Can you use frozen shrimp for lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot?

Absolutely. Just make sure they’re raw (not pre-cooked) and fully thawed before cooking. Pat them dry so they sear nicely. Frozen shrimp are perfect for this lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot recipe because they cook in minutes and don’t sacrifice flavor.

What kind of pasta works best in a one-pot shrimp dish?

Long noodles like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine work best. They absorb the lemon-garlic sauce beautifully. For a gluten-free option, try brown rice spaghetti or chickpea pasta. I used regular pasta in this lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot dish, but I've also had success with lentil pasta.

How do you avoid overcooking shrimp in pasta recipes?

Timing is everything. Cook shrimp for just 1–2 minutes per side—stop as soon as they turn pink and opaque. Remove the pan from heat right after. In this lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot meal, they finish cooking as you toss everything together.

Can I make lemon garlic shrimp pasta without dairy or gluten?

Definitely. Swap butter with olive oil or dairy-free vegan butter, and use gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles. I’ve done this version before and it still delivers that bright, garlicky punch this lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot dish is known for.

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta One Pot – Fast, Flavorful Solo Dinner

Name: Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta One Pot Dinner for One
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American

Description

A fast and flavorful lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot recipe made for solo cooks. Perfectly zesty, buttery, and ready in 20 minutes.

Ingredients

3–4 oz spaghetti

6–8 shrimp (peeled, deveined)

1 tbsp butter or ghee

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp lemon juice

½ tsp lemon zest

Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp reserved pasta water

Parsley & parmesan (optional)

Instructions

1. Boil pasta until just shy of al dente. Reserve 2 tbsp pasta water.

2. In same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes.

3. Add shrimp, cook 1–2 min per side until pink. Turn off heat.

4. Add cooked pasta, lemon juice, zest, and pasta water. Toss well.

5. Top with parsley and cheese if using. Serve hot.

Notes

Don’t overcook shrimp—remove from heat as soon as they turn pink.
Gluten-free pasta and dairy-free swaps work great in this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 410
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 980mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 26g
Cholesterol: 180mg

Keywords: lemon garlic shrimp pasta one pot, solo dinner