Description
This Garlic Butter Fettuccine with Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful Italian-American dish featuring tender shrimp sautéed in garlic butter sauce, tossed with al dente fettuccine pasta, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it combines rich buttery flavors with a hint of spice and freshness from lemon wedges, delivering a satisfying seafood pasta experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
To Serve
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Prepare the Shrimp: While the pasta is cooking, season the shrimp with salt and black pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to release the garlic’s aroma without browning it.
- Toss Together: Return the cooked pasta and shrimp to the skillet. Toss everything to coat evenly with the garlic butter sauce. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if necessary.
- Serve: Serve the fettuccine immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the dish.
Notes
- Add a splash of white wine to the garlic butter sauce for extra depth of flavor.
- You can substitute linguine or spaghetti if you prefer instead of fettuccine.
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes according to your taste.
- Make sure not to overcook the shrimp to keep them tender and juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 185 mg
