30-Minute Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-01 · Updated 2026-04-01

A vibrant, light pasta dish with plump shrimp, garlic, and lemon that comes together in under 30 minutes using pantry staples and fresh herbs. This Italian-inspired quick recipe (low-carb), ready in about 28 minutes, pairs spaghetti, large shrimp, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 475 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 12 oz large shrimp
• 4 garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente; reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, peel and mince garlic. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
3. Step 3: Add shrimp to the skillet, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque, stirring occasionally.
4. Step 4: Toss drained pasta into the skillet with shrimp, adding 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Stir in 2 tbsp chopped parsley and lemon juice from 1/2 lemon, cooking for 1 minute until sauce coats the pasta evenly.