Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta

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Spiced with tasty herbs, this Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta is perfect for a refreshingly elevated weeknight dinner. Buttery, garlicky shrimp top this zesty pasta dish to perfection!

Shrimp Pasta in a Bowl with Lemon Slices and Basil

Lemon Basil Pasta with Shrimp delivers bold, zesty flavor with minimal effort. It’s the perfect dish to make when you need something filling and satisfying on the table in 30 minutes.

One thing that I personally love about this easy pasta dinner is that you probably have most of these ingredients already in your fridge and pantry. The ingredients are simple and can be switched out easily. Feel free to leave out the shrimp, substitute grilled chicken, or use whole wheat or rice-based gluten-free noodles. 

If you are looking to add more greens, I suggest adding spinach or chopped fresh asparagus for a tasty, feel-good add-on. Capers also work fantastically with citrus and seafood flavors, as seen in my Salmon & Shrimp with Lemon Caper Sauce recipe!

Want other warm, delicious pasta dishes to try? Try my Creamy Baked Chicken Pasta with Bacon or my Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas with Cilantro Lime Butter!

Welcome to #LemonWeek 2022 hosted by Lynn from Fresh April Flours and Rebecca from Devour Dinner.  This week is sponsored by Rodelle and La Tourangelle. I may have received product samples from these sponsors to help in the creation of my recipes. All opinions are my own. Come join me and my fellow Lemon Week bloggers as we bring you recipes from appetizers to drinks to entrées and desserts! Enter to win the prize package at the bottom of this recipe post!

Fork Covered in Noodles

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SHRIMP PASTA?

Pairing this fresh, vibrant dish is a pinch! As mentioned previously, asparagus blends nicely with the flavors of this main dish so consider adding my Garlic Cheese Asparagus as a light side dish.
 
Spaghetti always pairs wonderfully with bread – what doesn’t – and my Four Cheese Roasted Garlic Bread would be a flawless companion, as the dishes have similar flavor palates. For a lighter suggestion, this bold plate would beautifully complement a salad, like my Spinach Salad with Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing.

Looking for more tasty seafood dishes to make at home? Try my Tuna Spaghetti, Blackened Salmon Burgers with BLT Slaw, or my Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas with Cilantro Lime Butter!

Ingredients for Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta

INGREDIENTS FOR LEMON SHRIMP PASTA

  • Olive Oil and Flour: Crucial ingredients for the roux, which makes the base of the creamy Parmesan sauce.
  • Garlic: Also added to roux after mincing, this gives the sauce a great burst of flavor.
  • Chicken Stock: Absorbs into the pasta, giving it an added bit of flavor and thickens to create a savory sauce.
  • Cheese: Parmesan, Romano and Asiago are suggested. Top with Parmesan flakes for a finished look and delicious taste.
  • Milk: Gives the sauce an extra creamy boost.
  • Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt: Added on top to taste.
  • Lemon: Used the zest and the juice of a large lemon to give added bright citrus flavor.
  • Basil: Can substitute fresh dill if basil is not of your liking.
  • Italian Parsley: Fresh, bright green parsley is preferred for a lovely herbal flavor.
  • Shrimp: Frozen cooked shrimp was used for this recipe. If you choose to use raw shrimp, saute them in the garlic and olive oil before making the sauce. When the shrimp are pink, remove them from the skillet, prepare the sauce, then add them back in. Can use chicken as a substitute or leave out completely.
  • Spaghetti Noodles: These noodles are prepared al dente, as the noodles will continue to cook while in the heated creamy sauce. Long pasta is preferred and linguini can be substituted for spaghetti.

Lemon and Shrimp Pasta

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE LEMON AND SHRIMP PASTA

PREP

Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Drain, preserve, a bit of pasta water, and set pasta aside.

Make your roux by whisking in the flour until smooth paste forms.

WHISK

In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil, and minced garlic for a couple of minutes. Make your roux by whisking in the flour until smooth paste forms.

ADD

Add in the chicken stock and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly while the mixture thickens. Turn the heat off and whisk in a little more than half of the shredded cheese until smooth.

PEPPER

Whisk milk into the cheese sauce and salt and pepper to your liking.

STEP: Whisk in lemon juice and lemon zest, then stir in shrimp.

STIR

Whisk in lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir in shrimp and turn the stove on low. Heat until sauce and shrimp are hot. If the sauce begins to get too thick, thin by adding a bit of the pasta water to get to your desired thickness. Stir in fresh basil and Italian parsley. Add in cooked pasta and stir to coat in sauce.

Serve hot, topped with more cheese.

SERVE

Serve hot, topped with more cheese.

Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta _ An Affair from the Heart

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Overhead of Sesame Cilantro Shrimp and rice in a white bowl

OTHER DELICIOUS RECIPES TO ENJOY

Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta

Let’s mix up this creamy lemon pasta dish!

M. logo An Affair from the Heart

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Shrimp Pasta in a Bowl with Lemon Slices and Basil
4.63 from 8 votes
Print Recipe

Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta

Spiced with tasty herbs, this Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta is perfect for a refreshingly elevated weeknight dinner. Buttery, garlicky shrimp top this zesty pasta dish to perfection!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon and shrimp pasta, lemon pasta recipe, lemon pasta sauce, lemon pasta with shrimp, lemon shrimp pasta recipe, pasta with lemon, pasta with shrimp, recipe for lemon shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta recipes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 560kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

  • 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup Parmesan/Romano/Asiago Cheese shredded and divided
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • freshly cracked pepper and sea salt to taste
  • zest of one large lemon about 2-3 teaspoons
  • juice of one large lemon about 2-3 Tablespoons
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh basil chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh Italian parsley chopped
  • 8 ounces frozen shrimp peeled, deveined (cooked or uncooked *see notes) thawed
  • 9 ounce package of spaghetti prepared al dente

Instructions

  • Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Drain, preserve, a bit of pasta water, and set pasta aside.
  • In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil, and minced garlic for a couple of minutes.
  • Make your roux by whisking in the flour until smooth paste forms.
  • Add in the chicken stock and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly while the mixture thickens.
  • Turn the heat off and whisk in a little more than half of the shredded cheese until smooth.
  • Whisk milk into the cheese sauce and salt and pepper to your liking.
  • Whisk in lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir in shrimp and turn the stove on low. Heat until sauce and shrimp are hot. If the sauce begins to get too thick, thin by adding a bit of the pasta water to get to your desired thickness.
  • Stir in fresh basil and Italian parsley. Add in cooked pasta and stir to coat in sauce.
  • Serve hot, topped with more cheese.

Notes

* I used frozen cooked shrimp for this recipe. If you choose to use raw shrimp, Saute them in the garlic and olive oil before making the sauce. When the shrimp are pink, remove them from the skillet, prepare the sauce, then add them back in.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 560kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 1423mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g

Check out the amazing prizes you can win in our #LemonWeek Giveaway!

Prize #1: Rodelle Prize Pack

Rodelle Prize Pack includes:

2 count Gourmet Madagascar Vanilla Beans

2oz Almond Extract

4oz Natural Baker’s Extract

4oz Vanilla Paste

8oz Gourmet Vanilla Extract

25oz Organic Baking Cocoa

 

Prize #2: La Tourangelle Prize Pack

La Tourangelle Prize Pack includes:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Roasted Walnut Oil

Regenerative Sunflower Oil

4oz Vanilla Paste

Fleur de Sel Almond Butter

 

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7 Comments

  1. This was such an incredibly delicious recipe! Perfect balance of tender shrimp and creamy noodles; loved every bite!

  2. Love how easy this recipe is. Can’t wait to try it this weekend.thank you for the recipe!

    1. So happy that you enjoyed it! Sounds like there will be more sauce for you next time! Better get some crusty french bread to mop it all up! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment!

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