Shrimp scampi is an American-Italian dish that is quick and easy to make in just 15 minutes. Tender shrimp is coated in a delicious and flavorful buttery sauce made with garlic and lemon juice.
Serve this homemade shrimp scampi as an appetizer or for a light dinner over pasta, zucchini noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice. This quick shrimp recipe is perfect for busy weeknights but fancy enough for special occasions too.
Why You'll Love Shrimp Scampi
- It’s a quick 30-minute dinner. Shrimp scampi is ready in just 25 minutes from start to finish, which makes it perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something on the dinner table fast.
- The buttery scampi sauce. It's all about that buttery, lemony, scampi sauce. The best part? It is so simple to make. All you need it so start with some butter, cook the shrimp, then add stock (or wine) and some lemon juice. Be sure to have your pre-measured ingredients on hand as things move quickly and you don’t overcook the shrimp.
- It’s easy yet impressive. This shrimp scampi recipe is incredibly easy to make, but that doesn’t mean your guests will know that. You can serve these on weeknights but it's impressive and fancy enough for a dinner party or on Date Night.
Ingredient Notes
To make this easy Shrimp Scampi, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- pasta - we used linguine, but any long pasta will work such as angel hair, spaghetti, or fettuccine.
- butter
- garlic
- chicken stock (or white wine)
- shrimp - we used large white shrimp but you can use any type of shrimp that you want. I kept the tails on, but feel free to remove them for easy eating. Do this when you are preparing the shrimp (peeling and deveining) before cooking.
- salt and pepper
- lemon juice
- parsley
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a large skillet (I used a 10-inch cast-iron skillet), and a large cooking pot for the pasta.
How to Make the Best Shrimp Scampi
- Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add linguine and cook until al dente according to package directions, about 10 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of the hot pasta water in a bowl. Drain the noodles well and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics. heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high until bubbly, about 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in chicken stock and bring it to a simmer, about 1 minute.
- Add shrimp. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add seasoning. Add lemon juice, parsley, and ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Stir well until smooth and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes
- Toss in pasta. Add cooked linguine and toss well to coat evenly. Top with chili flakes (if desired) and serve immediately.
How to Serve
You can serve Shrimp Scampi is on its own, but I recommend serving it over pasta, rice, or potatoes. Some of favorite recipes to serve it with are:
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Tips for cooking shrimp: Overcooked shrimp is tough and unpleasant to eat. The trick to making perfectly cooked shrimp is removing it from the heat once the shrimps turn pink and their tails start to curl inward.
- How to store: Shrimp scampi tastes best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, allow it to cool to room temperature. Then, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
- How to reheat: When reheating shrimp scampi, it’s important to be mindful to not overcook the shrimp. You can heat this dish in the microwave on medium-low heat for a few minutes or in a pan on the stovetop, also over medium-low heat. In both cases, stir occasionally.
More Shrimp Recipes
- 30 Best Shrimp Recipes
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Garlic Shrimp Skewers
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp
- Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
- Grilled Shrimp Salad
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Recipe
Shrimp Scampi
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Shrimp scampi is a delicious American-Italian dish made with tender shrimp and a flavorful buttery sauce that is quick and easy to make in 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces long pasta, linguine, angel hair, spaghetti, or fettuccine (½ pound)
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken stock (or white wine)
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add linguine and cook until al dente according to package directions, about 10 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of the hot pasta water in a bowl. Drain the noodles well and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high until bubbly, about 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken stock and bring it to a simmer, about 1 minute.
- Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add lemon juice, parsley, and ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Stir well until smooth and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes
- Add cooked linguine and toss well to coat evenly. Top with chili flakes (if desired) and serve immediately.
Notes
Tips for cooking shrimp: Overcooked shrimp is tough and unpleasant to eat. The trick to making perfectly cooked shrimp is removing it from the heat once the shrimps turn pink and their tails start to curl inward.
How to store: Shrimp scampi tastes best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, allow it to cool to room temperature. Then, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
How to reheat: When reheating shrimp scampi, it’s important to be mindful to not overcook the shrimp. You can heat this dish in the microwave on medium-low heat for a few minutes or in a pan on the stovetop, also over medium-low heat. In both cases, stir occasionally.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
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