Spicy Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti with Zucchini and Parmesan

This spicy shrimp spaghetti brings the heat with sliced chili peppers and a rich garlic herb butter sauce. Tender shrimp, al dente pasta and fresh zucchini come together in a dish that’s both comforting and exciting.

Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, this recipe is ready in about 20 minutes and uses simple ingredients. Adjust the chili to your heat preference and finish with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan for a satisfying dinner.

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Ingredients

6 ounce SpaghettiView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit ZucchiniView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chili PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce ShrimpView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Garlic Herb ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Parmesan CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Meanwhile, trim and halve zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into ¼-inch half-moons. Thinly slice chili. Rinse shrimp and pat dry.
3. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and as much chili as you like; cook until zucchini is lightly browned, 2-3 minutes.
4. Push zucchini to one side; add another drizzle of olive oil to the empty side. Add shrimp and cook until opaque, 3-4 minutes.
5. Add drained spaghetti, garlic herb butter, half the Parmesan and ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water if needed.
6. Divide pasta between bowls. Top with remaining Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with extra chili if desired.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine works well. Adjust cooking time according to package directions.

How can I make this dish milder?

Use only a small amount of chili or remove the seeds and membranes. You can also skip the chili entirely for a non-spicy version.

Can I substitute the garlic herb butter?

If you don’t have garlic herb butter, mix 2 tablespoons softened butter with 1 minced garlic clove and ½ teaspoon dried herbs (like parsley or oregano).