Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender chicken and succulent shrimp tossed in a zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce over linguine. Perfect for weeknight dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 8 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

03 - 12 oz linguine or spaghetti

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - Juice of 1 lemon
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Sauce & Fats

09 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1/4 cup dry white wine, optional
12 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

16 - Lemon wedges
17 - Extra chopped parsley

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add linguine or spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Pat shrimp and chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season both with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Add chicken pieces and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
04 - Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same skillet. Add shrimp and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer to the plate with chicken.
05 - Reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Sauté shallot and garlic for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
06 - Deglaze the skillet with white wine if using, allowing it to reduce for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 minutes.
07 - Return chicken and shrimp to the skillet with the cooked pasta. Toss thoroughly to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.
08 - Stir in fresh parsley and red pepper flakes if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
09 - Transfer to serving plates or bowls. Garnish with lemon wedges and extra fresh parsley. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get that restaurant quality surf and turf experience without the restaurant price tag or reservation
  • The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day if you manage to have any
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and sad so pull them the moment they turn pink and opaque
  • The pasta water is liquid gold because the starch helps your sauce cling to every strand of pasta
  • Garlic burns faster than you think so keep the heat medium once you add it to the pan
03 -
  • Dry your proteins thoroughly with paper towels for the best sear and browning
  • Room temperature butter melts more evenly creating a silkier emulsified sauce
  • Grate your lemon zest before juicing so you do not accidentally grate your fingers
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