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This simple Shrimp Linguine recipe is covered in a lemon butter sauce that will have you licking your plate clean! The best part is it's made in less than 20 minutes!

Do you love seafood recipes as much as I do? Try Baked Salmon, Fish and Chips, Lobster Roll, or Easy Homemade Crab Cakes!

A pan filled with Shrimp Linguine in a garlic lemon sauce and parmesan cheese.

Why I love this recipe:

  • Basic ingredients – Once you've got your shrimp, all you need to make shrimp scampi is butter, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon, crushed red pepper, and parmesan cheese.
  • Fast (20 minutes) -. This is the easiest dish EVER, and it's just a bonus that's it's delicious and impressive.
  • Kid-friendly – Even at 1 and 2 years old, my kids LOVED this meal.  Cut the shrimp into small pieces and serve with their favorite noodles.

Purchasing Shrimp: What to Know

If you live in an area where you can buy fresh shrimp, lucky you! Definitely do that.

For everyone else, you can purchase shrimp at the store in all varieties (large, medium, small, shell on/off, tail on/off, fresh, frozen, etc.) but for this shrimp pasta recipe we recommend buying extra large, tail-on, un-cooked shrimp. Once thawed, remove the shells.

I usually buy frozen shrimp from the freezer section. You can also buy thawed shrimp from the seafood counter. Remember that the higher quality the shrimp, the better your shrimp linguine will taste.

To Thaw Shrimp: Leave the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight OR pour them into a bowl and cover them with cold water for about an hour. Drain the shrimp and use paper towels to soak up the water.

Raw shrimp just thawed and rinsed, resting in a colander.

How to make Shrimp Linguine:

Cook Shrimp: Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.  Melt butter in a large skillet, add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the shrimp and sauté just until they turn pink, about 4-5 minutes, tossing often.

A pan with freshly cooked shrimp in butter for Shrimp Linguine.

Add Seasonings:  Remove shrimp from the heat and add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes.

Two images showing parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes being stirred on freshly cooked shrimp.

Toss to Combine: Sprinkle parmesan cheese on garlic shrimp pasta and toss everything gently. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Two images showing linguine and parmesan cheese being added to shrimp pasta.

Serve: Serve shrimp linguine with crusty bread or homemade breadsticks.

A white plate with a big serving of Shrimp Linguine on it.

Recipe Variations:

  • Add White Wine: Add ¼ cup of white wine in step 3, sautéing for a few minutes to let it cook down a little.
  • Add Veggies: Toss in some asparagus and cherry tomatoes.
  • Zucchini Noodles: For a healthier twist, swap out the linguine for zucchini noodles.

More Shrimp Recipes:

4.89 from 309 votes

Shrimp Linguine

Author: Lauren Allen
This simple Shrimp Linguine recipe is covered in a lemon butter sauce that will have you licking your plate clean! The best part is it's made in less than 20 minutes!
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 17 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 5

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Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add a little bit of oil and salt to the boiling water and cook the linguine according to package instructions.
  • Meanwhile, season the shrimp with salt and pepper and set aside.
  • Add the butter and olive oil to an extra-large skillet over medium-low. Once the butter has melted, add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, being careful not to burn it. 
  • Add the shrimp and sauté just until they turn pink, about 4-5 minutes, tossing often.
  • Remove from the heat and add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. 
  • Toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  • When the pasta is cooked, drain the water and add the noodles to the sauté pan. 
  • Top with fresh parmesan cheese and toss everything gently to combine. Serve.

Notes

Variations:
  • Add White Wine: Add ¼ cup of white wine in step 3, sautéing for a few minutes to let it cook down a little.
  • Add Veggies: Toss in some asparagus and cherry tomatoes.
  • Zucchini Noodles: For a healthier twist, swap out the linguine for zucchini noodles.

Nutrition

Calories: 608kcal, Carbohydrates: 72g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 147mg, Sodium: 699mg, Potassium: 387mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1036IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 174mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe adapted from Ina Garten.

*I originally shared this recipe May 2016. Updated February 2020 and October 2022.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

4.89 from 309 votes (270 ratings without comment)
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Zulia Lowery
4 years ago

5 stars
Delicious!! Thank you ❤️❤️

Mike W
4 years ago

5 stars
My dog doesn’t like garlic so used ginger instead. I also added some vinigar to give it an extra kick.
The dish ended up being way too gingery, and the vinegar taste really doesn’t go well with the shrimp and lemon.
I was looking forward to cooking this for months so was very disappointed when it ended up being awful ): Maybe I should try adding some chocolate next time?

Admin
Stacy Popham
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike W

😂

peggymack90@gmail.com
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike W

Love it! Thank you.

julia knowles
4 years ago

I love your recipes! I’ve tried several and am going to do scampi this week. I feel so confident following your recipes that I know it will be fabulous.

Mary Hetherington
4 years ago

My husband says he doesn’t like garlic. I admit I only used 3 cloves instead of 5. He loved it! Served it with roasted broccoli. And I’m all about the fresh grated parmesan! Really yummy. Thank you.

sf
4 years ago

2 stars
Way too much lemon! And like the other person said, no cheese. Pretty good recipe, otherwise.

Klara
4 years ago

5 stars
This was very good!! And so simple! The crushed red peppers added some spice, but husband loved that! Will deff make again.

Leslie
4 years ago

5 stars
It was very good.

Carol
4 years ago

1 star
Made this turned out horrible added broccoli per request of my son don’t know if it was broccoli or lemon that ruined this dish but what a waste of money disappointed was really hungry for this

J.C.
4 years ago

4 stars
Somehow I used a little too much lemon 🍋. My wife liked the shrimp and the salad I served w/ dinner, but she didn’t care for the pasta. “Too tangy”. My daughter and I both liked the whole dish including the pasta. I did not put the lemon zest, just the juice of two lemons.

Avril
4 years ago

4 stars
Wine for sure and I use bay scallops. Italians do not use cheese with fish! No Parmesan please