Lemon-Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

Published April 19, 2015. Updated May 9, 2019

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This Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp is tossed with fresh herbs and lemon juice and topped with shredded Parmesan cheese. This is an easy dinner recipe the whole family will love! 

Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp in metal skillet

Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

I’ve been blogging for quite some time now and I’ve never shared a shrimp recipe on here. I haven’t ever really cared for shrimp, but I know a lot of you like it so I figured it was due time.

This angel hair pasta recipe was so delicious that it has finally changed my opinion on shrimp! I think the key for me is that I can’t eat cold shrimp. It needs to be warm, and I really liked what a bit of citrus did for its flavor.

And of course, can you ever go wrong with Parmesan and fresh herbs? They paired perfectly with this lemon shrimp pasta and gave it a more Italian flair, as did the fair amount of garlic. This is a pasta dish, after all.

This is a hearty pasta dinner that is easy to throw together, yet it’s full of vibrant and delicious flavors. It’s definitely worthy of being added to your weeknight menu!

You can remove the tails before cooking if you’d like (which I will do next time, I just left them for picture purposes this time, they add more color). It seems easier that way than having to remove each one individually while eating the pasta.

And just be sure to top the lemon shrimp pasta with Parmesan rather than tossing it into the pasta. Trust me, I learned the hard way!

I tried tossing some in the with the angel hair, and it quickly just clumped together in little gummy balls so I had to sit there and pick it out. I thought that might happen but I still tried any way, it was one of those yes that was dumb moments. Oh well, all that matters is how amazing it tasted in the end!

lemon shrimp pasta garnished with lemon wedges in skillet

Lemon Shrimp Pasta Ingredients

For this angel hair pasta recipe, you’ll need:

  • Peeled and deveined shrimp
  • Angel hair pasta
  • Olive oil
  • Unsalted butter
  • Salt and pepper
  • Garlic
  • Lemon juice and zest
  • Fresh basil and parsley
  • Shredded Parmesan

How to Make Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

  • Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  • Season shrimp with salt and pepper, then cook in a skillet with olive oil, butter and garlic.
  • Toss pasta with shrimp and pasta water, then add fresh herbs, lemon juice and zest.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

Can I Make This with Frozen Shrimp?

Yes, just be sure to defrost the shrimp and pat dry before adding to the hot skillet!

Can I Add Veggies to This Dish?

Yes, I’m sure you could add chopped asparagus or broccoli to this angel hair pasta with shrimp. You’ll likely need to cook the veggies first in a separate skillet and then toss them with the pasta and shrimp at the very end.

close up of Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp in skillet

Tips for the Best Lemon Shrimp Pasta

  • If you don’t have angel hair pasta, another long, thin pasta will work in this recipe (like spaghetti).
  • If you don’t like shrimp, you could make this recipe with chicken instead.
  • Fresh herbs are a must here! Dried herbs won’t give you the same flavor or texture.

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5 from 14 votes

Lemon-Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

A super easy to make shrimp and pasta recipe! It's flavored with parmesan, lemon, garlic and herbs for a delicious combo that will leave you craving more.
Servings: 5
Prep15 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Ready in: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook pasta in salted water according to directions listed on package (keep in mind it will only take about 4 minutes so I recommend adding the pasta to water when you begin cooking the shrimp), reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  • In a large skillet, heat olive and butter over medium-high heat. Add shrimp (you can remove tails first if desired), season with salt and pepper and saute 2 minutes, then add garlic and saute until shrimp has cooked through, about 2 minutes longer.
  • Toss drained pasta in with shrimp along with 1/3 cup reserved pasta water, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add more water 1 Tbsp at a time as needed. Toss in 2 Tbsp of each parsley and basil, then sprinkle top with parmesan cheese and remaining 1 Tbsp of each parsley and basil. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Fresh herbs are a must here! Dried herbs won't give you the same flavor or texture.
Nutrition Facts
Lemon-Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp
Amount Per Serving
Calories 551 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 313mg104%
Sodium 300mg13%
Potassium 295mg8%
Carbohydrates 53g18%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 36g72%
Vitamin A 691IU14%
Vitamin C 13mg16%
Calcium 305mg31%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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64 Comments

  • Kimberly

    Feel Good Kim
    Thank you so much for this yummy recipe! We made it over Labor Day weekend & it was a sure hit!!!!! Easy to make and delicious just as you have the directions listed:) Will definitively add to our catalogue of “go to” dinners! Nicely paired with Parmesan garlic bread & arugula salad w/balsamic drizzle:) Thanks again!

  • Barbie from Pgh

    This may be the very best all time favorite recipe for me now. It was so easy and so delicious. It was a very light, flavorful pasta dish. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the lemon—but it put it over the top, along with the fresh herbs. I’m sure I’ll be Impressing my friends with this Dish in the future.

  • Johnny

    This recipe was great. I used a pound of shrimp and followed the rest of the recipe exactly.
    So simple to make, basically put it together in one pot. Perfect for a rainy Monday night dinner!

  • Jeri

    quick question, are the shrimp raw or cooked shrimp when you buy them? (green or pink?)

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      They should be raw, that grayish color. For future, unless a recipe lists “cooked shrimp” or “shrimp, cooked” and instead lists “shrimp” I’d always buy and use raw :).

  • Josephine

    This was so easy to make! Ridiculously easy!! And had such great flavors!! My husband said we could have this more often – that means he REALLY liked it! Many thanks for the recipe!! It is a five star recipe – just won’t let me give it the rating.