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Fresh Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe with Cherry Tomatoes

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A quick and easy shrimp pasta dish featuring a bright lemon garlic butter sauce with cherry tomatoes, perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (wild-caught if possible; fresh or thawed frozen works best)
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
  • 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon, juiced and zested
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat dry shrimp with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften and release juices.
  5. Push tomatoes to the side of the pan and add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
  6. Reduce heat to low and stir in unsalted butter until melted. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir gently to combine.
  7. Add drained linguine to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen sauce and coat pasta evenly. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  8. Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top. Toss lightly.
  9. Serve immediately while warm and fragrant.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry before cooking to ensure better searing. Add lemon juice after cooking shrimp to keep brightness and prevent toughness. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce and help it cling to pasta. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon garlic shrimp, cherry tomatoes, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, seafood pasta

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/fresh-lemon-garlic-shrimp-pasta-recipe-with-cherry-tomatoes-easy-step-by-step-guide/