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Butter and Garlic Shrimp Penne
4.4 from 117 votes

Butter and Garlic Shrimp Penne

Butter and Garlic Shrimp Penne combines tender shrimp pieces tossed in a garlic marinade with al dente penne pasta. The dish features a sauce made from olive oil infused with smashed garlic, red pepper flakes, clam juice, and chicken broth, thickened slightly with flour and finished with butter, lemon juice, and fresh parsley. Its hearty seafood flavor and aromatic garlic notes make it a satisfying pasta meal that balances richness and brightness.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 502 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 5 garlic minced (about 5 teaspoons, cloves
  • 4 garlic smashed, cloves
  • 1 ½ pounds Shrimp 21 to 25 count, peeled, deveined and each shrimp cut into 3 pieces, large
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt
  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ¾ cup clam juice you can find this by the tuna, usually
  • ½ cup parsley chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice fresh

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with 2 teaspoons of the minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let the shrimp stand in this mixture for 20 minutes at room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the rest of the oil (2 tablespoons) over medium-low heat and add the smashed garlic cloves. Stir the mixture now and then to prevent the garlic burning and cook until the garlic is light and golden, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and use a slotted spoon to take out the garlic, leaving as much oil as you can in the skillet. Throw the garlic away and set the skillet aside.
  3. In a large pot, bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt once the water comes to a boil and add the pasta. Cook until the pasta is tender (look at the package directions as each brand of pasta can differ). Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water in a small bowl. Once drained, throw the pasta back into the pot.
  4. While the pasta is boiling, return the skillet with the oil to medium heat and add the shrimp with the marinade to the skillet, making sure the shrimp is in a single layer. Cook the shrimp, without stirring or moving them, until the oil starts to gently bubble, about 1 to 2 minutes. Now you can start stirring the shrimp and continuing to cook until the shrimp is just cooked through, about 1-2 minutes. It will cook fast so be careful not to overcook or the shrimp will turn tough.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to a medium bowl. Add the remaining 3 teaspoon minced garlic and the red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the flour and stirring constantly, cook the mixture for 1 minute. Whisk in the chicken broth and cook, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes, until the clumps of flour incorporate and become smooth. Whisk in the clam juice and parsley and cook until the mixture begins to thicken 2-3 minutes. Take the skillet off the heat and whisk in the butter and lemon juice. Add the shrimp and sauce to the pasta, adjusting the consistency with the pasta water if it is too dry (I didn’t need to add any pasta water to mine). Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Marinate the shrimp for 20 minutes to infuse garlic flavor before cooking.
  • Carefully cook smashed garlic in oil until golden, then remove to prevent bitterness in the sauce.
  • Reserve some pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
  • Use freshly chopped parsley for best flavor impact at the end.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 502kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 64g (21%) Protein 26g (52%) Fat 15g (23%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 158mg (53%) Sodium 880mg (37%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 502

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 502kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 64g 21%
Protein 26g 52%
Fat 15g 23%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 158mg 53%
Sodium 880mg 37%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.