Spicy Shrimp Spaghetti with Zucchini and Garlic Herb Butter

This spicy shrimp spaghetti is a fiery, flavorful dish that comes together in a flash. Succulent shrimp are sautéed with slices of chili pepper for a kick of heat, then tossed with al dente spaghetti, tender zucchini and rich garlic herb butter. A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese finishes it all off.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe is ready in just 20 minutes and delivers a satisfying, restaurant-quality meal. Feel free to adjust the amount of chili to suit your heat preference.

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Ingredients

1 unit ZucchiniView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

20 ounce ShrimpView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 tablespoon Parmesan CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Garlic Herb ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 ounce SpaghettiView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chili PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon (tsp) Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView 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 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Meanwhile, trim and halve the zucchini lengthwise, then cut into 1/4-inch half-moons. Thinly slice the chili pepper. Rinse shrimp and pat dry with paper towels.
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 of the pan. 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 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Add more pasta water if needed for a saucy consistency.
6. Divide pasta among bowls. Top with remaining Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with extra chili slices if desired.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine works well.

How can I make this dish less spicy?

Use only a small amount of chili or remove the seeds. You can also omit the chili entirely.

Can I substitute the garlic herb butter?

Regular butter with a pinch of garlic powder and dried herbs can be used in a pinch.