Meow Recipes: Date Night Lemon Pappardelle with Shrimp

Date Night Lemon Pappardelle in a bowl with shrimp.

Date night pastas are my favorite.

Especially those that involve silky-smooth, creamy, lemon pappardelle ribbons topped with freshly ground black pepper and a pile of impossibly juicy, buttery, tender jumbo shrimp. Is there anything more romantic than a fork-twirl of creamy noodles with some cooked shrimp to effortless perfection in ONLY BUTTER? I cannot even express my love properly. The simplicity, the purity of textures and flavors, the combination of everything on the plate… goodbye.

Reasons date night pastas are ideal:

Just because it’s date night! You don’t have to wait for Valentine’s or a reason to celebrate, or even another person, for that matter. It’s a special treat, a little mini-celebration of life and love, just because! Nothing better than that.
Pasta is fancy-feeling.
Pasta is manageable and fast.
Pasta can be made in small-ish batches.
Pasta is SO SERIOUSLY GOOD.
Pasta goes well with wine. Which goes well with date night.

We’re Making Lemon Pappardelle with Shrimp!

Step 1: Boil your noodles. After they’re done cooking, set them aside and toss with a little olive oil so that they don’t stick together.

Step 2: Add your garlic to a pool of melted butter. Add your white wine (sizzzzzzle!) and cream. Bring to a simmer and in goes your fresh lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and Parmesan cheese.

Step 3: Cook up your cute little shrimp. Just a couple minutes per side here.

Step 4: Add your noodles to the warm, creamy sauce and pile those buttery shrimp on top. Fresh, bright, fancy-feeling date night comin’ right up!

Lemon Pappardelle with Shrimp in a bowl.

Lemony, creamy, silky, rich, delicate, simple and elegant all in one. It is the food manifestation of the heart-eye emoji. Go now. ♡

Other Date Night Pasta Yums:

Check out our video for how to make Lemon Pappardelle:

Date Night Lemon Pappardelle with Shrimp

Author: Lindsay
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 3-4

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Description

Lemon Pappardelle with Shrimp! Creamy, lemony, silky pasta piled high in a bowl with buttery shrimp and freshly cracked black pepper. Everything you need for date night!

Ingredients

1 lb. uncooked shrimp
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 teaspoon fresh garlic, grated (less than one clove)
1/4 to 1/2 cup white wine (I usually eyeball it)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1–2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
8 ounces pappardelle or fettuccini pasta (egg pasta or fresh pasta – yum)
freshly grated black pepper

Instructions

Pasta: Cook according to package directions (add a big pinch of salt to your water for better-tasting pasta). Drain and reserve some water. Toss pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Sauce: Melt 2-3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the garlic; sauté for 1-2 minutes (do not brown the garlic). Add the wine; let it sizzle out for a few minutes. Add the cream; bring to a simmer. Add the lemon juice, salt, and optional Parmesan; bring down to low heat.
Shrimp: Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Heat one tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, season with salt, and flip when pink (1-2 minutes per side). Cover with foil and set aside.
Assemble: Toss your pasta with the warm sauce. Serve alongside a pile of fresh, juicy, hot, buttery shrimp. Serve with freshly cracked black pepper and little wedges of lemon. Ooooh baby.