Old-World Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Succulent shrimp sautéed in rich garlic butter and served with al dente pasta, Parmesan, and a hint of white wine. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 35 minutes pairs peeled and deveined large shrimp, spaghetti pasta, softened butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
- 300 g, peeled and deveined large shrimp
- 200 g spaghetti pasta
- 50 g, softened butter
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 60 ml white wine
- 30 g, grated Parmesan cheese
- 100 g, halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1, zested and juiced lemon
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 200 g spaghetti and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 50 g butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 300 g shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook 3-4 minutes until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add 60 ml white wine and 100 g cherry tomatoes. Cook 3 minutes until tomatoes soften and wine reduces by half. Stir in 30 g Parmesan and 1 tbsp lemon zest. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Return shrimp to the pan and mix. Finish with 1 tbsp lemon juice and serve.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Old-World Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (10 min prep + 25 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 Old-World Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta?
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 Old-World Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta?
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 Old-World Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta 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 Old-World Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta?
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
- ★★★★★
Kids gobbled it up without complaints — that's a 5-star in my book.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
