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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 used to make a shrimp linguine in a parmesan cream sauce until my wife saw this recipe. It is absolutely fantastic and so easy to make!!
Made it for the first time today and my wife loved it, as did I. Simple, easy to follow recipe. Will definitely make it part of our meals.
It’s very good but not enough broth for 2 people
this is so delicious and I have made it before for 2 and 4 people- they love it. I am wondering how it would work for 6 and family style- if I put it on a huge platter in the middle of the table with everyone getting a small tong to put the linguini and shrimp in their own pasta bowl and then have a small baquette for each person- crisp from the oven) that they can dip into the yummy butter and garlic lemon deliciousness…yea maybe messy but hey, we are family and it’s casual with beer and wine. what do you think? thanks for such delicious recipes!
Hi Peggy, that sounds absolutely incredible! I love the idea of serving it family style with a big platter. And crusty baguettes for dipping in that garlic butter sauce? Yes, please! Messy dinners are often the best ones. Enjoy the wine and family time! Xx
What kind of broth dont have wine
Hi Joanne, Chicken broth works best, enjoy! Xx
Delicious and so easy…I made this last night. I used a seafood blend of shrimp, scallops and calamari!!!
So glad I read the notes and I adhered to some recommendations. Delicious over white rice and I also tried over quinoa 😋. Not sure about the skin as I left it on so gonna try to make a stock with the left over shells🤔
Other than having to guess what heat/level to use (I guessed & had it about 1 tick above medium heat & that seemed to work well on our gas stove), this recipe was outstanding! Made it tonight just as its written here, and it turned out awesome! 10 out of 10. Highly Recommend. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!
Very clear directions and simple ingredients. Quick to make and family enjoyed it.
Hi Karina,
Can I serve this over rice? Will it get too dry? Thank you
Hi Scott, yes it’s perfect with rice, it won’t be too dry, just have freshly cooked rice and it will be delicious, Enjoy! Xx