Zippy Shrimp Scampi Recipe: Fast Seafood Magic

Seafood lovers rejoice as this easy shrimp scampi recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavors straight from your kitchen.

Tender shrimp dance in a luxurious garlic-butter sauce that promises to tantalize your taste buds.

Bright lemon zest and fresh parsley add vibrant notes to this classic Italian-American dish.

The recipe comes together in just minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or impressive dinner parties.

Each succulent bite bursts with rich, buttery goodness that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Serve over pasta or enjoy with crusty bread to soak up every delicious drop of the irresistible sauce.

Get ready to become the star chef of your dining table with this mouthwatering culinary creation.

Shrimp Scampi: Full Prep Instructions

Shrimp Scampi Delight

• Water Preparation Hot and Ready Water starts the entire cooking adventure. Fill a large pot with water and sprinkle salt generously. Bring the liquid to a rolling boil while you gather ingredients and prep your kitchen workspace.
• Ingredient Readiness Kitchen Mise en Place Thaw shrimp completely and remove tails. Grate fresh garlic cloves and slice remaining pieces. Zest a lemon and squeeze its bright juice. Chop fragrant parsley and measure olive oil for maximum flavor potential.
• Shrimp Marination Flavor Infusion Combine shrimp with grated garlic, olive oil, and a hearty pinch of salt. Let the ingredients mingle and develop deep, delicious flavors while preparing other components.
• Pasta Cooking Liquid Gold Drop linguine into boiling water. Reduce heat slightly and let pasta dance in the bubbling waters for about 8 minutes until perfectly tender.
• Sauce Creation Flavor Magic Melt butter in a large skillet. Add sliced garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Let aromatics release their incredible scents and create a flavor foundation.
• Sauce Development Liquid Alchemy Pour lemon juice into the skillet. Add a splash of pasta water to create a silky, luxurious sauce. Whisk butter until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy perfection.
• Shrimp Integration Seafood Finale Introduce shrimp to the magical sauce. Cook until they turn opaque and capture all surrounding flavors. Toss pasta into the skillet, coating every strand with the luxurious sauce.
• Final Touch Herbal Flourish Sprinkle fresh parsley over the dish. Serve immediately while everything remains hot and vibrant, ready to transport taste buds to a coastal culinary paradise.

How to Customize Shrimp Scampi to Taste

• Opt for medium or large shrimp for best texture, ensuring they're deveined and peeled to save preparation time.
• Experiment with adding white wine or extra garlic to create a more robust sauce, enhancing the scampi's depth and complexity.
• Swap traditional linguine for zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta to accommodate dietary restrictions while maintaining the dish's delicious essence.
• Increase or decrease red pepper flakes to personalize the heat, allowing each cook to match the dish to their preferred spiciness.
• Replace shrimp with scallops or chicken for a different protein option, keeping the classic scampi flavor profile intact.

Suggestions for Serving Shrimp Scampi

• Restaurant-Style Plate Presentation: Twirl linguine in the center of a wide, white ceramic plate, creating a beautiful nest. Arrange succulent shrimp around the pasta edges, drizzle remaining sauce over the top, and sprinkle fresh parsley for a pop of color.
• Wine Pairing Companion: Choose a crisp, chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio that complements the zesty lemon and garlic notes. The light, refreshing white wine will enhance the delicate shrimp and bright sauce flavors.
• Mediterranean Side Dish Fusion: Serve alongside a simple greek salad with cucumber, tomatoes, and feta cheese. Add a slice of crusty garlic bread to soak up the delicious buttery sauce, creating a complete and satisfying meal experience.
• Elegant Dinner Party Plating: Garnish with additional red pepper flakes for guests who enjoy extra heat. Use elegant white plates, place a small lemon wedge on the side, and sprinkle chopped parsley for a restaurant-quality presentation that impresses your guests.

Best Practices for Shrimp Scampi Storage

• Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover shrimp scampi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The seafood and pasta will maintain their best quality when consumed quickly after preparation.
• Quick Reheating Technique: Gently warm the dish in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to help restore moisture. Stir carefully to prevent breaking the shrimp or overcooking the pasta.
• Ingredient Prep Shortcut: Prepare garlic, chop parsley, and measure ingredients in advance to streamline cooking process. This approach saves time and reduces kitchen stress during meal preparation.
• Freezing Caution: Not recommended for this recipe. Pasta tends to become mushy, and shrimp can lose its delicate texture when frozen and reheated. Fresh preparation ensures the best taste and quality.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 410 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients Used in Shrimp Scampi

• Shrimp: Wild-caught or farm-raised, peeled and deveined for quick and easy cooking, ensuring tender and succulent seafood.

• Garlic, Lemon Peel, Red Pepper Flakes: Fresh garlic adds robust depth, lemon zest brings bright citrusy notes, and red pepper flakes provide gentle heat and complexity.

• Butter, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Parsley: Butter creates a silky emulsion, olive oil adds richness, fresh lemon juice provides tangy brightness, and chopped parsley offers fresh herbal finish.

• Linguine: Classic Italian pasta with smooth texture that perfectly captures and holds the delicate scampi sauce.

• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall seasoning and helps draw out moisture from shrimp for better texture.

Must-Have Equipment for Shrimp Scampi

• Large Saucepan: For boiling pasta water with plenty of space.
• Large Straight-Sided Skillet: Essential for cooking shrimp and making sauce.
• Tongs: Perfect for tossing pasta and mixing ingredients.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: For accurate ingredient measurements.
• Cutting Board: To prepare garlic, lemon, and parsley.
• Sharp Knife: For slicing and chopping ingredients.
• Grater: To grate garlic cloves.
• Whisk: For emulsifying butter sauce smoothly.
• Colander: To drain cooked pasta.
• Large Mixing Bowl: For marinating shrimp.

Effortless Shrimp Scampi Recipe

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4.6 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Delectable shrimp scampi offers a Mediterranean-inspired seafood experience with zesty garlic and white wine notes. Succulent shrimp nestle among herb-infused pasta, inviting you to savor each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (454 g) raw large shrimp (20 to 25 count), thawed if frozen, peeled and deveined
• 8 oz (227 g) dried linguine pasta
• 4 tbsps (56 g) unsalted butter, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, 2 grated and 2 thinly sliced
• ½ cup (15 g) finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp (5 g) kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
• ½ tsp (1 g) red pepper flakes
• 1 (2-inch) strip fresh lemon peel (yellow part only, removed with a vegetable peeler)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Generously salt water in a large saucepan, bringing to a vigorous boil over medium-high heat. Ensure all ingredients are prepped: shrimp thawed and cleaned, garlic grated and sliced, lemon zested and juiced.
2. Pasta Cooking: Submerge pasta into boiling water, reducing heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 8 minutes while simultaneously preparing sauce and shrimp.
3. Sauce Foundation: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Infuse with sliced garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes, sautéing until fragrant. Deglaze with lemon juice, creating a steamy base, then incorporate pasta water to develop depth.
4. Shrimp Integration: Marinate shrimp with grated garlic, olive oil, and salt. Add to the skillet, stirring consistently until turning opaque. Whisk additional butter into sauce, creating a silky emulsion.
5. Final Assembly: Drain pasta and transfer directly into skillet using tongs, ensuring thorough sauce coating. Discard lemon zest strip, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and toss one final time. Serve immediately while piping hot, capturing the vibrant Mediterranean essence of this classic dish.

Notes

• Prep Like a Pro: Organize all ingredients beforehand to ensure smooth, stress-free cooking and prevent last-minute scrambling.
• Shrimp Success: Completely thaw and pat dry shrimp to prevent watery texture and ensure perfect searing and flavor absorption.
• Pasta Perfection: Reserve pasta water before draining; its starchy magic helps create a silky, clingy sauce that beautifully coats every strand.
• Timing is Everything: Cook shrimp just until opaque to prevent rubbery texture—3 minutes max keeps them tender and succulent.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 410
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 640 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 19 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg