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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!
It 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 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:
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Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4-5 cloves garlic large, minced, or 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 1/4 pounds shrimp large prawns, shelled with tails on or off
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- 1 pinch cracked pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or broth
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed, or to taste – optional
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe. I served with linguine and frozen (store bought)
Cheddar Bay biscuits. It was a big hit.
Yes, Jame! I love to hear the recipe was a success.
This recipe sounds delicious, is it possible to do it in the oven?
I am having a party and want to make it easier on myself.
Hi Shosh! It’s definitely possible to do it in the oven, but I wouldn’t recommend it as there’s a risk they might end up too dry and rubbery. If you do choose the oven, make sure to keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking.
Absolutely splendid! I’ve made it several times and usually serve it over linguini. Always a hit and so easy!
Thank you so much Teresa! I’m so glad to hear it was a hit.
Nice flavor if you add more or less
I save the shrimp shells and throw them in the pan and let them sauté for a while with the oil, butter and garlic…. Cook for about 10 minutes….avoid burning garlic and shells….remove all before adding the wine!…the shells carry a load of flavor!
There are few meals that I find recipes online for that I make and think afterwards that I would pay money to eat this in a restaurant. This dish was not only very easy to make, but exceptionally Delicious as well. The guidance you have all the ingredients ready was especially helpful too as this meal cooks fast. I served this over brussel spouts and cauliflower. I will absolutely be making this again.
Hi Jason, thanks for your recipe! I’m so happy you enjoyed it
I committed to making scampi
two days ago and yesterday I wasn’t feeling it, so today I forced my self to make it. I anticipated a restaurant-style overly-garlicky concoction that generally disappoints. This recipe didn’t sound like anything special but I loved it because it was garlicky without being overpowering, was simple, and tasted well-balanced to me. Again, I often find scampi to be too lemony, or too garlicky or too oily. In general, just hard to get right, but this was exactly what I was hoping for!
We retired to Panama City Beach, FL and being able to acquire fresh seafood is such a bonus but not having the recipes to showcase such bounty was a BUMMER. I happened upon the recipe and am so glad I did. This Scampi is now a favorite family
meal and takes only minutes to prepare. So flavorful, so decadent! I always serve with Angel Hair Pasta and garlic bread, no better way to enjoy fresh Gulf of Mexico Shrimp.
Hi Sonia! I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit. Happy cooking!
What kind of broth should I use?
Chicken broth has a much better flavour than fish broth, however, if you have homemade fish broth laying around, you can definitely use that, Enjoy Xx
Made recently loved it ❤️
I’m glad you enjoyed it Barbara!
Such a quick and delicious meal!!
I tend to use peeled shrimp to make things easier, but followed the e recipe exactly as is and used the shrimp with the shell on… and MAN!! What a difference!! The flavor is SO good and the ease of this recipe makes it even better! Will absolutely be adding this to our rotation 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Thanks Lisa, you just made my day! I’m so pleased to hear that you loved it.
I bought some shrimp this afternoon then needed something to do with it. Found this recipe and so glad I did! Made for a super easy and delicious week night meal paired with broccoli and crusty bread. We added shallots to the sauté just because we had them. Look forward to making it with pasta too
Thank you so much, Jill! I truly hope this recipe added a special touch to your meal. Enjoy cooking!