This shrimp linguine is fresh seafood sautéed in garlic butter, then tossed with pasta in a creamy parmesan sauce. A quick and easy dinner option that’s elegant enough for a special occasion.
I have a house full of shrimp lovers, and they always request seafood recipes including shrimp etouffee, popcorn shrimp, and this simple but satisfying shrimp linguine pasta dish. If you love seafood and pasta, you’ll also want to try my famous crab mac and cheese!
My local Italian restaurant makes the best shrimp linguine, and I decided it was time to recreate the dish at home. My version features seared shrimp and tender pasta in a flavorful cream sauce, and it always gets rave reviews. Looking for more great pasta recipes? Be sure to check out my fabulous chicken broccoli Alfredo!
Table of Contents
Shrimp Linguine Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need linguine noodles, butter, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, shrimp garlic and fresh parsley. You can also garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon slices.
How Do You Make Shrimp Linguine?
Boil your pasta in a large pot of water, and while the linguine is cooking, simmer the ingredients for your sauce. Place the shrimp in hot pan and cook until they’re ready to eat. Toss your shrimp and al dente pasta together with the creamy sauce. Add a sprinkle of parsley and a few lemon slices for garnish, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The perfect Dish
- I typically use medium size shrimp for this recipe, either 41/50 or 36/40 count. You can use fresh shrimp, or frozen shrimp that have been thawed. Be sure to pat thawed shrimp dry before use.
- I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese if possible, as it has better flavor and tends to melt better in the sauce.
- While I do prefer the flavor of butter in this recipe, you can use olive oil to cook the shrimp if that is what you like.
- Serve your pasta with greens tossed in Italian dressing, a fruit salad recipe, delicata squash, fried zucchini or cauliflower salad.
- If you prefer a spicy dish, feel free to add some red pepper flakes.
Quick Tip
This shrimp linguine is best when served immediately. Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Recipe FAQs
Shrimp are ready to eat when they turn bright pink and the flesh is opaque. Small shrimp will cook in as little as 2 minutes, medium shrimp take about 4 minutes and large shrimp will cook in 5-6 minutes. This recipe calls for raw shrimp, which are a gray color. If your shrimp are already pink, you may have purchased pre-cooked shrimp. If this is the case, you’ll want to just warm them briefly so that they don’t get tough.
If your shrimp with the shells on, you’ll want to remove the shells for this recipe. You can remove the entire shell, or leave the tails on for a more elegant presentation. Remove the shells by peeling them off with your fingers starting on the side with the legs. If you don’t see a cut down the back of your shrimp, you may also need to devein them. Use a small knife to cut a slit along the back of the shrimp on the opposite side from the legs. Next, use the knife to remove the vein which looks like a dark tube running down the shrimp.
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Shrimp Linguine Flavor Variations
This dish is great as written, but you can add other ingredients to make your own creation.
- Protein: Use a blend of seafood such as scallops, fish and clams. You can also use grilled chicken tenders instead of shrimp.
- Pasta: Swap out the linguine with fettuccine, spaghetti, penne or farfalle pasta.
- Vegetables: Stir in some sauteed mushrooms or bell peppers, add some fresh cherry tomatoes at the end, or mix in some greens such as spinach or sauteed kale.
- Flavorings: Add extra flavor with a handful of capers, lemon zest, dry white wine, chopped olives, sun dried tomatoes or pine nuts.
This shrimp linguine recipe is on my regular recipe rotation because it’s quick to prepare and always a big hit!
More Great Seafood Recipes
Shrimp Linguine Video
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Shrimp Linguine
Ingredients
- 10 ounces linguine pasta
- 5 tablespoons butter divided use
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined, tails removed if desired
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- parsley sprigs and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pan over medium high heat.
- Add the shrimp to the pan and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the shrimp for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Add the garlic to the pan and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Remove the shrimp from the pan and cover to keep warm. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the pan over medium heat.
- Add the heavy cream and simmer for 4-5 minutes or until just thickened – do not let it boil.
- Whisk in the parmesan cheese, stirring continuously, until the cheese has melted.
- Remove the sauce from the heat, then stir in the lemon juice.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drain the pasta and place it in the pan with the sauce. Add half the shrimp and toss everything together to combine.
- Arrange the other half of the shrimp on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon slices if desired, then serve.
Notes
- I typically use a medium size shrimp for this recipe, either 41/50 or 36/40 count. You can use fresh shrimp, or frozen shrimp that have been thawed. Be sure to pat thawed shrimp dry before use.
- I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese if possible, as it has better flavor and tends to melt better in the sauce.
I love this shrimp linguine recipe so much! It was creamy and delicious. My family loved it as well!
Shrimp and pasta is one of my favorite weeknight dinner choices. Your recipe was delicious and I was able to get it on the table fast after a long day at work. I really appreciate recipes like this.
This is such a simple, light pasta dish, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner (and so much better than the restaurant version we normally get!)
Added some red pepper flakes for heat and it was a real hit last night.
Really like this Creamy Shrimp Linguine recipe, is easy to make and we love pasta and shrimp. will make it really soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂
This recipe is soon good!!
Lori A
This tastes as good as restaurant food! Easy too!
So easy and so delicious! A new family favorite!
Ahh… quick and easy weeknight supper that tastes like restaurant food – just perfect all round! Thanks so much.
Shrimp and pasta has got to be one of my favourite combos ever, and this recipe looks like a winner! So excited to make this!!
Shrimp and linguine is a perfect flavor combination but you upped it by adding a creamy parmesan sauce. Yum!
I tried one of your swap out suggestions and used gluten-free farfalle to make this. It was perfect, not too much sauce – just right. Will make this again for sure.
My family loved this!! So perfect and everyone loved it.
I love a good homemade pasta dish. They are perfect midweek.
I made this delicious shrimp linguine last night and it was fabulous! A real winner. Thanks so much for another great recipe.
Shrimp linguine is one of my mom’s favorite recipes, so she is going to love this!
A really simple yet absolutely delicious recipe. Perfect for a midweek meal when you need something healthy but full of flavour.
This sounds delish. I love seafood and pasta together.