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Home » Italian food

Classic Shrimp Scampi

Published: Sep 17, 2021 by Diana Reis · This post may contain affiliate links

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This Classic Shrimp Scampi Recipe is an Italian mainstay that can be on the table in 15 minutes.

Close up shrimp scampi in skillet with bread

Full of rich butter, garlic, and a hint of wine and lemon flavor this shrimp dish is sure to please. You can serve it simply with a side of crusty bread or use the sauce to dress up some scrumptious pasta.

Add a side of Italian Stuffed Artichokes and a green salad with Italian Salad Dressing for a perfect dinner.

Contents hide
Ingredients
Instructions
FAQs
Tips For Success
Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
Classic Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients

shrimp scampi ingedients

Shrimp- Fresh or frozen shrimp work for this dish. Make sure frozen shrimp are properly defrosted. They need to be peeled and deveined. 

Dry White Wine- The butter sauce is supposed to be very light, so choose a wine that is crisp and light. Avoid anything that coats your tongue or is very sweet.

Instructions

Step 1

  • Start by preparing all of the ingredients. Have each item fully prepared and ready to use before starting.
  • Mince garlic, chop parsley, wash lemon, and measure wine, olive oil, and butter.
step 1- prepare sauce ingredients

Step 2

  • Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add olive oil and butter to the pan. 
  • Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic. Let the garlic warm through to release its flavor.
step 2- melt butter and warm garlic

Step 3

  • Next, add white wine and lemon juice. Simmer for five minutes to bring the sauce together and reduce the wine.
  • Add the cleaned shrimp to the pan, season with salt and pepper. Let cook for 2-3 minutes.
step 3- add shrimp

Lay them flat around the pan so that they cook evenly.

Step 4

  • Turn and let cook for another 2 minutes. 
  • Finally, remove the pan from the heat and garnish with fresh parsley and chili flakes (optional).
step 4- turn shrimp - add parsley

FAQs

What kind of white wine do you use for shrimp scampi?

Dry, crisp white wines work well with light sauces and bright lemon flavor. Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are perfect choices. Dry Chardonnay, preferably unoaked, can be a good choice as well.

Can you make scampi sauce without wine?

If you don't have wine or prefer to cook without alcohol, you can add seafood stock and a few teaspoons of white wine vinegar.

Why are my shrimp tough?

The most common reason shrimp are dry or tough even when sitting in a succulent butter sauce, is that they are simply overcooked. Shrimp cooks very quickly. They need as little as 2minutes on each side. 

The best way to avoid overcooking is to have everything you need ready and close at hand while cooking. Also, plan your cooking order so that the shrimp is the last thing that needs to be made so that it can be served immediately.

What do you serve with shrimp scampi?

Shrimp scampi can be served as a stand alone dish. It goes perfectly with a crusty loaf of bread, risotto, and a green salad.

The shrimp and butter-wine sauce are great over pasta. Add ½ cup of pasta water before tossing the noodles in the shrimp scampi.

Tips For Success

This recipe cooks up so quickly. I highly recommend that you have all of your ingredients prepared and measured before you start cooking.

Watch the garlic carefully. Keep the heat low and let it heat through. If it burns, it will turn the dish bitter.

I recommend buying shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. The tail is up to you. If you are eating as a stand alone dish, tail on is fine. If you are planning on serving this over pasta, it is easier to eat with the tail off.

scampi served over pasta in large bowl

Related Recipes

Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)

Shrimp Avocado Mango Salad

Baked Lemon Dill Salmon

Perfect Salmon Cakes

📖 Recipe

shrimp in butter sauce with bread and lemons

Classic Shrimp Scampi

Full of rich butter, garlic, and a hint of wine and lemon flavor this shrimp dish is sure to please.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 295kcal
Author: Diana Reis

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
  • ⅓ Cup Butter
  • ¼ Cup Olive Oil Extra Virgin
  • ¼ Cup Fresh Parsley Chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons Garlic Minced (7-8 large cloves)
  • ¼ Cup White Wine Dry (Pinot Grigio, Chardonay)
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ½ Teaspoon Red Chili Flake optional
  • 2 Lemons juice of 1 for sauce, 1 lemon for garnish

Instructions

  • Start by preparing all of the ingredients. Have each item fully prepared and ready to use before starting.
  • Mince garlic, chop parsley, wash lemon, and measure wine, olive oil, and butter.
  • Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add olive oil and butter to the pan.
  • Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic. Let the garlic warm through to release its flavor.
  • Next, add white wine and juice of one lemon. Bring it to a simmer and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the cleaned shrimp to the pan, season with salt and pepper. Let cook for 2-3 minutes. (Lay them flat around the pan so that they cook evenly.
  • Turn and let cook for another 2 minutes.
  • Finally, remove the pan from the heat and garnish with fresh parsley and chili flakes (optional).

Notes

What kind of white wine do you use for shrimp scampi?
Dry, crisp white wines work well with light sauces and bright lemon flavor. Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are perfect choices. Dry Chardonnay, preferably unoaked, can be a good choice as well.
Can you make scampi sauce without wine?
If you don’t have wine or prefer to cook without alcohol, you can add seafood stock and a few teaspoons of white wine vinegar.
Why are my shrimp tough?
The most common reason shrimp are dry or tough even when sitting in a succulent butter sauce, is that they are simply overcooked. Shrimp cooks very quickly. They need as little as 2minutes on each side.
The best way to avoid overcooking is to have everything you need ready and close at hand while cooking. Also, plan your cooking order so that the shrimp is the last thing that needs to be made so that it can be served immediately.
What do you serve with shrimp scampi?
Shrimp scampi can be served as a stand alone dish. It goes perfectly with a crusty loaf of bread, risotto, and a green salad.
The shrimp and butter-wine sauce are great over pasta. Add ½ cup of pasta water before tossing the noodles in the shrimp scampi.
Tips for success
  • This recipe cooks up so quickly. I highly recommend that you have all of your ingredients prepared and measured before you start cooking.
  • Watch the garlic carefully. Keep the heat low and let it heat through. If it burns, it will turn the dish bitter.
  • I recommend buying shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. The tail is up to you. If you are eating as a stand alone dish, tail on is fine. If you are planning on serving this over pasta, it is easier to eat with the tail off.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 877IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @DianDeliciousB or tag #DeliciousByDesign!

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Comments

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. vuasongbac says

    February 08, 2021 at 3:21 pm

    I love this recipe

    Reply
  2. Clint Hendrickson says

    July 24, 2021 at 10:04 pm

    Add Lemon juice yet no lemon juice on ingredients to know how much

    Reply
  3. Jacqueline Bolda says

    May 26, 2023 at 4:28 pm

    All of the Red and Blue Recipes Don’t respond when you press on them. I’d love to have some of these recipes. I will check back later or tomorrow to see. Thanks! Jackie Bolda

    Reply
    • Diana Reis says

      May 26, 2023 at 6:10 pm

      I'm curious about that. I would love to help you figure it out. The clickable text on my website should be a reddish orange. If you are on mobile, you may need to scroll up or down a bit to be able to click because there is a sidebar with social sharing that overlaps the main page just enough to interfere on some phones. If you would like to see all of the recipes that are highlighted, you can go to the menu in the header. Open recipe, then fish and seafood and they will all be available. If you have any more trouble, please let me know so that I can make sure everything is working properly. It appears to be working on my end right now.

      Reply
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I’m passionate about the family dinner table. Connecting with each other at the end of the day over a good meal creates strong family bonds and healthy long-lasting relationships. I want to help families and friends build those relationships.

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