Whenever I need a quick and easy meal that is full of flavor, I make this Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi recipe. Shrimp cooked in a light lemon garlic butter sauce and served over a bed of pasta.
It’s incredibly flavorful, simple to prepare, and is ready to eat in 15 minutes! Although it is a great meal to make on busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, it is also elegant enough to serve on special occasions.
I have made this dish for Valentine’s Day and on our stay at home date nights. And when it comes to what to make on Fridays during the Lenten season, this recipe is a welcome change from fish and chips and cheese pizza.
The Keys To Making Shrimp Scampi
1. Have Your Ingredients Ready
This recipe comes together very quickly so it is important to have all of the ingredients ready. The shrimp needs to be peeled and deveined if not already purchased this way. However this also means that the shrimp should be thawed and patted dry if you are starting with frozen shrimp.
In addition, be sure to have your garlic already minced or your garlic press on the counter. Then chop the parsley and have it measured before beginning this recipe.
You will need a teaspoon and tablespoon measuring spoon to measure the ingredients. So gather the necessary ingredients, cutting board, garlic press and measuring tools.
And don’t forget to make the pasta before heating up your skillet. The pasta will actually take longer to make than the entire Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi recipe.
2. Use Oil and Butter
When it comes to cooking the shrimp, it is best to use both oil and butter rather than just butter. Although butter adds a rich and flavorful taste to the shrimp, it can also burn easily when cooked at high temperatures.
When you combine butter with oil, the oil helps raise the overall smoke point of the butter. This prevents the mixture from burning at higher temperatures, allowing you to achieve a better sear on the shrimp without the risk of the fat breaking down and producing a burnt taste.
The butter adds richness to the shrimp, while the oil helps create a crisp exterior during cooking. Therefore for best results cook the shrimp in the butter and oil combo.
3. Dry White Wine
When it comes to authentic Shrimp Scampi sauce, one of the key ingredients is dry white wine. Once it gets poured in the skillet, the alcohol burns off leaving you with only the concentrated flavors.
However be sure to us a good quality drinking wine. I use a Sauvignon Blanc, however you can also usePinot Grigioor Chardonnay.
If you don’t want to cook with wine, use a good chicken broth instead. The flavor won’t be as intense, but it will still be delicious.
Shrimp Scampi Ingredients
Shrimp
Because shrimp is the star of this recipe it is best to use large, extra large or jumbo shrimp. They are large enough that they pan sear well and they will also cook in the perfect amount of time so that they stay nice and tender and won’t get overcooked.
Although you only need 2/3 of a pound, purchase the entire pound and use the extra shrimp to make Baked Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.
To save you time it is best to purchase peeled and deveined, raw shrimp. You can leave the tails on for a beautiful presentation, but I typically remove them for the ease of eating.
If you purchase shrimp that still has the shells on, you must remove them. In addition, it is vital that you remove the vein to prevent a gritty taste in your Shrimp Scampi.
Whenever possible, purchase wild-caught shrimp. They are not only healthier, but they also have better flavor.
Olive Oil
Be sure to use standard, not extra virgin olive oil. Because you will be cooking at a higher temperature regular olive oil is needed as it as a higher smoke point.
You could also us another neutral high heat oil such as canola or vegetable oil if you have that on hand. However, olive oil is always the better option.
Butter
It is best to use unsalted butter when making the sauce. You can always add more salt later.
Garlic
Because Shrimp Scampi is known for the garlic butter sauce that it is cooked in, it is best to use fresh minced garlic. However, you can substitute jarred minced garlic if you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand.
White Wine
White wine adds a touch of acidity and brightens the flavors of the sauce.However, be sure to use a dry (not sweet) white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay.
Lemon Juice
Another acidity element,essential for balancing the richness and lightening up the flavor in the Shrimp Scampi sauce.
Parsley
Parsleyadds a slightly earthy flavor which helps balance out the richness of the dish. Always stick to flat leaf parsley whenever possible.
Seasonings
Use salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to season the dish to your taste preference.
Shrimp Scampi Variations
Creamy Scampi:Stir in some heavy cream or half and half for a richer, creamier sauce.
Spicy Scampi:Add more red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper powder to increase the spiciness of the sauce.
Sun-dried Tomatoes:Add diced sun-dried tomatoes for added flavor and a pop of color.
Gluten-free options:Skip traditional pasta and make gluten-free pasta or serve over a bed of zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
No matter how you choose to prepare it, Shrimp Scampi is guaranteed to be a delightful and satisfying dish that you will want to make over and over again.
Shrimp Scampi Recipe
*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2/3 pound large shrimp, deveined and shelled with tails on or off
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoons dry white wine or broth
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, more to taste (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan or skillet. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds – 1 minute
Add the shrimp the the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste and sauté until it just begins to turn pink (1-2 minutes) then flip.
Pour in wine (or broth), add red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer for 1-2 minutes or until wine reduces by about half and the shrimp is just cooked through.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and parsley.
Serve over cooked pasta, rice, or alongside steamed vegetables.
Enjoy! Mary
To receive FREE recipes delivered directly to your email, be sure to sign up for the iCookfortwo newsletter. A sign up form is located in the middle of this article. If you have any questions, comments, or want to submit an idea for a recipe for two, feel free to email at mary@icookfortwo.com
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Shrimp cooked in a lemon garlicky, butter sauce until they are nice and tender. Serve it over a bed of pasta for a quick and easy meal that is elegant enough to serve on special occasions.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2/3 pound large shrimp, deveined and shelled with tails on or off
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1/8 cup dry white wine or broth
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, more to taste (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan or skillet. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds - 1 minute.
- Add the shrimp the the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste and sauté until it just begins to turn pink (1-2 minutes) then flip.
- Pour in wine (or broth), add red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer for 1-2 minutes or until wine reduces by about half and the shrimp is just cooked through.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and parsley.
- Serve over cooked pasta, rice, or alongside steamed vegetables.
Notes
- Be sure to have all your ingredients ready and on hand before beginning this recipe as it comes together very quickly.
- If using frozen shrimp, be sure to thaw and pat dry before adding to the skillet.
- Dry white wine suggestions: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay.
Recipe provided by iCookfortwo.com
Nutrition Information
Yield 2
Amount Per ServingCalories 408Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 355mgSodium 1998mgCarbohydrates 9gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 38g
Nutritional Information is to be used as a general guideline only . Nutritional calculations will vary from the types and brands of the products used.
