Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta with Spinach
A quick, flavorful garlic butter shrimp pasta with fresh spinach, ready in under 20 minutes. This easy dinner recipe combines tender shrimp, garlicky butter sauce, and vibrant spinach for a satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) peeled and deveined medium shrimp
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or linguine
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach (packed)
- Juice of half a lemon (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Reserve ½ cup (120ml) of pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound (450g) peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot and shimmering, add the shrimp in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Cook shrimp 2 minutes on one side until pink and opaque, then flip and cook 1 minute more. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Once melted, add 4 cloves minced garlic. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. If using, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Toss in 4 cups fresh baby spinach. Stir and cook until just wilted, about 1-2 minutes, keeping spinach bright green.
- Return shrimp to the skillet. Add drained pasta and about ¼ cup (60ml) reserved pasta water. Toss everything together using tongs or a pasta fork, coating pasta in garlic butter sauce. Add more pasta water if needed for silkiness.
- Squeeze juice of half a lemon over the pasta. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese and toss gently.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Cook shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding and keep them tender. Avoid burning garlic by cooking on medium or medium-low heat and stirring constantly. Reserve pasta water to create a silky sauce. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini. For dairy-free, use vegan butter and omit Parmesan or use nutritional yeast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta, quick dinner, spinach pasta, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight dinner, garlic shrimp, pasta with spinach