Shrimp scampi might look elegant and delicate, but it’s one of the easiest dishes you can make at home. That garlic-lemon-butter-wine sauce is something my whole family adores. On top of rice or pasta, few things can ever be better than this family favorite shrimp scampi recipe!
Best Shrimp Scampi Recipe
The best shrimp scampi recipe keeps things simple. With just 10 wholesome ingredients, you’ll be able to create this light yet indulgent meal that’s impressive enough for company!
Shrimp Scampi Ingredients
- Large shrimp – buy them fresh and shelled for the best taste.
- Butter – adds richness to the shrimp scampi sauce.
- Dry white wine – brings out the flavor of the shrimp.
- Garlic – an absolute must for a flavorful contrast to any garlic shrimp scampi recipe.
- Lemon juice – go with fresh to really draw out the taste of the shrimp.
Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Believe it or not, homemade shrimp scampi is easy to make. It literally takes 10 minutes from start to finish. This meal works for an elegant meal or for a speedy, nutritious, and delicious meal any night of the week.
You’re shrimply irresistible.
Anonymous
How do you Make Shrimp Scampi from Scratch?
All you do is add olive oil and butter to a skillet. Then you’ll add garlic, cook the shrimp, and add white wine. After that, lemon and other fragrant herbs are added to finish it off. It’s really one of the easiest dishes you can make!
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Shrimp Scampi Every Time
- For any shrimp scampi recipe with wine be sure to use dry white wine rather than anything sweet or it will ruin the flavor.
- It’s best to have your shrimp peeled and deveined first. You can do it yourself which takes longer or you can buy them ready to go.
- Don’t overcook the shrimp! Shrimp cook very quickly and overcooked shrimp will have a rubbery texture.
How Cook Shrimp Scampi
To cook shrimp scampi, get everything you need together. Heat up your skillet and begin with the olive oil and butter. Then you’ll add the garlic until it’s fragrant. Once the shrimp go in, you must act quickly, adding the white wine and then red pepper flakes. The wine will reduce and you’ll add the last bit of ingredients to finish it off, all in the span of just 10 minutes.
What is scampi sauce made of?
Garlic, lemon, butter, and white wine are the ingredients used to make scampi sauce. Don’t worry if you don’t drink alcohol or are serving children as the alcohol cooks off so there’s no buzz. All that’s left is more depth in flavor.
How do you make scampi sauce from scratch?
The key is using both olive oil and butter. You’ll also add minced garlic, white wine, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and parsley. This will give your shrimp scampi that restaurant-quality taste you’re looking for.
How do you thicken shrimp scampi sauce?
The sauce in this recipe should thicken up properly on its own. If you’ve tried to double it and it seems to thin, you can make a cornstarch slurry and slowly mix a little in until it gets thicker.
Which white wine is best for cooking shrimp scampi?
Pinot Grigio is very dry, making it an outstanding choice for shrimp scampi. If you don’t have any of that, you can use a dry or unoaked Chardonnay to do the work for you. You can also use white cooking wine which tends to be dry by nature.
What can I use as a substitute for white wine in shrimp scampi?
Chicken broth or water make for fine substitutes if you don’t have white wine to use for your shrimp scampi. Of those 2, I suggest the chicken broth since it will add more flavor than water alone.
What is the difference between shrimp and shrimp scampi?
In some places, shrimp are called “scampi” just as they are called “prawns.” In the US and Canada too, shrimp scampi is what this recipe is all about, a dish of large shrimp that are cooked in a lemon-wine-garlic-butter sauce.
What to Serve with Shrimp Scampi (Side Dishes)
I like to alternate between serving this shrimp scampi recipe with either white rice or linguini. For sides, sauteed garlic spinach works beautifully as does any other seasonal sauteed green veggie. Salad and garlic bread are also a great match.
What goes well with shrimp scampi?
Garlic bread, seasonal sauteed green veggies, pasta, rice, and salad are all ideal companions on your dinner table with shrimp scampi. One of my family favorites is shrimp scampi pasta. Simply serve your scampi on a fresh bed of pasta for a perfect meal!
How to Store Shrimp Scampi
Because seafood tends to go more quickly, you should really eat shrimp scampi quickly. Any leftovers can be put in an airtight container in the fridge to be eaten no more than 2 days later.
Can You Freeze Shrimp Scampi?
Yes, you can freeze shrimp scampi, but you must keep it from being frozen with pasta or rice. If you just have the shrimp and sauce, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Frozen Shrimp Scampi
Simply let the frozen shrimp scampi thaw in your fridge overnight. Then warm it over the stove top until it’s hot and ready.
Perfect Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp butter
- 8 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 1/4 lbs large shrimp (shelled)
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes ((use 1 tsp if you like it spicy))
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Start by heating both olive oil and 2 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over med heat to melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and stir until semi translucent then add the shrimp. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper to taste and saute for 2 to minutes on one side then flip each shrimp over to cook the other side.
- Carefully pour in the white wine, add red pepper flakes, bring to a simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through and the wine is reduced by about half.
- Gently mix in the remaining butter, lemon juice, and parsley and stir to coat evenly. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
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