Are you a pasta lover always hunting for simple, delicious recipes that highlight classic flavors? This Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Shrimp is an effortless weeknight winner. It combines golden garlic, good olive oil, red pepper flakes, parsley and tender shrimp with al dente spaghetti to create a dish that’s ready in about 25 minutes and packs big, satisfying flavor.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Shrimp
This classic garlic-and-oil pasta gets a quick, elegant boost when you add shrimp. The technique is simple: gently-infused olive oil with sliced garlic and red pepper flakes coats the pasta, then a little butter and the natural juices from seared shrimp are used to build a silky sauce. It’s a bright, satisfying plate you can make any night of the week.
You’ll be surprised how little time and effort this takes—about 5 minutes to prep and roughly 20 minutes to cook. Keep your ingredients quality-focused (especially the olive oil and fresh garlic) and you’ll get excellent results every time.
Use Only The Best Olive Oil
Good olive oil transforms this dish. A high-quality extra-virgin olive oil adds fruity, peppery notes that complement the garlic and shrimp. Because it’s the primary flavor carrier, choose the best olive oil you can—its aroma and mouthfeel will be obvious in the finished pasta.
Fresh Garlic Or Bust
Use fresh garlic cloves, thinly sliced, for the brightest flavor. Pre-minced jarred garlic is convenient, but it lacks the sharp, aromatic edge fresh garlic gives when added to warm oil. Slice the cloves just before cooking so they release their essential oils and the dish gets that classic aglio e olio aroma.
That said, if you keep jarred garlic on hand for other uses, it will work in a pinch. For a recipe where garlic is front and center, fresh is best.
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Recipe Shopping List
Most of these ingredients are pantry staples. For exact quantities, see the ingredient list in the recipe card below.
- Pasta (spaghetti or similar)
- Coarse salt
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Red pepper flakes
- Butter
- Large shrimp, peeled
- Garlic-parmesan seasoning (optional)
- Fresh parsley
- Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated
Try this with warm garlic bread or a crisp green salad.
How To Make This Recipe (Overview)
Below is a concise overview of the cooking process. Follow the full step-by-step instructions in the recipe card to get the best texture and flavor.
- Boil: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until al dente.
- Infuse oil: Gently warm olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet. Add sliced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is soft and lightly golden. Remove and reserve the garlic.
- Sear shrimp: In another pan, melt butter over medium-high heat, season the shrimp and cook until just opaque—do not overcook. Reserve any liquid released by the shrimp.
- Combine: Drain the pasta, reserving about 1½ cups of pasta water. Return the pasta to the skillet with the flavored oil, add the butter and shrimp liquid, and toss. Add pasta water in small increments while tossing to create a light, silky sauce.
- Finish: Toss in the shrimp last so it stays tender. Remove from heat, add chopped parsley, sprinkle with shaved parmesan, and top with the reserved garlic. Serve immediately.
Pair with a homemade Caesar salad for a classic meal.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
A simple yet flavorful pasta: olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, pasta water and parsley combine into a silky sauce; shrimp makes it a satisfying main course.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti or long pasta
- Salt (for pasta water)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled
- 1 tablespoon garlic-parmesan seasoning (optional)
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
- 3 tablespoons freshly shaved Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it until it tastes like the sea. Add pasta and cook until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 3–4 minutes until the garlic is soft and lightly golden. Remove the garlic and reserve.
- In a separate skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Season the shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, a couple of minutes per side. Remove from heat and reserve any pan juices.
- Reserve 1½ cups of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Return the oil pan to medium-high, add the drained hot pasta and toss to coat. Add the butter and shrimp juices (but not the shrimp) and stir until the liquid begins to absorb.
- Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time, tossing until a light, silky sauce forms. You may not need all the water.
- Toss the shrimp in last to warm through without overcooking. Remove from heat, mix in chopped parsley, sprinkle with Parmesan and top with the reserved garlic. Serve immediately.
Recommended Tools & Pantry Items
- Good extra-virgin olive oil
- Nonstick or stainless skillet pair (8–10 inch recommended)
- Locking kitchen tongs
- Serving bowl
Nutrition Information (estimate per serving)
Calories: 565 • Total Fat: 30g • Saturated Fat: 9g • Cholesterol: 263mg • Sodium: 1313mg • Carbohydrates: 39g • Fiber: 3g • Protein: 33g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.
Recipe FAQ
- Can this dish be made ahead of time? It can, but it’s best served right away. The pasta will continue to absorb liquid and the texture changes on reheating.
- How should I store leftovers? Keep leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. Use within a day or two for best results.
- Any recommended swaps? Add more red pepper flakes for heat or a splash of white wine while cooking the shrimp for extra flavor. Omit the shrimp to keep it vegetarian.
- What olive oil is best? Use a quality extra-virgin olive oil—its flavor matters here.
More Pasta Recipes
- Traeger Boursin Pasta — a creamy pasta with tender chicken, garlic and spinach in a rich Boursin sauce.
- Traeger Cream Cheese Pasta — smoked chicken and bacon with cream cheese and mushrooms for a decadent finish.
- Smoked Mac and Cheese — a creamy, smoky mac and cheese cooked on the pellet grill; creamy and indulgent.