Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Tastes like a restaurant dinner but it’s ready in about 20 minutes! 🍤 Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi is plump shrimp tossed with linguine in the most delicious garlic butter wine sauce.
The shrimp sear in butter and olive oil, then garlic, red pepper flakes, white wine and fresh lemon juice make the sauce in the same skillet.
Toss it all with the linguine, add fresh parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
Why You’ll Love It
- Quick. She says ready in 20 minutes.
- Date night worthy. It feels fancy but it’s easy.
- Garlic butter sauce. Need I say more?
- Wine optional. Chicken broth works too.
- Serves 4. Great for the family.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Linguine: Save a little pasta water before draining.
- Large shrimp: Peeled and deveined.
- Butter and olive oil: For searing the shrimp and building the sauce.
- Garlic and red pepper flakes: Lots of flavor with a little kick.
- White wine (or chicken broth) and lemon juice: The bright, tangy sauce.
- Fresh parsley and lemon wedges: To finish.
You’ll find the exact amounts and steps in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make It
Cook the linguine in well-salted water until al dente, save 1/2 cup of the pasta water, and drain. While it cooks, pat the shrimp dry and season them with salt and pepper. Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large skillet, sear the shrimp until pink, and move them to a plate. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet for a few seconds, then pour in the wine and lemon juice, scraping up the browned bits, and let it simmer. Put the shrimp back in, add the linguine, and toss it all in the sauce, adding pasta water if it needs loosening. Toss with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Tips for the Best Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
- Pat the shrimp dry. They sear better.
- Don’t overcook them. 1–2 minutes per side, just until pink.
- Scrape the pan. The browned bits make the sauce.
- Save pasta water. Use it to loosen the sauce.
- Squeeze extra lemon. Lemon wedges on the side brighten it up.
Team garlic butter sauce on EVERYTHING, or do you like it lighter? 🧄
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook the linguine in well-salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.
- While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry and season with the salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the shrimp and sear 1–2 minutes per side, until pink. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the wine and lemon juice, scraping up the browned bits, and simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Return the shrimp to the skillet, add the drained linguine, and toss with the sauce, loosening with the reserved pasta water as needed.
- Toss with the parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Chicken broth can replace the white wine.
- Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water to loosen the sauce.
