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Effortless Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta: Your Ultimate Weeknight Dinner Solution
In the whirlwind of a busy day, the question often looms large: “What’s for dinner tonight?” The answer, more often than not, needs to be something quick, deeply satisfying, and utterly delicious. Enter the Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta – a true culinary hero that promises a restaurant-quality experience in less than 20 minutes. This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a creamy, flavour-packed marvel that transforms simple, high-quality ingredients into an extraordinary meal, proving that nourishing yourself well doesn’t have to mean sacrificing time or resorting to expensive takeout.
This delightful recipe stands out as the perfect solution for those inevitable evenings when time is short but the craving for a homemade, comforting, and elevated meal is strong. With the help of premium ingredients, you can achieve an incredibly rich and delicious outcome that will impress both your family and your taste buds. Get ready to banish dinner dilemmas and embrace the simplicity and flavour of this fantastic seafood pasta.

Why Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta is Your New Go-To Weeknight Meal
After a demanding day, the last thing anyone wants is a complicated recipe with an extensive ingredient list and an even longer cooking time. This garlic butter prawn pasta is designed for exactly those moments. It’s a dish that embodies both comfort and a touch of indulgence, allowing you to treat yourself without the guilt or expense associated with delivery apps. Imagine the enticing aroma of garlic and butter filling your kitchen, promising a gourmet meal that’s ready almost before your pasta water even comes to a rolling boil!
This incredibly versatile dish also offers delightful variations for every palate. For those who crave an extra layer of lusciousness, a creamy garlic prawn pasta version can be effortlessly achieved by incorporating a splash of heavy cream or a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce. This simple addition transforms the dish into an even more decadent, yet still healthier and more economical, alternative to a rich restaurant meal. The classic combination of fragrant garlic, rich butter, and succulent prawns (or shrimp) provides a robust and flexible foundation that can be easily adapted to suit various dietary preferences, seasonal ingredients, and individual tastes. Whether you’re aiming for a lighter take or a truly indulgent experience, this dish is a satisfying choice for any occasion.

Unveiling Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta: What Makes It Irresistible?
At its core, Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta is an exquisite fusion of tender, perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a luxurious, garlic-infused butter sauce, brimming with plump, juicy prawns. It’s a harmonious celebration of simple, high-quality ingredients coming together to create a profoundly satisfying flavour profile and an incredibly comforting texture. This particular rendition takes inspiration from the universally beloved garlic butter shrimp pasta, elevating it with a nuanced richness and often a delicate creaminess that truly distinguishes it and leaves a lasting impression.
The inherent beauty of this dish lies in its masterful balance of flavours: the inherent sweetness of perfectly cooked prawns, the pungent warmth and aromatic depth of copious garlic, the smooth, rich texture contributed by premium butter, and the bright, zesty counterpoint of fresh lemon. Each element plays a crucial role, harmonising beautifully to prevent the dish from becoming overly heavy or one-dimensional. It’s a complete and wholesome meal that feels special enough to grace a weekend dinner party, yet remains effortlessly achievable on even the busiest of weeknights. The secret to its irresistible appeal lies not only in the careful selection of each component but also in the thoughtful and precise preparation, ensuring that every single bite is a delightful and memorable culinary experience.
Whether you are a devoted seafood pasta enthusiast or simply seeking a rapid yet gourmet meal to tantalize your taste buds, this garlic butter prawn pasta is guaranteed to impress. Its straightforward elegance and incredible flavour profile are sure to make it a quickly adopted household favourite, a dish you’ll turn to time and again.

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta
Crafting an exceptional Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta begins with selecting the finest ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the dish’s incredible depth of flavour and its luxurious, appealing texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each element is so important:
Fresh Prawns or Shrimp
- Selection: While plump, fresh prawns or shrimp are always highly recommended for their superior taste and tender texture, high-quality frozen varieties are a perfectly acceptable and often more accessible alternative. If opting for frozen seafood, ensure they are thoroughly thawed according to package instructions (preferably overnight in the refrigerator) and then meticulously patted dry with paper towels before cooking. This crucial step prevents excess water from diluting your exquisite sauce and ensures you achieve a beautiful, golden-brown sear on the seafood.
- Preparation: For convenience and ease of eating, choose prawns or shrimp that are already peeled and deveined. If they come with shells, take the extra moment to peel them yourself, but consider leaving the tail on for a more elegant presentation and a bit of extra flavour.
Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Type and Purpose: Extra virgin olive oil is the top choice here due to its delicate, fruity notes and light flavour profile, which beautifully complements the seafood without overpowering it. It serves as the initial cooking fat, helping to expertly sear the prawns and establish the flavourful base of your sauce.
High-Quality Salted or Unsalted Butter
- Importance: Butter is undeniably a star ingredient in this dish, contributing significantly to its creamy texture and rich, indulgent flavour. Using a premium brand, such as Westgold Butter mentioned in the original recipe, ensures a truly delicious, full-bodied taste.
- Salted vs. Unsalted: Both salted and unsalted butter can be used effectively. If you choose salted butter, be mindful and adjust the amount of additional salt you incorporate later in the recipe to avoid over-seasoning. Cutting the butter into small cubes is essential, as it allows for gradual addition, a critical technique for achieving that perfect emulsified sauce without it breaking.
Delicate Shallots
- Flavour Profile: Shallots are chosen specifically for their milder, more subtle, and sweeter onion flavour compared to common onions. This characteristic makes them ideally suited for seafood dishes, where they enhance the overall taste and add aromatic depth without overwhelming the delicate essence of the prawns.
- Preparation: Finely dicing the shallots ensures they cook down evenly and become tender, blending seamlessly into the luxurious sauce.
Abundant Fresh Garlic Cloves
- The Heart of the Dish: It wouldn’t truly be a garlic butter pasta without a generous amount of garlic! This recipe wisely calls for ample garlic, which is absolutely essential for creating that signature pungent, warm, and aromatic base that defines the dish.
- Preparation: Finely slicing or mincing the garlic releases its maximum flavour and aroma. It’s crucial to pay close attention and stir continuously while cooking to prevent the garlic from burning, as burnt garlic can impart an undesirable bitter taste to your exquisite sauce.
Dry White Wine
- Purpose: Dry white wine is a crucial component for deglazing the pan. This process involves lifting all the incredibly flavourful brown bits (known as fond) from the bottom of the pan, incorporating them back into the sauce, and thereby adding a sophisticated layer of depth, complexity, and balanced acidity.
- Selection: Any dry white wine will work wonderfully in this recipe. Excellent choices include a light Riesling, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, or a vibrant Chenin Blanc. You absolutely don’t need an expensive bottle; an affordable, drinkable dry white wine is perfectly suitable for cooking, as its primary role is to contribute acidity and flavour.
Bright Fresh Lemon Juice and Zest
- Flavour Balance: Fresh lemon juice is an indispensable ingredient. Its bright acidity masterfully cuts through the richness of the garlic butter, adding a vibrant, zesty freshness that significantly brightens the entire dish and prevents it from feeling overly heavy or cloying.
- Zest (Optional but Highly Recommended): Grating a little lemon zest into the sauce at the very end can dramatically amplify the citrus notes and provide a beautiful, fragrant aromatic finish that elevates the overall sensory experience of the meal.
Fresh Parsley
- Garnish and Freshness: While technically optional, fresh parsley is highly recommended for its powerful contribution. It provides a burst of herbaceous freshness, a clean flavour, and a beautiful pop of vibrant green colour, elevating both the taste and the visual presentation of your pasta dish.
- Preparation: Finely diced fresh parsley is best for even distribution throughout the sauce.
Your Preferred Pasta
- Choice: While you have the flexibility to use any pasta shape you prefer, spaghetti is a classic and highly recommended pairing for seafood sauces. Its long, thin strands are perfectly suited for coating evenly with the luxurious butter sauce and intertwining with the succulent prawns, ensuring every bite is rich and satisfying.
- Al Dente Perfection: Always cook your pasta al dente (meaning “to the tooth,” or slightly firm when bitten). This is crucial because the pasta will continue to cook when it’s tossed and melded with the hot sauce, ensuring it retains a pleasant chew rather than becoming mushy.
Gathering and meticulously preparing these high-quality ingredients is the crucial first step toward creating a truly delicious, memorable, and effortlessly elegant Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta. The thoughtful combination of fresh seafood, aromatic garlic and shallots, rich butter, bright lemon, and herbaceous parsley will result in a dish that is both profoundly comforting and exquisitely flavourful.
Prawns or Shrimp: Understanding the Distinction and Making Your Choice
The terms “prawns” and “shrimp” are often used interchangeably, leading to widespread confusion, particularly across different culinary cultures and regions. For instance, in Australia, what many Americans commonly refer to as “shrimp” are almost exclusively called “prawns.” Despite the enduring urban myth, Australians don’t “chuck a shrimp on the barbie”; they proudly barbecue prawns!
While visually quite similar, prawns and shrimp are, in fact, distinct species with observable biological differences. Prawns generally tend to be larger than shrimp and often possess a slightly sweeter taste and a firmer, more substantial texture. Their anatomical differences extend to their gill structures and the way their body segments overlap. However, for the majority of home cooks and in the context of many recipes, especially those where they are cooked similarly, the difference in the final dish’s taste and texture is often subtle and negligible.

The excellent news for this Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta recipe is that whether you choose to use prawns or shrimp, the outcome will be equally delightful and delicious. If fresh prawns are readily available and within your budget, they are a fantastic choice. However, if shrimp are easier to procure in your local market or preferred for any reason, they make an equally excellent and perfectly suitable substitution. The paramount consideration is to use fresh or properly thawed, high-quality seafood to ensure the best flavour and texture. In this recipe, the succulent prawns or shrimp are quickly sautéed in rich butter until they turn a beautiful, opaque pink, and are then gently combined with the al dente pasta, fragrant garlic, rich olive oil, and vibrant fresh parsley to create a truly flavourful, cohesive, and incredibly satisfying meal.
Mastering the Art of Cooking Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta
One of the most appealing aspects of this Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta is its incredible speed and relative simplicity. The entire meal can be prepared from start to finish in approximately 10-15 minutes, making it a true lifesaver on even the busiest of weeknights. The secret to its efficiency lies in perfect timing and coordination: begin boiling your pasta water at precisely the same moment you start heating your pan for the sauce. This synchronised approach ensures all components are ready at precisely the right time for seamless assembly, leading to a perfectly cooked dish.

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide for Your Perfect Pasta:
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a vigorous, rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta (spaghetti is an ideal match here) and cook it for about 2 minutes less than the suggested cook time indicated on the package. This is crucial because we want the pasta to be quite al dente, as it will continue to cook when tossed and integrated with the hot sauce. Before draining, make sure to reserve at least ½ cup of the starchy pasta water – this starchy “liquid gold” is absolutely crucial for achieving a silky, perfectly emulsified sauce.
- Season the Prawns: While your pasta is cooking, take your peeled and deveined prawns or shrimp and season them generously on both sides with a good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. This initial seasoning is key for building flavour.
- Sear the Prawns: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Once hot, add the seasoned prawns in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan (cook in batches if necessary). Cook for just 1-2 minutes per side, or until they turn opaque pink and develop a slight golden sear. It is vital to immediately remove them from the pan once cooked to prevent any chance of overcooking, which can result in a rubbery texture.
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat slightly to medium. Add the finely diced shallots to the same pan, utilising the residual oil and prawn flavour, and cook for about 2-3 minutes until they soften and become beautifully translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until it becomes wonderfully fragrant, stirring continuously to prevent it from burning. Burnt garlic can impart an unpleasant bitter taste to your delicate sauce.
- Deglaze with Wine and Lemon: Pour in the dry white wine and fresh lemon juice. Increase the heat to medium-high and use a sturdy wooden spoon to actively scrape up any flavourful browned bits (known as fond) that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan. These bits are packed with concentrated flavour and will significantly enrich your sauce. Let the mixture simmer vigorously for about 1 minute, allowing a good portion of the alcohol to cook off and the flavours to meld.
- Emulsify the Butter Sauce: Reduce the heat to low-medium. Begin adding the cubed butter, one cube at a time, stirring constantly and vigorously after each addition. This gradual incorporation, combined with continuous stirring, is the key technique for creating a beautiful, glossy, and perfectly emulsified butter sauce. This careful method prevents the sauce from breaking (separating) and ensures a rich, creamy consistency without the need for actual cream. Continue this process until all the butter has been fully incorporated and your sauce is smooth, luscious, and shimmering.
- Combine and Finish: Gently return the perfectly seared prawns to the pan and carefully toss them through the exquisite butter sauce, ensuring they are well coated. Sprinkle in the fresh, finely diced parsley and stir through to distribute its vibrant flavour and colour.
- Add Pasta and Pasta Water: Finally, add the al dente pasta directly to the pan, along with a splash of the reserved starchy pasta water. Toss everything together vigorously and continuously. The starch from the pasta water will help the sauce cling beautifully to the noodles, creating that desirable silky, glossy finish that makes this dish so appealing. Add more pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce appears too thick or needs further emulsification.
- Serve Immediately: This magnificent dish is absolutely best enjoyed fresh from the pan, piping hot. Serve it generously, perhaps with an extra sprinkle of fresh parsley and a delicate wedge of lemon on the side for an added burst of freshness. The vibrant colours and enticing aromas will ensure it’s an instant hit at your dinner table.
The Indispensable Role of White Wine in Seafood Pasta
A touch of white wine is far more than just an optional ingredient in this Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta; it’s an absolutely crucial component that adds an invaluable layer of complexity and sophisticated depth to the dish. Wine, particularly a dry white wine, acts as a fantastic and versatile flavour enhancer in simple seafood recipes, elevating them from merely good to truly gourmet and memorable.

For dishes featuring delicate seafood like prawns or shrimp, a dry white wine is the undisputed ideal accompaniment. Varietals such as a crisp Chenin Blanc, a zesty Sauvignon Blanc, or even a light and aromatic Riesling are all excellent choices. They provide the necessary acidity to expertly balance the inherent richness of the butter and beautifully complement the delicate sweetness of the prawns, thereby preventing the dish from becoming overly heavy or cloying. During the deglazing process, the alcohol quickly cooks off, leaving behind concentrated, nuanced flavours and aromatic compounds that significantly enhance the overall taste profile of your sauce, contributing a subtle yet profound complexity.
While some traditional culinary wisdom suggests that you should always cook with a wine you’d happily drink, this doesn’t imply that you need to splurge on an expensive bottle for this recipe. An affordable, perfectly drinkable dry white wine from a modest shelf will work wonderfully and achieve the desired effect. The primary goal is to introduce that lovely acidity and subtle fruit notes that will expertly marry with the garlic and butter, creating a harmonious, vibrant, and perfectly balanced sauce. Don’t underestimate the transformative power of a modest wine to elevate your pasta dish to new culinary heights!
Serving Your Exquisite Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta for Maximum Enjoyment
To truly appreciate the full magic and culinary brilliance of this Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta, immediate serving is not just highly recommended, it is absolutely imperative. There are two primary and crucial reasons why timing is everything for this particular dish, ensuring you capture its peak flavour and texture:
- Perfectly Cooked Seafood: Prawns and shrimp cook incredibly quickly and are extremely susceptible to overcooking. When left to sit in a hot sauce for too long, their delicate protein structure can become tough, rubbery, and they will tragically lose their succulent, tender juiciness. Serving immediately ensures that the prawns retain their desired tender, plump, and juicy texture, which is a hallmark of perfectly cooked seafood.
- Optimal Sauce Consistency: The luscious butter sauce, meticulously achieved through careful emulsification, is at its absolute peak when served straight from the heat. As the dish cools, butter-based sauces can unfortunately thicken too much or, worse, begin to separate (break), diminishing that highly desirable silky, glossy coating on your pasta and compromising the overall eating experience.

Present this delightful pasta piping hot, allowing its vibrant colours and enticing aromas to captivate your senses. A final garnish of an extra sprinkle of fresh parsley and a delicate wedge of lemon for an added burst of refreshing zest will make it an instant and unforgettable hit at your dinner table. The fresh herbs not only add visual appeal but also a crucial aromatic lift that completes the dish.
Crafting the Perfect Butter Sauce with Fresh Parsley
The very heart and soul of this Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta lies within its expertly crafted butter sauce. This isn’t just any sauce; it’s a meticulously designed concoction specifically created to perfectly coat long pasta noodles, creating an irresistible texture and ensuring that every single bite carries the full spectrum of its flavourful components. The secret to its creamy, luscious, and utterly desirable consistency lies in the delicate art of emulsification, skillfully achieved right in your pan.
Butter serves as the essential and flavourful fat in this sauce, and indeed, no truly great pasta dish is truly complete without a generous, healthy dose of fat. Without it, you would regrettably be left with, at best, a watery and utterly unappealing sauce – a culinary outcome that absolutely no one desires! The gradual incorporation of the cubed butter into the warm, flavour-rich deglazed pan liquids, combined with continuous, gentle stirring, creates a stable and beautiful emulsion where the fat and water components harmoniously combine. This precise process results in a sauce that is remarkably rich, velvety smooth, and clings beautifully to the pasta without feeling heavy or greasy, delivering an exquisite mouthfeel.

To further enhance the sauce’s already vibrant flavour profile and introduce a crucial element of brightness, fresh lemon juice and a touch of finely grated lemon zest are absolutely essential. They introduce a bright, piercing acidity that masterfully cuts through the inherent richness of the butter, preventing the dish from becoming overly heavy or cloying. The lemon also generously infuses the sauce with a wonderfully aromatic freshness, making each mouthful a lively and invigorating experience. Finally, a generous topping of fresh, finely chopped parsley not only adds a beautiful visual appeal and a pop of vibrant green but also provides a zesty, herbaceous counterpoint that perfectly complements the rich and creamy butter sauce, bringing a final flourish of invigorating flavour and unmatched brightness to the dish.
Expert Tips for Crafting the Best Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta
Achieving a truly outstanding Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta is remarkably simple when you incorporate a few expert tips. These invaluable insights will help you to maximise flavour, perfect texture, and ensure your dish is a resounding success every single time you prepare it.
- Prioritize High-Quality Ingredients: The fresher and higher quality your prawns or shrimp, the more exquisite your pasta will taste. Similarly, always opt for real, good-quality butter and consider finishing your dish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of umami-rich flavour. Remember, quality ingredients form the undisputed foundation of a phenomenal dish.
- Crucially, Do Not Overcook the Prawns: This tip is arguably the most critical for seafood pasta. Prawns cook incredibly fast. Once they turn opaque pink and curl slightly into a C-shape, they are perfectly done. Overcooked prawns will inevitably become tough, chewy, and rubbery, losing their delicate sweetness and tender texture. It is always better to slightly undercook them initially, as they will continue to gently cook when tossed with the hot pasta and the simmering sauce.
- Always Reserve Pasta Cooking Water: That starchy water isn’t just for draining; it’s your invaluable secret weapon for achieving a silky smooth, perfectly emulsified sauce. The starch naturally present in the water helps to bind the butter and other liquids, allowing the sauce to cling beautifully and evenly to the pasta noodles. Add it gradually, a tablespoon at a time, until your sauce reaches the desired, luscious consistency.
- Introduce a Gentle Kick with Red Pepper Flakes: For those who enjoy a hint of warmth and subtle spice, a small pinch of red pepper flakes added to the pan along with the garlic and shallots will infuse the sauce with a delightful heat. This complements the richness of the butter without overpowering the delicate seafood flavour.
- Consider a Touch of Cream or Cheese for Extra Indulgence: For an even creamier garlic prawn pasta, a tablespoon or two of heavy cream or half-and-half can be whisked into the sauce after the butter has been fully emulsified but before you return the prawns to the pan. Alternatively, a generous grating of Parmesan cheese melted into the hot sauce will also contribute to a richer, velvety smooth, and wonderfully creamy consistency.
- Finish Strong with Fresh Herbs and Lemon: A final squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a generous scattering of fresh parsley, basil, or chives just before serving will magically brighten the entire dish, adding a vibrant burst of fresh flavour and an irresistible aroma that truly elevates the meal.
- Serve Immediately with Thoughtful Accompaniments: This pasta is designed to be enjoyed piping hot. Pair it perfectly with a side of crusty garlic bread to soak up every last drop of the exquisite sauce, or a simple, crisp green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette for a perfectly balanced and complete meal that feels both wholesome and indulgent.
By diligently following these expert tips, you’ll consistently create a flavourful, deeply satisfying, and perfectly textured garlic butter prawn pasta that will undoubtedly impress anyone who gathers at your table. Remember, high-quality ingredients combined with careful, thoughtful cooking techniques are indeed the undisputed keys to achieving culinary success and creating truly memorable meals.

More Quick and Delicious Weeknight Pasta Meals
As busy individuals juggling work, family life, and countless other responsibilities, quick, wholesome, and profoundly delicious meals are not just a luxury but a non-negotiable necessity. If you adore the idea of having a flavourful, satisfying dinner on the table in under half an hour, here are some other fantastic pasta recipes that perfectly cater to that need for speed without ever compromising on incredible taste or quality:
- Creamy Rotini Chicken Pasta
- Pasta Alla’assassina
- One Pot Broccoli Pasta
- Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Pasta
We absolutely love seeing your culinary creations and the joy they bring! If you try this exquisite Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta, please share your photos and tag us on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest. Your wonderful dishes and feedback inspire us every single day!
Frequently Asked Questions About Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta
Here are clear and concise answers to some of the most common questions that arise when preparing this delicious and wonderfully quick seafood pasta dish:
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Can I use frozen prawns instead of fresh?
Absolutely, yes! Frozen prawns or shrimp are a highly convenient and often more economical option. The key is to ensure they are thawed correctly – preferably overnight in the refrigerator, or more quickly under cold running water – and then meticulously patted dry with paper towels before you begin cooking. Removing any excess moisture is crucial for achieving a beautiful, golden-brown sear and preventing a watery sauce.
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Can I make this dish without the prawns/shrimp?
Yes, you certainly can! While it wouldn’t technically be a “prawn pasta” dish without the star seafood, the garlic butter sauce itself is incredibly flavourful and remarkably versatile. You could easily substitute the prawns with other delicious protein sources like perfectly pan-seared scallops, tender chicken pieces, or even a delightful array of vegetables such as sautéed mushrooms, halved cherry tomatoes, or fresh spinach for a fantastic vegetarian pasta dish.
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Can I add other ingredients to the sauce for extra variety and flavour?
Definitely! This recipe serves as a fantastic and flexible base for your culinary creativity. Consider adding finely diced onions for an extra layer of depth, colourful bell peppers for sweetness and visual appeal, or earthy sautéed mushrooms for a richer flavour profile. Fresh spinach or arugula, gently wilted into the sauce at the very end of cooking, also makes a wonderful and nutritious addition, boosting both the health benefits and the visual appeal of your meal.
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How can I make this dish even creamier?
For an extra luxurious and creamy texture, you can whisk in 2-4 tablespoons of heavy cream or half-and-half into the sauce after the butter has been fully emulsified but just before adding the prawns back to the pan. Alternatively, a generous grating of fresh Parmesan cheese, melted into the hot sauce, will also contribute significantly to a richer, velvety smooth, and wonderfully creamy consistency.
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What’s the best way to store and reheat leftovers?
While this dish is undeniably best enjoyed fresh, piping hot from the pan, any leftovers can be stored safely in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. To reheat, do so gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth, water, or even a tiny bit of cream to loosen the sauce and revive its texture. Be mindful that prawns or shrimp may become slightly tougher in texture upon reheating, but the flavours will still be delightful.
These frequently asked questions address common concerns and provide helpful alternatives and tips, ensuring that everyone can confidently prepare, customise, and thoroughly enjoy this delicious Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta, even if they need to make a few adjustments or ingredient swaps to suit their preferences.

If you have any further questions or would like to leave a review, please feel free to do so! We always love hearing your feedback and answering all your food and recipe-related queries.
Garlic Butter Prawn Pasta
Daen Lia
5 mins
8 mins
6
Ingredients
- 300 g shrimp or prawns, 10oz – peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 tbsp salted butter, 75g – cut into 6 cubes
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 6 garlic cloves, finely sliced or minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely diced
- 300 g spaghetti, 10oz
- salt + pepper
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook it 2 minutes less than the suggested cook time on the packet. The pasta will continue to cook when we stir it through the sauce so we want it quite al dente. Drain the pasta, ensuring you reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
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Season the shrimp / prawns with salt and pepper on both sides.
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In a large pan on a medium – high heat, bring the olive oil to heat. Add the shrimp / prawns to the pan and cook for 1 – 2 minutes on each side or until slightly golden. Remove from the pan.
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Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook for 3 minutes or until they have become soft and fragrant. Continue to stir to ensure the garlic does not burn.
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Deglaze the pan with the white wine and lemon and cook for 1 minute, ensuring you scrape all the lovely brown bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
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Turn the heat to low – medium and 1 cube at a time, add the butter to the pan. Slowly stir it through the sauce. By adding in the butter slowly, a beautiful emulsification will occur and your sauce will not break. Repeat this with all of the butter until it has all been incorporated.
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Add the prawns back to the pan and stir through the sauce. Sprinkle in the parsley and stir through.
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Add the pasta to the pan with a splash of pasta water. Stir through until you have a silky and glossy pasta sauce. Serve immediately with an extra sprinkling of parsley.
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