Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
This is a classic recipe for Shrimp Scampi pasta with a rich flavorful sauce you can make at home for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.
Shrimp Scampi is a classic Italian-American dish. It consists of large juicy shrimp tossed in garlic butter and wine sauce served over a bed of thin pasta like linguine or spaghetti. Served in fancy restaurants, you can make this dish at home in under 30 minutes.
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Tools Used
- Large skillet with high sides
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon
- Colander
- Slotted spoon
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of pasta like spaghetti or linguine
- 1 lb. of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup of white wine or chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp of butter
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 red onion, diced or 2 shallots, finely diced
- 1 pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley for garnish
- Lemon wedges for garnish
- 1/2 cup ground parmesan cheese, for topping
Pasta
You can make your shrimp scampi with your choice of pasta. Linguine, spaghetti or angel hair pasta are all good choices. Angel hair pasta is the thinnest of the three. For this recipe I use linguine. If you happen to have spaghetti on hand, use it.
Shrimp
Large or extra-large size shrimp are best to use for pasta dishes. Small shrimp would get lost in the pasta. You want a shrimp large enough to eat in one or two bites.
White Wine
A dry white wine, like Pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc, is good in this recipe. If you do not have white wine on hand, you can substitute chicken stock. A good quality white wine will give you a richer flavor.
Onion
Red onions, in my opinion, add a nice flavor. If you prefer shallots, those are good too. If you would like a nice onion flavor but no onions, substitute about one tablespoon of onion powder and add it to the step with the garlic. Or, gasp, skip the onions completely!
Directions
Step 1 Prepare the pasta
Fill a large pot or Dutch oven with water and bring it to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and your pasta noodles to the boiling water. Return to boil and cook until almost tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain, reserving about one cup of pasta water, and set aside.
Step 2
Season your shrimp with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat and stir until the butter melts. Then add the diced onion, fresh garlic, and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for about 3 or 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The garlic should be fragrant and the onions soft.
Step 3
Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook until they are pink about 2 or 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the skillet with a slotted spoon.
Step 4
Pour the white wine or chicken broth and fresh lemon juice into the skillet to deglaze the pan. Scrap the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet using a wooden spoon. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat. Let the liquid simmer for about 2 or 3 minutes to reduce the liquid.
Step 5
Add the cooked pasta and shrimp to the skillet and toss gently to combine. If the sauce seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Step 6 Serve
Transfer your hot fresh Shrimp Scampi onto serving bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges if desired. Top with fresh ground parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Printable recipe card below.
Tips for cooking Shrimp Scampi
Al dente pasta is great with this dish. When you add the pasta back into the skillet with the sauce and shrimp, it will cook for a couple of minutes.
The size of the shrimp matters. We use large shrimp so everyone has plenty of shrimp on their plate. You can also use Jumbo shrimp in this recipe. I do not recommend small shrimp for a shrimp scampi dish.
Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large skillet
- 1 large pot
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 slotted spoon
- 1 Colander
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Pasta such as spaghetti or linguine
- 1 lb. Large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ cup Dry white wine or chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- ½ red onion diced, or 2 shallots finely diced
- 1 Lemon, juiced
- ½ cup grated parmesan for topping optional
- ¼ cup Parsley, finely chopped for garnish optional
- 2 Lemons, sliced for garnish optional
Instructions
- Fill a large pot or Dutch oven with water and bring it to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and your pasta noodles to the boiling water. Return to boil and cook until almost tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain, reserving about one cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- Season your shrimp with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat and stir until the butter melts. Then add the diced onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for about 3 or 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The garlic should be fragrant and the onions soft.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook until they are pink about 2 or 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the skillet with a slotted spoon.
- Pour the white wine or chicken broth and fresh lemon juice into the skillet to deglaze the pan. Scrap the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet using a wooden spoon. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat. Let the liquid simmer for about 2 or 3 minutes to reduce the liquid.
- Add the cooked pasta and shrimp to the skillet and toss gently to combine. If the sauce seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
- Transfer your hot fresh Shrimp Scampi onto serving bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges if desired. Top with fresh ground parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
The garlic butter sauce in this recipe creates succulent shrimp with pasta for a delicious Italian meal you can make at home. Save this wonderful recipe for your weeknight dinner recipe collection.
My hubby is the one who cooks this delicious meal at our house. I am sure it will become a family favorite at your house too.
What to serve with Shrimp Scampi
A crusty bread with Italian Butter goes well with Shrimp Scampi and most pasta dishes. If you want to replicate a restaurant meal at home, make this Olive Garden Copycat Salad too.
More Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
Low Country Shrimp Boil Recipe
Easy Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Lemon Shrimp Penne Pasta Dinner with Broccoli
Garlic Butter Lemon Shrimp and Rice Recipe
