Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
A quick and easy garlic butter shrimp scampi recipe ready in just 20 minutes, perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner with a bright lemony finish and buttery richness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth as substitute)
- Juice of 1 fresh lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine pasta (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
- If using pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Let the butter melt completely, swirling the pan to combine.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the shrimp in a single layer. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for about 2 minutes on one side until pink and slightly browned, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until just opaque. Avoid overcooking.
- Pour in the white wine and fresh lemon juice. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan bottom. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until melted and the sauce is silky. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen.
- If using pasta, add it to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately with optional lemon wedges.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; cook until shrimp curl into a loose ‘C’ shape. Keep garlic cooking on moderate heat to prevent burning and bitterness. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles. Butter can be substituted with plant-based alternatives for dairy-free version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: garlic butter shrimp, shrimp scampi, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal, seafood, lemon garlic shrimp