Spicy Shrimp and Zucchini Pasta with Garlic Herb Butter

This spicy shrimp pasta is a fiery, savory dish that comes together in just 20 minutes. Succulent shrimp are cooked with zucchini and fresh chili, then tossed with spaghetti and a luscious garlic herb butter. A sprinkle of Parmesan adds a nutty finish, making every bite irresistible.

Perfect for spice lovers, this recipe lets you control the heat by adjusting the amount of chili. Serve it piping hot for a comforting meal that’s both quick and impressive.

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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, 10-12 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
2. Meanwhile, wash and dry all produce. Halve zucchini lengthwise, then slice into ¼-inch-thick half-moons. Thinly slice half the chili (use all for more heat). Rinse shrimp and pat dry with paper towel.
3. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and chili; cook, tossing, until zucchini is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
4. Push zucchini to one side of pan and add another drizzle of olive oil to center. Add shrimp; cook, tossing, until pink and cooked through, 3-4 minutes.
5. Add spaghetti, garlic herb butter, half the Parmesan and ¼ cup pasta cooking water to pan. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until combined and saucy. Add remaining pasta water if needed.
6. Divide pasta between bowls. Sprinkle 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 less spicy?

Use only half the chili pepper, remove the seeds or omit it entirely. You can also add a splash of cream to mellow the heat.

Can I substitute the garlic herb butter?

If you don’t have garlic herb butter, use regular butter and add 1 minced garlic clove and 1 teaspoon dried herbs (like parsley or basil) when cooking.