Description
A quick, restaurant-quality garlic butter shrimp scampi that is ready in 15 minutes. This simple weeknight dinner features juicy shrimp in a creamy, tangy sauce made with butter, garlic, lemon, and white wine, served over pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680g) Jumbo or Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 4 tablespoons (60g) Unsalted Butter
- 6–8 cloves Garlic, minced
- ½ cup (120ml) Dry White Wine (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio)
- 2 Lemons (one juiced, one for zest/garnish)
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
- 8 oz (225g) Spaghetti or Linguine
- 1 tablespoon Salt (for pasta water)
- 1 cup Reserved Pasta Water
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil (for searing shrimp)
Instructions
- Prep: Mince garlic, zest and juice lemons, chop parsley, and measure wine. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti or linguine until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- Sear Shrimp: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until pink. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- Make Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add 4 tablespoons butter to the pan. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Deglaze: Pour in white wine and lemon juice. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Combine: Return shrimp to the pan. Add ½ cup reserved pasta water. Toss gently to emulsify the sauce. Add more pasta water if too thick, or simmer longer if too thin.
- Finish: Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in fresh parsley.
- Serve: Plate pasta immediately, top with shrimp and sauce, and garnish with lemon zest and parsley.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure they sear rather than steam. Do not overcook the garlic or it will burn and become bitter. Save the starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce into a creamy consistency. If using frozen shrimp, thaw in cold water and pat very dry. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate with pasta a
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: shrimp scampi, garlic butter shrimp, quick dinner, weeknight meals, pasta recipes, seafood, easy cooking, 15 minute meals