Shrimp Scampi
This easy shrimp scampi recipe is ready in just 20 minutes! Tender juicy shrimp are tossed in a delicious garlic butter sauce for a quick and easy dinner.
Shrimp scampi is one of those classic shrimp recipes I absolutely love whipping up, especially during the spring and summer.
It's super quick to make – we're talking just 20 minutes from prepping to cooking! Honestly, it’s one of the easiest dishes you can make, and you really can't go wrong with it.
Plus, it's a simple yet impressive dish to serve at dinner parties.
Shrimp Scampi Ingredients
- shrimp: Choose jumbo shrimp that are peeled and deveined with tails on. Unlike small shrimp, extra large shrimp stay nice and tender as they cook.
- sauce: What is the sauce for shrimp scampi made of? This simple yet delicious sauce is made with just a few ingredients - butter, olive oil, dry white wine, fresh garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, and salt.
- garnish: To tie the flavors of this dish all together, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp and toss with fresh parsley.
How to make Shrimp Scampi
Step 1: Make the sauce
In a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 30-45 seconds. Add the red pepper flakes and salt.
Step 2: Add the wine
Add the wine to the pan, bring to a simmer, and let the sauce reduce and thicken, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Saute the shrimp
Add the shrimp to the skillet and saute for about 3-4 minutes, until shrimp turn pink and cooked through.
Step 4: Garnish and serve
Squeeze the lemon juice on top and top with parsley.
Pro Tips
Prep your ingredients - This recipe cooks fast! Make sure all your ingredients are measured out and ready to go.
Extra large/jumbo shrimp - I recommend using jumbo shrimp for this recipe as they will stay juicy and tender as they cook. Small shrimp cook too fast resulting in a tough and rubbery texture.
Use a butter/oil combo - Shrimp scampi is bested cooked in a butter/oil combination to prevent the butter from burning. You can cook with all butter if you prefer, but note that the butter will start to brown as the shrimp cooks.
Use a dry white wine - I recommend using a dry, crisp white wine like sauvignon blanc for this recipe. Pinot grigio and chardonnay also work well.
How to Serve Shrimp Scampi
What goes well with shrimp scampi?
- One of my favorite dishes to make during the summer is tossing shrimp scampi with fresh homemade pasta. Spaghetti and linguine are classic pasta shapes to serve with shrimp scampi.
- Serve shrimp scampi as an appetizer with toasted homemade sourdough bread to dip in the delicious sauce!
How to Store
Shrimp scampi will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
To reheat, add the shrimp to a pan over low heat until the sauce is melted and the shrimp are warmed through.
More Seafood Recipes
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Salmon with Mango Chutney
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus with Potatoes
More lunch and dinner recipes
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Shrimp Scampi
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 pound extra large shrimp (peel and deveined, tails on)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 5 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ lemon
- 2 tablespoons parsley (finely chopped)
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 30-45 seconds. Add the red pepper flakes and salt and stir.
- Add the wine to the pan, bring to a simmer, and let the sauce reduce down, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and saute for about 3-4 minutes, until shrimp is pink and cooked through. Squeeze the lemon juice on top and toss with parsley.
Nutrition
FAQs
The best wine to use in shrimp scampi is a dry, crisp white wine. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chardonnay are the best choices.
White wine in shrimp scampi can be replaced with chicken broth or water.
A variety of fresh herbs can be used in place of parsley in shrimp scampi. Choose from chives, basil, tarragon, dill, and cilantro.
Excellent! Simple but DELICIOUS!
Wow - the sauce was just perfect. sooooo good! Will definitely make again!
Thanks, Amelia!
Great recipe
This recipe is amazing!
excellent recipe.will do it again