The Best Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
A rich, buttery pasta dish with succulent shrimp and garlic, finished with a splash of white wine for a sophisticated touch. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 40 minutes pairs spaghetti, (peeled and deveined) shrimp, butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 lb (peeled and deveined) shrimp
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves (minced) garlic
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes until pink.
- Step 3: Pour in white wine and simmer for 2 minutes until reduced by half. Toss pasta into the skillet, add chopped parsley, salt, and pepper, then stir to coat. If needed, add pasta water to adjust consistency.
- Step 4: Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does The Best Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (15 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 The Best Creamy Garlic 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 from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in The Best Creamy Garlic 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 The Best Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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 The Best Creamy Garlic 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.
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
