Best Ever Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A bright, zesty pasta dish with plump shrimp and a lemon-garlic sauce that’s the best ever for a light yet satisfying meal. Ready in 25 minutes with pantry staples. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, shrimp, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil; add 8 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, reserving 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, peel and finely mince 4 garlic cloves. Cut 1 lemon into wedges, then zest 1 tablespoon of lemon peel.
  3. Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant and golden, but not browned.
  4. Step 4: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet; cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque, then stir in 1 tbsp lemon zest and 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley.
  5. Step 5: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, tossing vigorously until sauce coats the strands and thickens to a glossy consistency, about 1-2 minutes.

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