Description
This Shrimp Tomato Spinach Pasta in Garlic Butter Sauce is a delicious and quick weeknight meal. Tender shrimp sautéed in a flavorful garlic butter sauce with fresh cherry tomatoes and wilted spinach are tossed with perfectly cooked pasta, creating a rich and satisfying dish that comes together in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti
Shrimp
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off)
Sauce and Vegetables
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: squeeze of lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- Cook the Shrimp: In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and black pepper. Add shrimp to the skillet and cook 2-3 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add halved cherry tomatoes and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Combine: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together to coat the pasta in the garlic butter sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta if desired. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and add a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness if you like. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Use tails on shrimp for better presentation, tails off for easier eating.
- Reserve pasta water is important to adjust sauce consistency.
- Can substitute gluten-free pasta if desired.
- Parmesan cheese is optional and can be omitted for a dairy-free version.
