Spicy Shrimp Spaghetti with Zucchini and Garlic Herb Butter

This spicy shrimp spaghetti brings together succulent shrimp, tender zucchini and al dente pasta in a garlic herb butter sauce with a kick of chili. Perfect for heat lovers, but easily adjustable for milder palates.

Ready in just 20 minutes, this dish is a savory, spicy and satisfying meal that comes together in one pan. Top it with Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil for a restaurant-quality dinner at home.

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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, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. While pasta cooks, trim and halve the zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into ¼-inch half-moons. Thinly slice the chili pepper. Rinse shrimp under cold water and pat very dry with paper towels.
3. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and as much sliced chili as you like; cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is lightly browned, 2-3 minutes.
4. Push zucchini mixture to one side of the pan and add another drizzle of olive oil to the empty side. Add shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until opaque and cooked through, 3-4 minutes.
5. Add drained spaghetti, garlic herb butter, half the Parmesan and ¼ cup reserved pasta water to the pan. Season generously with salt and pepper. Toss until everything is well combined. If needed, add more pasta water a splash at a time to coat the pasta.
6. Divide pasta between bowls. Top with remaining Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with extra sliced chili if desired.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, you can substitute spaghetti with linguine, fettuccine or any long pasta. Adjust cooking time according to package directions.

How can I make this dish milder?

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

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes, thaw the shrimp completely and pat dry before cooking. Adjust cooking time as needed.