With al dente pasta tossed in a rich, savoury sauce, this garlic butter shrimp pasta uses just staple ingredients to create bold tastes, elevated by the aromatics. The garlic and shallots create a savoury depth, while a kick of chillies add a punch that keeps you coming back for more. Brightened with fresh parsley and a touch of garlic salt and chilli powder, every bite delivers a balance of heat, freshness, and savoury goodness.
If you’re craving a quick, simple meal with minimal effort, this pasta recipe is your answer.
Table of contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and simple: Grab any staple aromatics and seasonings at your home, plus a touch of fresh herbs, you’ll create a delicious, flavourful pasta dish within minutes.
- Uses natural flavours: This recipe uses natural flavours of aromatics and fresh herbs to create bold tastes, with the garlic, butter, and shallots creating a rich, savoury base, while the chillies add a spicy kick to make it even more addictive.
- Only one pan: Simply sear the shrimps, sauté aromatics, then toss with cooked pasta, this recipe requires only one pan to make, with no complicated steps.
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Ingredients for garlic butter shrimp pasta
- Pasta: I used spaghetti pasta for this recipe as their long, slender shape perfectly coats the garlic butter sauce and wraps around the shrimp.
- Shrimps: Fresh or frozen.
- Garlic: Provides the bold, savoury base for this dish, enhancing the taste with its pungent and aromatic quality.
- Chillies: Optional for spicy food lovers.
- Shallots: Add a subtle sweetness when sautéed, enhancing the aromatic quality of the dish.
- Seasonings: I used garlic salt and chilli powder to amplify the garlicky depth and add a smoky heat to enhance the dish’s flavour profile.
- Fresh parsley: This brightens the dish with its freshness.
How to make garlic butter shrimp pasta
- Cook the pasta: Bring a pot of water to boil, add a splash of salt, and cook the spaghetti to al dente (2 minutes minus the package instructions recommend). Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water for later use. Meanwhile, prepare other ingredients.
- Cook the shrimps: Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Transfer the shrimps to the pan, and season with garlic salt and chilli powder. Sear both sides until shrimps turn pink and golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Using the same pan, add in minced garlic, shallots, and fresh chillies. Sauté until fragrant and golden, then toss in the spaghetti. Add a splash of pasta water, and stir to help emulsify the sauce.
- Combine: Add in a generous amount of freshly chopped parsley, then toss to combine. Add more pasta water if needed for silkiness. Do a taste test and adjust with salt/pepper. Transfer the cooked shrimps back to the pan, and stir to mix.
- Serve: Transfer to a plate, garnish with extra parsley, and enjoy!
Success tips on making garlic butter shrimp pasta
Don’t overcook the shrimps.
To ensure the shrimps remain plump and juicy, add the shrimps in a single layer and sear both sides until pink, then set aside.
Sauté aromatics.
This sets a deep, savoury flavour base for the pasta dish, making it incredibly fragrant, aromatic, and flavourful.
Ensure the pan is well heated.
You’ll need enough heat intensity for a delicious, aromatic pasta that is packed with flavours. Be sure the pan is well heated before tossing in the pasta. Stir quickly with sautéed aromatics, some pasta water, and fresh parsley to combine evenly.
Reserve pasta water.
As you toss the pasta with aromatics, add a splash of pasta water to help emulsify the garlic butter sauce, allowing every pasta strand to be coated with garlicky, savoury flavour.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Make it homey: Add in sausages, ham, and mushrooms to make it even heartier. My way of comfort food that feels like home.
- Substitute with paprika: If your heat tolerance is not high, you can use paprika rather than chilli powder. This adds colour, and a sweet, mildly smoky flavour to enhance richness.
- Add a splash of lemon juice: This brightens the dish with a refreshing note, balancing out the savoury flavours.
How to store leftovers?
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container. They will last up to 2 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, gently stir-fry with a splash of water.
Offering a perfect harmony of flavors and textures, this garlic butter shrimp pasta combines juicy, tender shrimps that are sautéed in a rich, buttery garlic sauce, al dente pasta, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. It is a simple, healthy, and delicious dish to make when you’re craving something quick and satisfying.
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Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 270 g spaghetti
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 3 shallots minced
- 3 chillies chopped (optional for heat)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 150 g shrimps
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- Pinch of salt/pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a pot of water to boil, add in salt, and cook the spaghetti to al dente (2 minutes minus the package instructions recommend). Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water for later use.
- Cook the shrimps: Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Transfer the shrimps to the pan, and season with garlic salt and chilli powder. Sear both sides until shrimps turn pink and golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Using the same pan, add in minced garlic, shallots, and fresh chillies. Sauté until fragrant and golden, then toss in the spaghetti. Add a splash of pasta water, and stir to help emulsify the sauce.
- Combine: Add in a generous amount of freshly chopped parsley, then toss to combine. Add more pasta water if needed for silkiness. Do a taste test and adjust with salt/pepper. Transfer the cooked shrimps back to the pan, and stir to mix.
- Serve: Transfer to a plate, garnish with extra parsley, and enjoy!