Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi is so quick and easy! A garlic buttery scampi sauce with a hint of white wine & lemon in less than 10 minutes!
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi can be enjoyed as an appetizer/light meal OR for dinner with your favourite pasta of choice! You can also keep it low carb and serve over zucchini noodles or with steamed cauliflower! Either way it’s delicious and even better than an Italian restaurant Scampi!
Shrimp Recipe
After publishing TWO Scampi recipes on this blog over the years, one being Browned Butter Shrimp Scampi and the other this reader favourite Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi, I wanted to give you guys an even easier recipe ready in less than 10 minutes.
Actually, I started making our family favourite Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe when we realised it was fast turning into a Scampi since we add white wine into our recipe for added flavour. So then, I had to share it.
Tips make the best shrimp scampi
- Have all of your ingredients ready on your kitchen bench and close to your cooking area if possible. This recipe cooks FAST. You don’t want to be head deep into your refrigerator searching for your wine, for example, while the shrimp is cooking away on the stove. Over-cooked shrimp is rubbery, tough and not pleasant to eat at all.
- The shrimp is cooked in a butter/oil combination prevent the butter from burning. You can use all butter if you wish, just note it will begin to brown while the shrimp are cooking. (Nothing wrong with a little browned butter.) Though, I do prefer the flavour of a butter/oil mixture in this.
- I love extra large or jumbo shrimp (or prawns) in this recipe! They’re fat and juicy and perfect for a shrimp scampi! If you can find wild-caught shrimp, please cook with those. Better flavour, better colour and a lot healthier for you than farm-raised seafood.
- Use a good quality white wine. I use a Sav Blanc when cooking this recipe. You can also use a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay.
Shrimp Scampi without wine
Wine can be omitted completely OR substitute with chicken broth if you wish. Chicken broth has a much better flavour than fish broth, however, if you have homemade fish broth laying around, you can definitely use that!
How To Make Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Other shrimp recipes:
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4-5 cloves garlic large, minced, or 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 ¼ pounds shrimp large prawns, shelled with tails on or off
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- 1 pinch cracked pepper to taste
- ¼ cup dry white wine or broth
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed, or to taste - optional
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan or skillet. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds - 1 minute). Then add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper to taste and sauté for 1-2 minutes on one side (until just beginning to turn pink), then flip.
- Pour in wine (or broth), add red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer for 1-2 minutes or until wine reduces by about half and the shrimp is cooked through (don't over cook your shrimp).
- Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and parsley and take off heat immediately.
- Serve over rice, pasta, garlic bread or steamed vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini noodles).
Notes
- Use a good quality white wine. I use a Sav Blanc when cooking this recipe. You can also use a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay.
- Have all of your ingredients ready on your kitchen bench and close to your cooking area if possible. This recipe cooks FAST.
- The shrimp is cooked in a butter/oil combination prevent the butter from burning. You can use all butter if you wish, just note it will begin to brown while the shrimp are cooking.
PAUL HOFFMAN says
We grow our own garlic and are always looking for “garlicy” recipes. This shrimp scampi is an instant favorite. We added some sautéed vegetables and mushrooms and served it over pasta. Amazing. This will be a regular in our rotation. Thank you.
Michael Wilson says
I’ve made this multiple times and it’s always been a hit. This time I added about a half cup of heavy cream and made it a creamy garlic butter sauce. OMG, it was the best ever. Will be making it that way from now on.
Grandma Frank says
I LOVE THIS RECIPE!!! It cooks fast and is oh so delicious! I’ve made your recipe at least 5 times and it turns out perfect every time. I will not use any other recipe!
Mrs.C. says
I made this last night, and my husband and I agree that it is by far the best scampi sauce we’ve had. We followed your recipe exactly, and the result was exceptional.
Natalie says
Thank you for sharing! I’m sure most of you can relate with having picky eaters. My LO refused to eat any type of pasta until I made this shrimp recipe with linguine and he LOVED it! Along with the rest of the family.
Mark says
Just about perfect. I combined it with penne pasta (and a bit of the pasta water) and it was perfect. Thanks!
Jaclyn says
My boyfriend won’t even order scampi at a restaurant anymore. Hands down best recipe!
Jean says
OMG, just delicious. I made it just as you wrote it and served over well cooked southern grits to make shrimp and grits, yummy. I plan to try using peppers in it next time to make a keywest/New Orleans style shrimp and grits next time. Thankyou for this recipe which was very easy and quickly made.
Donna DiM says
Using this recipe I made shrimp scampi for the first time ever! It was delicious! The recipe is spot on. I used the chicken broth option since I didn’t have wine on hand.
Maybel says
Best shrimp scampi! I made this tonight and it’s delicious! Definitely a keeper! I made it with broth did a sprinkling of red peppers flakes. Perfect!