Lemon-Herb Seafood Pasta with Garlic Butter
A light and refreshing pasta dish featuring shrimp, scallops, and mussels in a creamy garlic butter sauce infused with lemon and fresh herbs. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 30 minutes pairs spaghetti pasta, peeled and deveined shrimp, scallops for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 2, 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.
Ingredients
- 200 g spaghetti pasta
- 150 g peeled and deveined shrimp
- 100 g scallops
- 200 g cleaned mussels
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 juiced lemon
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 100 ml white wine
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add white wine and bring to a simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Step 3: Add shrimp, scallops, and mussels to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes until seafood is opaque and mussels have opened. Stir in lemon juice, thyme, and 1 tbsp chopped parsley. Season with salt.
- Step 4: Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 2 tbsp butter. Garnish with additional parsley before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Lemon-Herb Seafood Pasta with Garlic Butter take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (20 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Lemon-Herb Seafood Pasta with Garlic Butter?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep spaghetti pasta from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Lemon-Herb Seafood Pasta with Garlic Butter?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Lemon-Herb Seafood Pasta with Garlic Butter for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Lemon-Herb Seafood Pasta with Garlic Butter?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Absolutely wonderful.
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
