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Easy Seafood Pasta with Shrimp, Scallops, and Garlic Butter in a bowl

Easy Seafood Pasta — Shrimp Scallop Garlic Butter

A quick and cozy seafood pasta featuring shrimp and scallops tossed in a flavorful garlic butter sauce, perfect for busy nights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Seafood
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Seafood and Pasta
  • 8 ounces pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine) Choose your preferred pasta shape.
  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined Ensure shrimp are thawed and dry.
  • 1 pound scallops, patted dry Pat dry to achieve a good sear.
Sauce Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons butter Use a mix of butter and olive oil.
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced The more garlic, the better!
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice Freshly squeezed is recommended.
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest For an extra burst of flavor.
  • to taste salt Salt in layers.
  • to taste black pepper
  • to taste red pepper flakes Optional, for added heat.
  • 2 tablespoons parsley or basil, chopped For freshness.
  • 1 cup pasta water Reserve before draining pasta.

Method
 

Cooking Pasta and Seafood
  1. Boil the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. In a hot skillet, sear the scallops for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown, then remove from the pan.
  3. In the same skillet, add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until pink, then remove from the heat.
Building the Sauce
  1. Lower the heat and add butter and minced garlic to the pan.
  2. Once the garlic is fragrant, splash in some reserved pasta water and add lemon juice and zest.
  3. Add the seafood back to the pan and toss everything together with the cooked pasta.
  4. Finish with chopped parsley or basil, and adjust seasoning to taste.

Notes

Pat seafood dry prior to cooking for best results. Salt in layers and save pasta water for a silky sauce. Don't rinse pasta to retain starch. Finish cooking together in sauce for better flavor integration.