Description
A fast, luxurious, and restaurant-quality garlic butter shrimp scampi that is ready in just 20 minutes. This weeknight lifesaver uses simple pantry ingredients to create a rich, garlicky sauce that delights even seafood skeptics.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Salt and black pepper, for seasoning
- 2 tablespoons flour, for dusting shrimp
- 12 oz pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 8–10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp in cold water if necessary, then drain and pat completely dry with paper towels.
- Season shrimp generously with salt and pepper, then toss with flour to lightly coat. Shake off excess flour.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil. Sear shrimp in a single layer for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Pour in white wine and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add cooked pasta and seared shrimp back to the skillet. Add reserved pasta water gradually to create a glossy sauce.
- Toss vigorously to coat. Stir in parsley and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure proper searing and avoid rubbery texture. Do not overcook shrimp; they should curl into a ‘C’ shape. Save pasta water as it helps emulsify the sauce. Use fresh garlic and lemon juice for best flavor. If substituting wine, use chicken broth plus lemon juice. This dish does not freeze well.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
Keywords: shrimp scampi, garlic butter shrimp, quick weeknight dinner, pasta recipes, seafood dinner, restaurant style shrimp, easy shrimp recipe