Easy Shrimp Scampi with Linguine

Classic shrimp scampi is a succulent and flavorful meal made with staple ingredients from your kitchen. Enjoy the shrimp scampi with linguine for a complete meal or keep it low carb and serve it on its own or with a side of vegetables. No matter how you decide to serve this meal, you will enjoy delicious garlic butter shrimp in under 25 minutes!

Shrimp scampi looks impressive and is packed with flavor, but it requires just 20 minutes to cook. It’s the perfect restaurant-quality meal to make at home and impressive your guests. Tender shrimp and garlicky butter sauce creates an easy dinner anytime.

It is usually served over pasta or with crusty bread to soak up all of the savory sauce. So try this easy shrimp scampi recipe at home for the perfect date night or weeknight meal!

For other juicy shrimp recipes, try Stuffed Shrimp, Shrimp Lo Mein and Shrimp Burgers.

What is Shrimp Scampi?

Scampi is a culinary term that refers to a type of seafood, specifically large shrimp or prawns. It is a popular ingredient in many seafood dishes, particularly Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Shrimp Scampi is a classic Italian-American recipe that has been enjoyed for generations.

The meal consists of large shrimp sautéed in a garlic and butter sauce with white wine. Lemon juice finishes off the sauce to create a succulent sauce made with fresh flavor.

You can serve shrimp scampi as an elegant main course or appetizer for a dinner party or as a quick and satisfying weeknight meal. With its simple ingredients and delicious taste, it’s no wonder that shrimp scampi has become a beloved favorite among foodies everywhere.

Why Everyone Loves This Recipe 😋

• Quick and Easy -This is certainly a simple dish to prepare. With only a few ingredients from your kitchen and a short cooking time, it’s perfect for a satisfying and quick weeknight meal.
• Packed with Flavor – This is a flavorful dish that combines succulent shrimp with a savory sauce made from garlic, butter, white wine, and lemon juice. These ingredients create a delicious taste that is hard to resist.
• Family-Friendly – Shrimp scampi is a family-friendly dish because it is easy to make and appeals to a variety of tastes. Children and adults equally enjoy the tender shrimp and flavorful sauce. This makes shrimp scampi a crowd-pleaser for families of all ages!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Most of the ingredients for shrimp scampi are kitchen staples you probably already have available.

NOTE: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

• Fresh Shrimp: I like to use extra large or jumbo shrimp that are peeled and deveined, but you can use any size of shrimp. Just make sure not to overcook the shrimp. Smaller shrimp will take less time to cook through. Tail-on or tail-off shrimp is fine.
• Linguine Pasta: You can substitute with any pasta of your choice. Angel hair pasta, penne, spaghetti and fettuccine are all good choices. Or omit the pasta and serve the shrimp scampi with rice, bread or veggies.
• Seasonings: You will need garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
• Shallot: You can substitute with finely diced yellow onion, if desired.
• Fresh Garlic: Using fresh garlic cloves adds so much delicious flavor to the garlic butter sauce.
• White Wine: Use a high quality dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay.
• Butter: Use unsalted butter for the base of the sauce.
• Olive Oil: For cooking the shrimp.
• Lemon: You will need both the fresh lemon juice and the lemon zest for the lemon garlic butter sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese really elevates the flavor of the garlic butter sauce. I also love to sprinkle some on top of the finished dish for serving.
• Fresh Parsley (Optional): If you want to elevate the appearance of the shrimp, garnish the dish with freshly chopped parsley.

Shrimp Scampi Without Wine

You can make shrimp scampi without wine. Simply omit the white wine from the recipe completely or substitute it with chicken broth or vegetable broth. I prefer chicken broth because it is more flavorful.

How to Make Shrimp Scampi

This meal comes together relatively easily in one pan. Serve it with linguine for a classic filling meal everyone loves.

1. Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of lightly salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain and set it aside while you make the shrimp scampi.
2. Prepare the Shrimp: Toss together the shrimp, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl until the shrimp are coated all over.
3. Cook the Shrimp: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

3. Make the Sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the shallot and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Stir in the white wine, lemon juice and lemon zest. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by half.
4. Finish the Dish: Add the cooked linguine to the skillet with the sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water. Then stir in the Parmesan cheese, the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, until fully combined. Add the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.

Recipe Tips

• Tail on or off the shrimp: You can either leave the tails on the shrimp or remove them. This is a matter of personal preference when cooking. Leaving the tail on the shrimp makes for a nice presentation and tends to add a bit more flavor to the scampi. But you can also remove the tails prior to cooking to make eating the shrimp easier.
• Avoid using acids to marinate the shrimp: I simply season the shrimp with garlic powder, salt and pepper. You want to avoid marinating the shrimp in acids, like lemon juice, because it will “cook” the shrimp, similar to ceviche. Alternatively, you can add fresh lemon flavor by adding lemon juice to the sauce like I do in this recipe.
• Don’t overcook the shrimp: Nobody likes rubbery shrimp! Shrimp cooks quickly and can turn from done to overcooked in a second. Make sure to cook the shrimp until just cooked through. This will ensure that it doesn’t become rubbery or tough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Serve with Shrimp Scampi

While this recipe tastes great served as a complete meal, you have a variety of options for serving.

• Rice: Skip the pasta and serve the shrimp with rice.
• Pasta: Serve the dish with any type of cooked pasta.
• Garlic Bread: Round out a classic Italian-American dish by adding a side of garlic bread.
• Steamed Vegetables: If you’re looking for a lower carb option, serve this garlic shrimp scampi recipe with steamed vegetables like carrots, broccoli or green beans.
• Zucchini Noodles: Swap regular pasta for zucchini noodles. The noodles will still soak up that delicious garlic butter sauce.
• Cucumber and Tomato Salad: If you’re looking to add a fresh salad to this meal, serve it with my Goes with Everything Salad – made with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese and a simple vinaigrette.

Storage Instructions

Shrimp Scampi is best served fresh. But you can store leftovers in an airtight contain in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat, cook in a skillet over low heat on the stove top until warmed through. You can also add a splash of chicken broth or water to thin out the sauce, if needed.