Recipe
Chili Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Spaghetti cooked directly in a chili–garlic butter sauce and finished with tender shrimp, lime, and scallions for a glossy, spicy finish.
Method
Build the Chili Butter
- 01Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 02Add butter, garlic, and chili crisp to the pan.
- 03Cook for 15–20 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
Cook the Pasta in the Pan
- 04Stir in soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, salt, and 2 to 4½ cups of water, depending on your pasta. (Note: We are not pre-cooking the pasta, but cooking it in the sauce & water. I recommend starting with 2 cups and adding more water as you go until the noodles are fully cooked and the sauce is nicely reduced to your preferred consistency. Every brand of pasta differs on how much water they eventually need and how much starches they release)
- 05Increase heat to high and add the dry spaghetti to the skillet.
- 06Bring to a simmer and cook, turning noodles as they soften.
Reduce and Gloss
- 07Cook, stirring frequently, as the water reduces and forms a glossy sauce.
- 08Once the liquid has reduced by about half, add the shrimp.
Finish
- 09Add lime slices and toss until the shrimp are just cooked through and the sauce looks loose and shiny.
- 10Finish with sliced scallions and additional chili crisp if desired.
Chef's note
- Fish sauce adds depth without making the dish taste fishy.
- Cooking the spaghetti in the pan with the sauce will release starches, giving the sauce a natural thickness and gloss.
- Adding the shrimp at the end keeps it juicy and prevents it from getting rubbery.
- Keep the sauce slightly loose in the pan as it will tighten fast.
- Lime is essential here; squeeze lightly before eating.


