Description
Quick and easy Lemon Garlic Shrimp with pasta, bursting with bright citrus flavors. A delicious and impressive meal ready in minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional, but highly recommended!)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Cooked pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or your favorite), for serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Shrimp: Rinse shrimp under cold water and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. In a bowl, toss shrimp with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add Wine (Optional): If using, add white wine to the skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the alcohol to evaporate.
- Incorporate Lemon: Pour in lemon juice and add lemon zest. Stir well to combine.
- Melt Butter: Add butter to the skillet and stir until completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Season Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed with salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes.
- Cook Shrimp: Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink, opaque, and cooked through. Avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Add Parsley: Stir in chopped fresh parsley.
- Toss with Pasta: Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the lemon garlic sauce.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and lemon wedges.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Feel free to add some vegetables to the skillet along with the garlic. Sliced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach would all be delicious additions.
- If you don’t have parsley on hand, you can use other fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, or thyme.
- For a creamier sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half at the end.
- If you’re not a fan of pasta, you can serve the lemon garlic shrimp with rice or quinoa instead.
- For a smoky flavor, grill the shrimp instead of sautéing them. Simply thread the shrimp onto skewers and grill them over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes