Quick Creamy Brown Butter Garlic Shrimp Pasta
A quick and easy creamy pasta dish featuring brown butter, garlic, and tender shrimp, ready in under 25 minutes. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Swirl occasionally. After 3-4 minutes, butter will foam and turn golden brown with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat just before it smells burnt.
- Add minced garlic to browned butter and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Avoid overcooking.
- Reduce heat to low and pour in heavy cream. Stir to combine, scraping up brown bits. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add drained pasta to skillet and toss to coat evenly. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top and serve immediately with extra Parmesan on the side.
Notes
Watch the butter carefully when browning to avoid burning. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated. Shrimp cooks quickly; remove from heat as soon as pink and opaque. Can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a lighter sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 32
Keywords: shrimp pasta, brown butter, creamy garlic sauce, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, seafood pasta