Zesty Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti: A Quick Dinner Recipe

Garlic shrimp spaghetti dances with Mediterranean flavors that instantly transport diners to coastal kitchens.

Tantalizing aromas waft through home spaces, promising a culinary adventure with each twirled forkful.

Succulent seafood mingles perfectly with al dente pasta, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Bright, fresh ingredients craft simple components into an extraordinary dining experience that feels simultaneously elegant and comforting.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike appreciate how quickly this dish comes together with minimal preparation.

Robust seasonings elevate the recipe from ordinary to spectacular, infusing each bite with zesty character.

You’ll find this meal satisfies deeply while offering a sophisticated yet approachable dining option.

Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti for a Savory Meal

• Quick and Flavorful Seafood Feast: Dive into a mouthwatering garlic shrimp pasta that transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu dinner parties.
• Restaurant-Quality Taste at Home: Experience professional-level cooking with minimal effort, creating a dish that rivals high-end restaurant preparations while using basic kitchen techniques and everyday ingredients.
• Customizable Culinary Adventure: Easily adjust the recipe's heat level by playing with red pepper flakes, swap protein types, or experiment with additional herbs to match your personal flavor preferences and nutritional needs.

Ingredients for Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti

• Spaghetti: Classic pasta with smooth texture perfect for absorbing delicious sauce and flavors.
• Olive Oil: Adds smooth richness and prevents pasta from sticking during cooking.
• Salt: Essential seasoning to enhance overall taste of the pasta.

• Shrimp: Fresh seafood protein with sweet, delicate flavor that pairs beautifully with garlic.
• Butter: Creates rich, smooth base for cooking shrimp and adds luxurious depth to the dish.

• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides intense, warm flavor to shrimp and entire dish.
• Italian Seasoning: Herb blend that adds complexity and traditional Mediterranean taste.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and enhances overall seasoning profile.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional spice that adds gentle, warming kick to the pasta.

How to Cook Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti

Step 1: Boil the Pasta

Grab a large pot and fill it with water. Add a generous pinch of salt and a splash of olive oil. Toss in some fresh herbs for an extra flavor boost. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Drop in the spaghetti and cook until perfectly tender, typically 8-10 minutes. Before draining, carefully scoop out of pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and let it rest.

Step 2: Prepare the Shrimp

Rinse the shrimp under cool running water. Gently pat them dry using paper towels, ensuring they’re ready for cooking.

Step 3: Melt the Butter

Grab a large skillet and place it over medium heat. Melt the butter until it’s smooth and slightly bubbling.

Step 4: Cook the Shrimp

Add the shrimp to the melted butter. Watch as they transform from gray to a beautiful pink and start to curl – this usually takes 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle in the minced garlic and continue cooking for 5-7 minutes, allowing the garlic to release its aromatic flavors into the shrimp.

Step 5: Add Olive Oil

Drizzle a light stream of olive oil into the skillet. This will help elevate the dish’s overall flavor profile and ensure a smooth coating on the pasta.

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Shrimp

• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Mix everything thoroughly to ensure even distribution of flavors.

Step 7: Incorporate Pasta Water

Slowly add the reserved pasta water, starting with . Continue adding until you reach the perfect sauce consistency. Stir gently to combine.

Step 8: Toss and Serve

Give everything a final gentle toss in the skillet, ensuring all ingredients are heated through and well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious garlic shrimp spaghetti!

Top Tips for Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti

• Dry Shrimp Thoroughly: Pat shrimp completely dry with paper towels to achieve perfect golden-brown searing and prevent steaming.
• Control Garlic Cooking: Sauté garlic carefully to prevent burning, which can create a bitter taste that overpowers the delicate shrimp flavor.
• Reserve Pasta Water Strategically: Keep pasta water as a secret weapon for creating silky, glossy sauce that helps ingredients cling together seamlessly.
• Balance Seasoning Gradually: Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes incrementally, tasting as you go to develop a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
• Use High-Quality Olive Oil: Select extra virgin olive oil to enhance the overall taste and provide a rich, authentic Mediterranean essence to the dish.

Storing and Reheating Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover shrimp spaghetti into an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Seal tightly to prevent moisture loss and preserve flavor.
• Reheating Method: Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of reserved pasta water or olive oil to restore moisture and prevent drying. Stir frequently to distribute heat evenly and maintain the shrimp's tender texture.
• Freezing Option: Freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Note that pasta and shrimp might lose some original texture after freezing, so consume within recommended timeframe for best quality.

Pairing Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti with Sides

• Elevate Seafood Richness: Pair this garlic shrimp spaghetti with a crisp, unoaked Chardonnay that complements the buttery shrimp without overpowering the delicate garlic notes.
• Spark Mediterranean Flavors: Serve alongside a bright, zesty Greek salad with feta cheese and kalamata olives to enhance the dish's Mediterranean essence and provide a refreshing contrast.
• Capture Herbal Undertones: Match the meal with a light, herbaceous white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, which accentuates the dish's fresh herb undertones and cuts through the richness of butter and shrimp.
• Balance Spice Dynamics: Add a side of crusty sourdough bread to soak up the flavorful garlic sauce and provide a textural counterpoint to the tender shrimp and soft spaghetti.

Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti Fun Variations

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Replace red pepper flakes with harissa paste and add diced sun-dried tomatoes for a North African-inspired flavor profile. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top for extra zest.
• Creamy Herb Seafood Pasta: Incorporate cream cheese and fresh chopped basil into the sauce. Use white wine instead of pasta water to create a richer, more luxurious sauce that coats the shrimp and spaghetti beautifully.
• Lemony Garlic Shrimp Skillet: Enhance the dish with fresh lemon zest and juice added during the last minute of cooking. Garnish with chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts for a bright, Mediterranean-style finish. Include a splash of white wine to boost the citrusy notes.
• Cajun Shrimp Spaghetti: Swap Italian seasoning for Cajun spice blend. Add diced bell peppers and onions to the skillet for extra texture and authentic Louisiana flavor. Finish with green onions and a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.

Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti Delight Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti Delight brings Mediterranean coastal charm to dinner tables with its aromatic blend of succulent shrimp and perfectly seasoned pasta. Rich garlic notes and fresh herbs create a quick, elegant meal that transports diners to Italian seaside restaurants without leaving home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 pound (454 grams) medium shrimp, deveined and tails removed

Pasta:

• 1 pound (454 grams) spaghetti noodles

Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:

• 6–8 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) butter
• 3 drizzles olive oil
• Italian seasoning, to taste
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes, optional, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Fresh herbs (such as parsley or basil), to taste

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Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with water, generously salt it, and add a splash of olive oil along with fresh herbs to create an aromatic base for the spaghetti. Bring the water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until it reaches an al dente texture, approximately 8-10 minutes.
2. While the pasta cooks, carefully rinse the shrimp under cold running water, then thoroughly pat them dry using paper towels to ensure optimal searing and flavor absorption.
3. Prepare a large skillet by melting butter over medium heat, creating a rich, golden base for cooking the shrimp.
4. Transfer the dried shrimp into the bubbling butter, cooking them until they transform to a delicate pink color and begin to curl slightly, typically 2-3 minutes. Introduce finely minced garlic and continue cooking for an additional 5-7 minutes to develop a deep, mellow flavor profile.
5. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil into the skillet, which will help distribute flavors and create a silky coating for the pasta.
6. Carefully drain the cooked spaghetti, reserving of pasta water. Add the spaghetti directly to the skillet with the garlic-infused shrimp, sprinkling in Italian seasoning, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
7. Gradually incorporate the reserved pasta water, starting with , to create a luxurious, cohesive sauce that clings to both pasta and shrimp.
8. Gently toss all ingredients together, ensuring even heat distribution and flavor integration. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Prepare shrimp thoroughly by patting completely dry to achieve perfect golden-brown searing and prevent soggy texture.
• Reserve pasta water strategically as a secret weapon for creating silky, restaurant-quality sauce that effortlessly coats each pasta strand.
• Cook shrimp precisely between 2-3 minutes to maintain tenderness and prevent rubbery, overcooked seafood disaster.
• Infuse garlic gradually during cooking to develop deep, mellow flavor without burning or creating bitter undertones.
• Customize heat levels easily by adjusting red pepper flakes for those craving spicy kick or preferring milder taste profile.
• Control sauce consistency masterfully by incrementally adding reserved pasta water, ensuring luxurious, glossy finish every single time.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 525 cal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 55 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 250 mg