Description
A rich, garlicky, and creamy shrimp scampi that tastes better than takeout but is ready in just 20 minutes. This easy weeknight dinner features plump shrimp, silky sauce, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds jumbo or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined, thawed and patted dry
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large fresh lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 pound linguine or spaghetti
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the shrimp by patting them completely dry with paper towels and seasoning with salt and pepper. Mince garlic, chop parsley, and zest/juice the lemon.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook linguine until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and toss with a little olive oil.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear shrimp in a single layer for 1-2 minutes per side until pink. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside, leaving the fond in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet. Once melted, add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not brown.
- Pour in white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce.
- Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream and chicken broth. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove skillet from heat. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for consistency.
- Stir in parsley and Parmesan cheese. Add shrimp back to the pan along with lemon juice and zest. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and lemon if desired.
Notes
Do not overcook the shrimp; they cook in 2-3 minutes total. Save pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Use fresh parsley for best flavor. If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are completely dry before searing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 620
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
Keywords: shrimp scampi, creamy shrimp, easy dinner, weeknight meals, pasta recipes, seafood dinner, quick recipes, garlic shrimp