Lemon Garlic Shrimp Penne – Sturdy penne pasta tossed with shrimp in a vibrant lemon, garlic, and butter sauce.
There is a woeful lack of seafood on my blog. I apologize for this. A friend and I have been chatting about all the various things I want to make. The list just gets longer and longer, regardless of how many different recipes I make in a given day. Fun fact, six recipes in one day for the blog is my current record. I have no intention of besting myself either.
But I digress. As my friend and I chatted over various recipes I wanted to make, I decided I did need to make the utterly simple, but outrageously delicious lemon garlic shrimp pasta. The most difficult decision was if I wanted to use a long, thin noodle or a short, sturdy noodle. Obviously in the end, I opted for the short and sturdy. I did invite my friend over to enjoy this dish, since it was my conversation with him that push this recipe to the top of the to-make list.
You’re free to use any type of noodle that makes you happy. I’ve had it with angel hair, spaghetti, and linguine. All work. I used a cast-iron skillet because I like how it browns and develops a deeper flavor. But any skillet will do, make sure it is at least 12-inches.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb penne (or pasta of choice)
- 1 lb frozen cooked jumbo (26-30) shrimp (deveined, shelled)
- 4 tbsp butter; divided
- 3 plump cloves garlic; minced/grated
- 3 1/2-4 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley; some reserved as garnish
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper
Instructions
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Cook pasta according to package directions, reserve 1 cup pasta water.
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In a skillet, add two tablespoons of butter.
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Once melted, place the shrimp in the hot butter. Do not over crowd them. Cooking may need to be done in two batches.
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Once the shrimp has cooked, about 4 minutes, return any removed shrimp and add the garlic, remaining butter, lemon juice, and parsley.
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Sauté until cooked through and the liquid begins to evaporate.
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Add the cooked pasta to the skillet.
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Slowly begin to add the pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time until the shrimp and pasta has reached the desired consistence. Pull up any of the stuck on bits at the bottom to intensify the flavor.
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Garnish with remaining parsley, serve, and enjoy.
After my friend tasted this, he asked me to marry him. Of course he was joking, but he did say it was ‘marriage proposal’ worthy. It got me thinking of the power of food. What is the craziest thing that’s happened to you as a result of food?
36 Comments
Debra @ Bowl Me Over
March 31, 2015 at 3:32 amThis looks so good – simple too! Looks like a perfect weeknight meal!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:49 pmThe shrimp cooks in no time flat, so have the past almost done and ready to go.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
March 31, 2015 at 5:39 amLove shrimp, garlic and lemon. This looks so wonderful, can’t wait to try! Yum!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:49 pmThank you Allie, it’s simple but delicious.
Beth
March 31, 2015 at 7:12 amThis look amazing! I think 3-4 recipes in one day is the most I’ve ever done!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:49 pmI can barely handle doing two anymore…too much work involved to proper quality.
Julia
March 31, 2015 at 7:28 amWhat a flavorful meal! I love the shrimp and these flavors mixed together!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:50 pmThank you Julia, it’s a great combo.
Dan from Platter Talk
March 31, 2015 at 8:21 amWhat a great reminder of the versatility of seafood in general and shrimp in particular. This is such a simple dish and every bit as delicious. Beautiful job with this one!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:51 pmThank you Dan, you are so spot on with the versatility of shrimp…I need to cook with it more.
Melissa Falk
March 31, 2015 at 9:35 amThe simplest recipes are always the best. I love a lemon-garlic combo. This looks delicious.
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:51 pmThank you Melissa.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
March 31, 2015 at 11:23 amI don’t have hardly any seafood on my blog because my hubby won’t eat it! I’ll have to make this on a night where he won’t be home!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:51 pmIt’s hard when you live in a split-taste home.
Stephanie Stuart
March 31, 2015 at 12:08 pmDelicious recipe! Do you have an tips for finding shrimp that is healthier for you? I keep hearing about dirty shrimp from farms. thanks 🙂
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 12:52 pmI haven’t figured out what to do about shrimp yet, not with all the new allowances of bad shrimp allowed here.
christine
March 31, 2015 at 3:27 pmI’m laughing, Michelle, because two weeks ago I posted my VERY FIRST seafood recipe when I came to the same realization of being so lacking in that department! This sounds yummy and easy which are my two favorite components of a recipe!
Michelle
March 31, 2015 at 7:57 pmMaybe we should make a pact, every two months we MUST do a seafood dish.
Sandra - The Foodie Affair
March 31, 2015 at 9:59 pmI really need to eat and make more seafood! It comes together so quickly and this would be devoured at my house!
Michelle
April 1, 2015 at 1:02 amI think I need to start a more seafood club. It’s so good for us.
Joy @ Joy Love Food
April 2, 2015 at 1:03 pmI adore shrimp, this sounds like a wonderful preparation! And wow, 6 recipes in 1 day?! Am I reading that right? that’s incredible 🙂
Michelle
April 2, 2015 at 8:58 pmYes, for a couple of months, I hosted a dinner party every Sunday, a many hour long affair where I served each dish to the guests, but they had to wait for the photo shoots to end before they could eat. I never ate with my guests. It was like a cooking demos at times. But then I freed up my week that way.
Brandy Myers
April 6, 2015 at 8:34 amOhh this looks amazing. We just got back from a long weekend and I don’t want to go shopping. It looks like I actually have everything on hand to make this for dinner. Thank you so much for the recipe and saving me a trip to the store!
Michelle
April 6, 2015 at 11:55 amExcellent to hear Brandy, it’s super quick and delicious.
Maureen
May 18, 2015 at 12:03 amThe dish looks so amazing. I love lemon because it has this great scent and strong flavor and I also love shrimps. Therefore, I must say that I love this dish of yours! It is just so great! This will definitely be on my meal list.
Michelle
May 18, 2015 at 1:51 amI love lemon for those reasons too, plus it just “brightens” food up.
The Food Hunter
June 17, 2015 at 9:50 amIt looks delicious! wish I wasn’t allergic
Michelle
June 17, 2015 at 10:09 amOh no, sadness…allergic to shrimp?
Angela
June 22, 2015 at 9:11 amI love this shrimp recipe!!! Garlic and lemon, pretty perfect!!!
Michelle
June 22, 2015 at 10:17 amThank you Angela.
Faye Wilkerson
July 15, 2015 at 10:43 amI buy shrimp in bulk from our local shrimp boats. It helps them and I get a quality product. This will be a great recipe to make with some of the shrimp I have in freezer. I just have to remember to defrost them.
Michelle
July 16, 2015 at 1:13 amOh wow, that’s some seriously fresh shrimp. I’d love to get my hands on some of that.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
July 15, 2015 at 11:29 pmThis is exactly the sort of recipe my family loves! We’ll be trying it!
Michelle
July 16, 2015 at 1:16 amThank you Michelle, hope you all enjoy it.
Hirra Pervaiz
July 16, 2015 at 12:22 amI love Garlic and Shrimps and with lemon this is my kind of a pasta, love it, Pinning it too!
Michelle
July 16, 2015 at 1:16 amThank you Hirra, hope you enjoy it.