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Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta with Costco Kirkland Shrimp

Costco's Kirkland frozen shrimp makes the best garlic butter pasta — thaw under cold water in 5 minutes, sauté in butter and garlic, and toss with linguine for a restaurant-quality dinner in 25 minutes.

Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
15 min
Servings
4
Cost / Serving
$5.00

Quick Answer

Thaw Kirkland frozen shrimp under cold water, pat dry, sear in butter and garlic for 90 seconds per side, then toss with linguine and pasta water. The fast sear keeps the shrimp tender. Ready in 25 minutes; serves 4.

Garlic butter shrimp pasta is one of the fastest legitimate dinners you can make. Costco's Kirkland frozen shrimp thaws quickly, cooks in 3 minutes, and absorbs butter and garlic beautifully. Tossed with linguine and a splash of white wine or pasta water, it comes together in one pan with almost no effort and looks impressive every time.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Thaw shrimp under cold running water for 5 minutes. Pat completely dry with paper towels — moisture prevents a good sear.

  2. 2

    Cook linguine in heavily salted boiling water per package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

  3. 3

    While pasta cooks, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and just opaque. Do not overcook. Transfer to a plate.

  4. 4

    In the same skillet, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.

  5. 5

    Add white wine (or ½ cup pasta water) and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any brown bits.

  6. 6

    Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss. Add pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce coats the noodles.

  7. 7

    Return shrimp to the pan. Add lemon juice and parsley, toss everything together, and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with Parmesan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I quickly thaw Costco frozen shrimp?+
Place the shrimp in a colander and run cold (not warm) water over them for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally. They'll be fully thawed and ready to cook. Never thaw shrimp in warm water — it partially cooks them and makes them rubbery.
How do I know when shrimp is cooked through?+
Shrimp is done when it turns from translucent gray to opaque white-pink and curls into a loose C shape. If it curls into a tight O, it's overcooked. The whole process takes 2–3 minutes total — shrimp cooks faster than almost any other protein.
Can I make this without wine?+
Yes. Substitute the wine with an equal amount of pasta water plus a squeeze of lemon juice. The flavor is slightly less complex but still excellent.
What's the difference between Costco's raw and cooked frozen shrimp?+
Always buy raw (gray/translucent) frozen shrimp for this recipe. Pre-cooked shrimp has already been heated once and will overcook quickly in the pan, becoming rubbery. Raw shrimp gives you full control over the final texture.