Shrimp Scampi
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You won’t believe how easy this comes together in just 15 minutes – perfect for those busy weeknights!
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reasons to make shrimp scampi
- Quick cook time. With a short ingredient list and a few easy steps, you’ll have this fancy meal on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes start to finish, perfect for busy weeknights and weekend company.
- Restaurant-quality. This is truly restaurant-quality, if not even better, with bigger, better-quality shrimp.
- Versatile. Shrimp scampi can be served over pasta or rice, or served alongside crusty bread and a light salad.
types of shrimp
Wild caught shrimp vs. farmed shrimp
Farmed shrimp are raised in controlled environments, whereas wild caught shrimp have been caught in their natural habitats by fishermen. Wild caught shrimp is generally preferred over farmed shrimp primarily due to taste.
Frozen vs. fresh shrimp
Unless you reside in a coastal area, the “fresh shrimp” on display at your local grocery store have already been previously frozen at sea. Frozen shrimp offers ultimate freshness (flash-frozen as soon as they are caught) and flexibility, using only what you need for dinner. Bottom line, frozen shrimp will taste better and cook better.
Ingredients
Linguine
Linguine is always our go-to since it holds onto all that lovely saucy goodness but you can also substitute spaghetti or fettuccine.
Butter
For richness and creaminess, of course.
Shrimp
Peeled, deveined and thawed overnight (or a quick 5-10 min thaw under cold running water).
Garlic and red pepper flakes
For maximum flavor. You can increase the amount of red pepper flakes for extra heat and spiciness.
White wine
A dry white wine is great here (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc).
Lemon juice/zest
A little bit of acid goes a long way to help balance out the flavors and richness of the butter. Freshly squeezed is always the way to go (over the bottled stuff).
Parmesan
Add your finishing touches with a healthy dusting of freshly grated Parm.
tips and tricks for success
- Know your shrimp size. Shrimp size is calculated on number of shrimp per pound. The smaller the number, the larger your shrimp. There are about 40-50 medium shrimp per pound.
- Buy frozen shrimp. For superior quality and freshness, using frozen shrimp is ideal (but avoid the bags with freezer burn), opting for a quick thaw under cold running water.
- Choose a wine you will drink. A dry white wine (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc) is great here – it does not have to be anything fancy or overpriced. Just something you don’t mind sipping on since you will have an open bottle.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
what to serve with shrimp scampi
Tools For This Recipe
Large cast iron skillet
Shrimp Scampi: Frequently Asked Questions
You can thaw frozen shrimp overnight, transferring it from the freezer to the fridge the day before. For a quick thaw, you can run them under cold water until completely thawed, about 5-10 minutes. Pat them dry as thoroughly as possible to remove any excess moisture (so they can brown nicely and evenly).
Chicken stock can be used for white wine as a non-alcoholic substitute.
The lemon juice helps balance out the flavors and richness of the butter.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 day.
Shrimp Scampi
Ingredients
- 8 ounces linguine
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
- ¼ cup white wine*
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.
- Melt butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in wine and lemon juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes; remove from heat.
- Stir in pasta, lemon zest and parsley; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately, topped with Parmesan.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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This is AMAZING! My husband and I are doing keto and this was a perfect meal (we gave the pasta to the kids!!)
I have made this recipe for years! It’s a family favorite for sure. I started subbing angel hair for the linguine a few years ago and we prefer that. I recommend this any time someone asks for a quick dinner.
I have made this receipe many times. I have made other versions, but my husband loves this one the best. Making it again tonight. I follow the receipe to the T. but
I add 1 teaspoon of home made chili oil. This is so delicious, Thanks
So easy. So delicious. I’ve made this twice now and will likely make it once a month. I buy frozen shrimp and simply put them in the fridge the night before I am going to make this meal.
I put a tad too much zest in it the first time, backed off a little the second time. Perfect meal.
Hubby approved!
I’ve used many scampi recipes, but when I found this one, I stopped looking! Not only is it the easiest, it is the best tasting. I love how fast it comes together. My husband loves it too. I’ve made it lots of times since I pinned it. Thanks
Come together easily, quickly and deliciously! Another hit from Chungah!
I have made this for years and it is one our favorite meals. So very, very good. I did not have linguine so used Angel hair pasta and preferred that. However, we do not like any thick pastas. Used a Chardonnay. Wonderful.
This recipe came out to be so delicious. Ron (my husband) really enjoyed it, he said it taste better than the restaurant’s. I did add some lobster flakes and a few oysters to this, and it was divine. Thank you for sharing this recipe. 5 stars for sure
Simple, fantastic. Thank you.
Husband has added this recipe to the rotation! Love it, super delicious! But I’m curious of the Nutrition Information, I’ve scrolled through and can’t seem to find it. Most recipes I’ve seen have approximate values. Could you help a girl out? Thanks! ☺️
This is a good recipe overall, but needs to be tweaked. I would increase the wine amount to half a cup (or even more and preferably Chardonnay) and reduce the amount of lemon juice to 2 tablespoons. Also parsley should be 1/4 of cup (chopped). Addition of basil would be good, too.
My partner and I made this for an at-home date night and it was delicious! We overcooked the shrimp by a few minutes; it’s easy to do so when you aren’t familiar with shrimp, but even then the flavor was so tasty. Felt like a $200 dinner from home 🙂
Absolutely tasty meal ideal for summer evening
My favorite shrimp scampi recipe right here! The only thing I like to add is some bell pepper for additional nutrition and flavor. Thank you for sharing this great recipe!
Yummy recipe & butters is adorable, I have a corgi too Auggie is his name he is the light in my world 🙂
Can’t wait to try it- what type of white wine should be used?
Love it!! Added just a few capers also. Thanks for the recipe!!
This recipe was the bomb! I used a whole pound of pasta with the same ingredient ratio otherwise listed, and there was plenty of flavor to go around. A new staple for us!
OMG! Butters that sold me. Trying the recipe tonight. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Amazing! Great flavor. Quick and easy to make.
Loved it.
It was damndelicious! As fresh and flavorful as any scampi I’ve ever ordered and as easy as promised! Thanks