Shrimp Scampi

If you’re craving something decadent, try Shrimp Scampi. Tender shrimp simmered in a rich, garlicky white wine sauce – perfect as an appetizer or tossed with pasta for a restaurant-worthy meal at home.

Shrimp Scampi is beautiful in it’s simplicity, but sure doesn’t lack in flavor. With perfectly cooked, plump and juicy shrimp, served with fresh parsley, basil, white wine and a bit of garlic, each component sings in this gorgeous composition. Perfect for date nights or a simple dinner solution, Shrimp Scampi will work every time, because it’s elegant AND easy. The entire meal will be ready in the amount of time it takes to cook a pot of pasta. 

What I especially appreciate about Shrimp Scampi is that it is one of my solutions when I need a quick dinner but don’t have anything planned. I try to have shrimp in my freezer for this very reason. All I have to do is get the bag of shrimp out of the freezer, fill it up with water and while I’m prepping the rest of the ingredients and bringing a large pot of water to a boil, the shrimp is thawed and ready for the skillet.

This classic recipe combines succulent shrimp with a garlicky, buttery sauce is perfect to be enjoyed with a crusty piece of bread, served with some grilled or roasted veggies or tossed with your favorite pasta. It’s the kind of meal that makes you look like a culinary rockstar without spending hours in the kitchen. 

Ingredients

(Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe card with all the measurements.)

• shrimp
  • Fresh or frozen shrimp should be used for this recipe. I don’t recommend cooked shrimp. You can use any size that you like.
• salt, ground black pepper
• oil
  • The oil will be used to saute the shrimp.
  • Avocado oil or olive oil are great options, but you can also use other vegetable oils.
• butter
  • The butter will be used for sauteing the garlic and starting the sauce.
• garlic
  • Garlic is really important to create that classic Shrimp Scampi flavor.
• red pepper flakes, optional
  • If you want to add some heat, add some red pepper flakes.
• dry herbs and spices, optional
  • most dry herbs and spices will work for this recipe to infuse the shrimp with more flavor.
• dry white wine
  • The white wine will deglaze the pan and create a delicious sauce for the shrimp.
  • If you don’t want to use wine, you can use lemon juice. I would use a bit less lemon juice than the wine.
• fresh herbs, such as parsley and basil
  • Fresh herbs are the best finishing touch to almost all recipes.

The Best Shrimp To Use

Let’s chat about the shrimp for your scampi! The best choice here is to use raw shrimp, either fresh or frozen. Trust me, you’ll want to steer clear of cooked shrimp for this recipe—cooked shrimp can end up overcooked and lack that fresh flavor we’re after.

If you’re wondering about frozen versus fresh, frozen shrimp is actually a fantastic option! Most frozen shrimp are flash-frozen right after being caught, which locks in that freshness. Plus, having frozen shrimp in your freezer means you can whip up a delicious dinner in no time.

When choosing your shrimp, go for large, jumbo sizes if you can, but medium will also work well. Bigger shrimp tend to be juicier, and they hold up better when cooking, allowing you to get that perfect sear without turning rubbery. So, whether you grab some fresh from your local market or pull out a bag from the freezer, you’re in for a treat! 

How To Make Shrimp Scampi

1. First things first, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Whether you like it al dente or well done, go with what makes you happy!
2. Meanwhile, it’s time to prep the shrimp.
   • If you need to, clean and peel them, then place the shrimp on a paper towel to blot them dry. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
3. Now, let’s get cooking! Heat some oil in a large pan, and when it’s hot, add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook them for about 3 minutes on high heat, just until they turn pink and start to get a nice golden color.
   • It’s best to cook the shrimp in batches, especially if you’re using a smaller skillet.
   • Remember, don’t overcook the shrimp! They cook quickly, and they’ll continue to cook a bit in the sauce, so it’s okay if they seem slightly underdone.
4. After all the shrimp are cooked, clear a space in the center of the skillet and add in a pat of butter along with some fresh garlic, dry herbs, and red pepper flakes. Let those flavors cook together until the garlic becomes fragrant—this usually takes about 30 seconds to a minute.
   • Keep the heat high for the shrimp, but lower it when you add the garlic to avoid burning it. Burnt garlic can turn bitter and ruin the dish!
5. Lastly, pour in the wine and whisk it around to get all those tasty bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. This step is called deglazing, and it’s going to add so much flavor to your sauce! Let that simmer on high heat for about 3-5 minutes to reduce the wine.
6. Finally, off the heat, stir in some fresh herbs to finish it off. Mix everything together, and you’re ready to enjoy your flavorful shrimp scampi!

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

When it comes to pasta for shrimp scampi, I’m all about angel hair! It’s light and delicate, making it the perfect match for those succulent shrimp. But don’t worry if you prefer something different—fettuccine, spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, and fusilli all work beautifully too!

Here’s a handy tip: once your pasta is cooked, remember to save a little bit of that pasta water before draining. This is a great habit to get into, and trust me, it works wonders for all kinds of pasta dishes!

When you combine your shrimp with the pasta, add a splash of that reserved pasta water to bring everything together. This little trick helps create a creamy, cohesive sauce that clings to the pasta just right. It’s all about achieving that perfect blend of flavors! 

More Delicious Shrimp Recipes

• Creamy Shrimp Chowder
• Marinated Shrimp
• Shrimp Couscous
• Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Print