Garlic Shrimp Scampi

Garlic Shrimp Scampi features plump, tender shrimp quickly cooked in a vibrant sauce of garlic, butter, white wine, and lemon. This classic dish is incredibly flavorful and comes together rapidly, making it perfect for a quick yet impressive meal.

Garlic Shrimp Scampi
  • Prep time: 14 minutes
  • Cook time: 13 minutes
  • Total time: 27 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti, cooked according to package directions

Instructions

  1. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and just cooked through. Do not overcrowd; cook in batches if necessary. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet, allowing it to melt. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Pour in white wine (or chicken broth) and fresh lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce slightly reduces.
  5. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss with the sauce and chopped fresh parsley until heated through, about 1 minute.
  6. Add the cooked linguine to the skillet and toss everything together, ensuring the pasta is well coated with the scampi sauce.
  7. Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh parsley if desired.

Tips

  • Do not overcook the shrimp; they cook very quickly and can become rubbery if left on the heat too long.
  • Have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking, as this dish comes together very fast.
  • If you don't have white wine, chicken broth is a great substitute that still provides depth to the sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use pre-cooked shrimp?

While fresh or raw frozen shrimp are best for flavor and texture, you can use pre-cooked shrimp. Add them at the very end with the parsley, just to warm through in the sauce, to prevent them from becoming tough.

What kind of pasta works best with shrimp scampi?

Linguine or spaghetti are traditional choices as their long strands are excellent for catching the buttery, garlicky sauce. However, any long, thin pasta or even a short pasta like penne can work well.

Can I make this dish without wine?

Yes, you can easily omit the wine. Simply substitute it with an equal amount of chicken broth or vegetable broth to maintain the liquid volume and flavor complexity of the sauce.