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A delicious quick shrimp pasta dinner, freshly prepared and plated.

Speedy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

This quick and easy recipe features succulent shrimp, zesty lemon, and aromatic garlic, all tossed with pasta for a delicious and satisfying meal. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it comes together in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Breakfast
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or frozen, thawed)
  • 8 oz quick-cooking pasta (about half a box)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 garlic, minced cloves
  • 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best!)
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste, optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet or pan

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Bring salted water to a boil, cook pasta until al dente, reserving ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
  3. Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink; remove and set aside.
  4. Deglaze the pan with broth, scraping up browned bits, then stir in lemon juice and bring to a simmer.
  5. Return drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce, tossing to coat; add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
  6. Add cooked shrimp back to the pan, toss gently to heat through, and stir in most of the fresh parsley.
  7. Divide pasta into bowls, garnish with remaining parsley and Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate the shrimp in a little lemon juice and garlic powder before cooking. Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level. If you don't have broth, you can use white wine for deglazing the pan.