Description
This Garlic Butter Shrimp and Sausage Skillet Pasta is a delicious and easy weeknight meal that combines tender shrimp, smoky sausage, and perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce. Enhanced with Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and a hint of lemon juice, this dish brings together savory and zesty flavors for a satisfying surf-and-turf pasta experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Juice of ½ lemon
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add sliced sausage and cook until browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Cook Shrimp: In the same skillet, add shrimp and cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic Butter: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and garlic to the skillet, sautéing for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning.
- Combine Ingredients: Return sausage and shrimp to the skillet, along with cooked pasta. Toss to coat everything in the garlic butter sauce. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Finish the Dish: Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, topped with extra cheese and herbs if desired.
Notes
- Use Cajun seasoning instead of Italian for a spicy twist.
- Add spinach or cherry tomatoes when tossing pasta for extra color and nutrition.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without watering down flavor.
- Make sure shrimp is cooked just until opaque to avoid toughness.
