15-Minute Summer Dinners: Garlic Butter Cherry Tomato & Shrimp Angel Hair
Burst sweet cherry tomatoes, succulent garlic butter shrimp, and delicate angel hair pasta tossed together in literally 15 minutes flat.
- Truly ready in 15 minutes: Angel hair pasta cooks in just 3 to 4 minutes!
- Blistered cherry tomatoes create their own sweet, savory sauce without canned tomato paste.
- Minimal cleanup: Everything comes together in one skillet and one pasta pot.
Every summer, our editorial team compiles the dinners we actually cook on weeknights when energy is at zero. This dish consistently takes the number one spot because of how deceptively gourmet it looks and tastes.
The secret is high heat and good olive oil: when sweet grape or cherry tomatoes hit a hot skillet with garlic, their skins split and release their juices, creating an instant silky emulsion with pasta water and butter.
15-Minute Summer Dinners: Garlic Butter Cherry Tomato & Shrimp Angel Hair
When the temperature outside climbs above 85 degrees and you are exhausted from a long day, the last thing you want is a heavy, multi-pot cooking session. This 15-minute skillet pasta is our test kitchen's ultimate low-effort, high-reward summer dinner. Sweet cherry tomatoes blister in olive oil and garlic, creating an effortless, jammy pan sauce that coats every strand of pasta.
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225g) angel hair (capellini) pasta
- 1 lb (450g) medium raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and patted dry
- 2 pints (about 4 cups) sweet cherry or grape tomatoes, whole
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Boil Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add angel hair pasta and cook for 3 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
Blister Tomatoes & Garlic
Heat olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add whole cherry tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until skins blister and burst. Add sliced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
Sear Shrimp
Push tomatoes to the sides of the skillet. Add butter and shrimp to the center. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 90 seconds per side until shrimp turn opaque pink and curl into loose 'C' shapes. Pour in white wine to deglaze.
Toss & Serve
Toss in drained angel hair and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss gently over low heat for 1 minute until a glossy sauce clings to the noodles. Fold in fresh basil and grated Parmesan.
💡 CHEF'S PRO TIPS
- Angel hair cooks extremely quickly; don't walk away from the pot, as 4 minutes can turn it into mush.
- If you don't eat shellfish, substitute canned cannellini beans or shredded rotisserie chicken for an equally fast meal.
Nutrition Facts
Per ServingCommunity Reviews & Ratings
1 cooks have shared their thoughts on this recipe
This has become our Thursday night staple! 15 minutes was actually accurate, and the blistered tomatoes make it feel like a restaurant plate.