lemon butter shrimp pasta. It’s elegant enough for date night but quick enough for a Tuesday when you forgot to plan dinner.

The magic is in the sauce — butter, garlic, lemon juice, and a splash of pasta water create this silky, glossy coating that clings to every strand of spaghetti. The shrimp cook in minutes, and the whole thing comes together before your pasta water even cools down. It’s become my most-requested recipe for a reason.

Sarah Mitchell

15-Minute Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta

Some nights you need dinner on the table fast, but you refuse to sacrifice flavor. That's exactly when I reach for this lemon butter shrimp pasta.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Calories: 520

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan for serving

Method

 

1. Cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2 minutes per side until pink and curled. Remove and set aside.
4. Add the garlic to the same pan and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Pour in the lemon juice and pasta water. Let it simmer for 1 minute, scraping up any brown bits.
6. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Add the lemon zest.
7. Return the shrimp to the pan and toss everything together.
8. Serve immediately with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan.

Notes

Don't overcook the shrimp — they continue cooking in the residual heat of the pasta. Pasta water is the secret ingredient here. The starch helps the sauce cling to the noodles perfectly. Angel hair works great too if you want an even faster cook time.