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A close-up shot of a bowl of garlic butter shrimp pasta, garnished with fresh parsley.

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe (Ready in 20 Minutes!)

This quick and easy garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe delivers a restaurant-quality meal in under 20 minutes. Plump shrimp and tender linguine are tossed in a luxurious garlic butter and white wine sauce for a perfect weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter divided
  • 6 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water more as needed
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot For boiling pasta.
  • 1 Large Skillet For making the sauce and combining the dish.

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper. Melt 2 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium, add the remaining 4 tbsp of butter to the skillet. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the white wine, scraping up any bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water, bring to a simmer to create a creamy sauce.
  5. Return the cooked pasta, shrimp, and fresh parsley to the skillet. Toss to combine everything. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired sauce consistency. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the shrimp; work in batches if necessary to ensure they sear rather than steam.
The starchy pasta water is essential for creating a smooth, non-greasy sauce. Add it gradually until the sauce is perfect.