Description
This Best Ever Shrimp Scampi recipe features succulent shrimp sautéed in a luscious garlic butter and olive oil sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked linguine or spaghetti, brightened with fresh lemon juice and parsley. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a classic Italian-American seafood pasta dish that’s both elegant and easy to prepare, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges for serving
Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine or spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce base: In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the butter is melted and the mixture is shimmering.
- Sauté the garlic and spices: Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned, which releases the garlic’s aromatic flavors.
- Cook the shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until the shrimp turn pink and are opaque throughout, indicating they are perfectly cooked.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in the white wine or chicken broth along with the lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 2 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the shrimp and sauce. Toss everything together to combine well, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and help it coat the noodles evenly.
- Finish and season: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Give everything a good final toss.
- Serve: Plate the shrimp scampi, garnishing with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the top. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For extra richness, stir in an additional tablespoon of butter at the end of cooking.
- Shrimp can be substituted with scallops or a seafood mix according to preference.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor profile.
- Avoid overcooking the shrimp to keep them tender and juicy.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute the pasta with gluten-free noodles.
