Easy Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp
The angel hair pasta is perfectly al dente and wonderfully buttery. Angel hair is great to accompany this lemon garlic shrimp because it cooks so quickly and so do shrimp. The shrimp are juicy, plump, and have so much flavor from the garlic. Make sure you don’t overcook them so they’re not rubbery or tough. Even large shrimp only take a couple minutes to cook through. The lemon adds a wonderful brightness to the dish and is a perfect complement to shrimp. And anything tossed in butter automatically tastes great. This lemon shrimp pasta is slightly garlicky, incredibly easy to make, and is a family favorite! This is the perfect weeknight meal because it looks incredibly fancy, but it actually takes about 15 minutes to make. Win!
Ingredients for Lemon Shrimp Pasta
This simple shrimp and angel hair pasta calls for just seven basic ingredients. I have them on hand most of the time, and you likely do as well! To make this lemon butter shrimp pasta, you’ll need:
Angel hair pasta Unsalted butter Garlic powder Large shrimp Salt and pepper Lemon juice Lemon zest
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Lemon Shrimp Pasta
This is such an easy, 15-minute recipe for lemon butter shrimp pasta! Here’s a look at how the recipe comes together:
Tips for Making Lemon Shrimp Pasta
Garlic: To save chopping time, and because I don’t like biting into little pieces of garlic no matter how small I mince it, I used garlic powder. Feel free to chop a clove or two of garlic and sauté it with the butter if you prefer garlic cloves. Shrimp: Be sure to use raw shrimp in this recipe and not a pre-cooked variety. I worry that if you use pre-cooked shrimp, you’ll wind up overcooking them and making them rubbery. Protein swap: I bet you could easily swap in diced chicken if you don’t have any shrimp on hand. Just note that chicken may need to cook a little longer than shrimp.
Recipe Substitutions to Try
One of the reasons I love this recipe for garlic lemon pasta with shrimp is that it’s quick, easy, and flexible! Here are some ingredient swaps you can make, if needed:
Pasta: Angel hair pasta cooks in a flash, but spaghetti or another long, skinny pasta will work too. Garlic: I used garlic powder, but use freshly minced garlic if preferred. Lemon juice: I bet some or all of the lemon juice could be replaced with white wine to make a white wine sauce. Butter: If all you have is salted butter, scale back the amount of salt called for in the recipe. Shrimp: Use diced chicken breasts or another type of fish if desired.
More Easy Pasta Recipes:
ALL OF MY PASTA RECIPES! In the Freezer: This isn’t my favorite recipe to freeze due the texture changes of both the shrimp and the pasta, but technically it will keep airtight in the freezer for up to 3 months. To Reheat: I use my microwave for quickness and ease and reheat my leftovers for about 30 seconds on high, or as needed. But you can use your stove or whatever is best suited for you. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Honey Lemon Chicken with Angel Hair Pasta — Easy, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll love the tangy-sweet flavor!! A healthy weeknight dinner for those busy nights! One-Bag Lemon Chicken and Pasta – An EASY lemon chicken and pasta recipe that’s family-friendly and perfect for busy weeknights!! Everything cooks in ONE bag! The chicken is juicy, the pasta is tender, and cleanup is a breeze!! Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo — EASY, ready in 25 minutes, and feeds a crowd!! Juicy lemon chicken with orzo, fresh spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes make this a dinnertime WINNER! Lemon Pepper Basil Chicken and Pasta – EASY and ready in 15 minutes with comforting pasta, juicy chicken, and there is so much ZESTY flavor from the lemon, basil, and spinach! Lemon Basil Orzo and Vegetables – An EASY vegan recipe ready in 30 minutes that makes it easy to eat your veggies while enjoying the comforts of pasta, too!! The lemon and basil make the dish taste fresh and light!! Parmesan Chicken and Spinach Pasta – EASY and ready in 20 minutes with comforting pasta, juicy chicken, a hint of lemon, and the PERFECT amount of Parmesan!! Great for busy weeknights and the extra is good for meal prepping!! Skinny Italian Chicken Pasta Salad – EASY, ready in 30 minutes, feeds a crowd, and is on the SKINNY side!! Juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and the pasta are tossed in a light and tangy homemade Italian lemon vinaigrette!! Lemon Butter Garlic Chicken Pasta — Buttery pasta with juicy chicken, flavored with lemon butter and garlic, and finished with Parmesan cheese!! A family-friendly dinner recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes and it’s so EASY!! Pesto Parmesan Chicken and Pasta – EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and every piece of tender chicken and pasta is coated in fresh pesto sauce and parmesan cheese!! Great for easy weeknight dinners, planned leftovers, or for parties because it feeds a crowd!! Asiago Chicken and Pasta – EASY comfort food to feed a crowd that’s ready in 25 minutes!! Tender chicken and penne pasta with red peppers, green beans, and everything is coated with Asiago CHEESE for the family dinner win!! Chicken Asparagus Pasta — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and the asparagus, tomatoes, and basil keep this chicken and pasta recipe tasting LIGHTER and FRESHER! Originally published March 20, 2015 and republished April 1, 2020 and March 10, 2023 and March 15, 2024 with updated text.
