A Super-Easy Spaghetti with Shrimp and Garlic Butter
Two of our favorite loves is spaghetti pasta and shrimp. When you combine them together with butter and garlic, something super-delicious is created!
Spaghetti, shrimp and garlic butter! An easy and delicious dinner for a quick week night meal.
This pasta and shrimp recipe is super-easy and gets dinner on the table in about 20 minutes.
Look for fresh shrimp that is wild-caught and not farm-raised if at all possible.

Delicious and Easy spaghetti with shrimp and garlic butter - perfect for a weeknight meal.
- 1 lb fresh shrimp that has been deveined and cleaned.
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed and roughly chopped
- 1/2 lb dry spaghetti or capellini that’s been cooked in salted water just until it is al dente
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Spanish paprika for garnish
- 1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese
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In a medium skillet over medium heat, very carefully brown the butter just until you see it turning a bit darker in color. Add the chopped garlic and stir together until fragrant.
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Lightly salt and pepper the shrimp and then add the shrimp to the skillet.
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Cook shrimp on both sides until the shrimp turns pinkish orange, about 2-3 minutes.
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Add the reserved pasta water, cooked pasta, and salt and pepper to the skillet with the shrimp. You may not need to add salt if the pasta has been salted when cooking or if using salted butter. The extra liquid will help fully cook the shrimp and deglaze the pan so all the flavors can be absorbed by the pasta.
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Toss the pasta in the shrimp butter garlic sauce for a minute.
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Turn off the heat and add the green onion. Toss again until everything is well combined.
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To serve, place in individual plates and sprinkle with some extra green onion and a light dusting of Spanish paprika.
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Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
You can cook the fresh shrimp with the tails on for more flavor. Don’t forget the fresh Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over top. This is an easy meal to prepare any night of the week. If you would like some added vegetables, add 1 cup of green peas to the pasta before it finishes cooking.
What to serve with this easy dinner? How about a basic tossed salad!