A rich and elegant pasta dish featuring juicy garlic butter shrimp tossed with silky creamy spaghetti and parmesan. Perfect for a quick restaurant-style dinner at home.
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
- Water for boiling
- 1 tbsp salt for pasta water
Shrimp
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tbsp butter
- 5–6 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ tsp red chili flakes (optional)
- ½ cup chicken broth or seafood broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Garnishes
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra parmesan
- Lemon wedges
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook the Spaghetti
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions.
Reserve:
- 1 cup pasta water
Drain pasta and set aside.
2. Season the Shrimp
Pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
Season with:
- paprika
- salt
- black pepper
3. Cook the Shrimp
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add shrimp in a single layer.
Cook:
- 1½–2 minutes per side
Until pink and lightly golden.
Shrimp are done when they reach:
145∘F
Remove shrimp and set aside.
Avoid overcooking or shrimp can become rubbery.
4. Make the Garlic Butter Cream Sauce
Reduce heat to medium.
Add butter to the same skillet.
Once melted, add garlic and chili flakes.
Cook:
- 30 seconds
until fragrant.
Pour in broth and simmer:
- 2 minutes
Add:
- heavy cream
- Italian seasoning
Simmer gently:
- 3–4 minutes
until slightly thickened.
5. Add Parmesan
Lower heat.
Gradually whisk in parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy.
Add lemon juice.
Taste and adjust:
- salt
- pepper
If sauce becomes too thick:
- add reserved pasta water little by little
6. Combine Pasta and Shrimp
Add cooked spaghetti to skillet.
Toss until fully coated.
Return shrimp to pan and gently mix.
Cook:
- 1 minute
to warm through.
Serving Suggestions
Top with:
- parsley
- parmesan
- cracked pepper
- lemon wedges
Serve with:
- garlic bread
- Caesar salad
- roasted asparagus
- sautéed spinach
Storage
Refrigerator
- Store up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently over low heat with:
- a splash of milk
or - broth
Cream sauces can thicken after refrigeration.
Tips for Best Results
- Use freshly grated parmesan for smooth sauce.
- Don’t boil cream sauce aggressively.
- Large shrimp give the best texture and presentation.
- Lemon juice brightens the richness beautifully.
Variations
Spicy Cajun Version
Add:
- Cajun seasoning
- extra chili flakes
Lighter Version
Use:
- half-and-half instead of heavy cream
