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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.
I made this and served it over grits (shrimp scampi and grits) and my bf and I had the big “O” over this dish. Next time I’ll double the sauce to I can cook the grits in it.
This turned out great and was easy. I left the red pepper flakes out for my kids and then added it afterward for myself and hubby. My kids liked it and they’re really picky eaters.
That’s so great to hear Lenora! Thank you so much for your feedback X
OMG, this is wonderful. My husband is out of town and yesterday I said to my daughter, “Since it will be just the two of us, what do you want for supper tomorrow night?” Without missing a beat she replied, “Something Daddy doesn’t like.” So we settled upon this. I followed the recipe exactly, except I left out the red pepper flakes because Adrienne doesn’t do spicy. Served it over angel hair pasta with focaccia on the side. We’ll definitely be having this again.
I’m so happy to hear that Jeanne! I love those girlie nights. So special! Thank you for sharing!
I had the same conversation with my daughter tonight! It was there perfect meal!
Mamma Mia this was good. Made it tonight and was blown away by how quick and YUMEE! Thanks!
Great to hear! Thanks for much for the comment. I am happy that you liked it! Thanks for following along with me! xo
You mention wine or broth in the recipe, but what kind of broth??
Hello Phil,
Thanks for the question. Chicken broth seems to work best but if you have homemade fish broth around you could always use that. Thanks for following along.
Any tips on how to increase amounts for about 20 servings? Would like to make for Christmas Eve. Looks delicious.
Thank you.
Hello Debbie!
This will be great treat for Christmas Eve. This recipe is made for about 4 people. I would times it by five or even six for a little extra for the twenty guests. I hope this is helpful. Please let me know how it goes! Thanks for following along with me! xo
This was so easy to make & so delicious to eat!! Hubby and I (a long with our 1 year old son) loved it!!
Excellent!! My family love it!!
That is great to hear! Thank you so much! I am so happy that it was loved by all! XO
I make this dish and mix it in with risotto to make shrimp scampi risotto. Really takes it to the next level. Thanks!
That is great to hear! Thank you for sharing! XO
quick, easy and delicious! I make this over rice cooked in broth. When I’m tired and want to veg out, I reward myself with this shrimp dish, I use broth lemon juice and a little un-oaked Chardonnay and both butter and olive oil. While the rice cooks, I saute up the scampi, voila, dinner, salad if ya want!