Quick & Easy Shrimp Scampi
A restaurant-quality meal in just 20 minutes! This Quick Shrimp Scampi features juicy shrimp in a delicious garlic butter and lemon sauce. Perfect for a busy weeknight.
Ingredients
- Quick & Easy Shrimp Scampi
12 oz (340g) linguine or spaghetti
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
1/4 cup dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio) or chicken broth
1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions...
2.Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before you drain, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
- 3.While the pasta cooks, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat...
4.Sauté the Aromatics: While the pasta cooks, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
- 5.Make the Sauce Base: Pour in the white wine or chicken broth
6.Make the Sauce Base: Pour in the white wine or chicken broth. Let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan.
- 7.Cook the Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the skillet and season with salt and pepper.
8.Cook the Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook for just 1-2 minutes per side, until they are pink and opaque. Do not overcook!
- 9.Finish the Dish: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice,
10.Finish the Dish: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice, the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and the fresh parsley.
11.Combine and Serve: Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the shrimp. Toss everything together. If the sauce seems a little dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it's perfect. Serve immediately!
- 12..Combine and Serve: Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the shrimp. Toss everything together
Notes
Notes
- No Wine? No Problem! Using chicken broth instead of white wine is just as delicious. It creates a slightly less acidic but equally savory sauce.
- Serving Ideas: This is fantastic on its own, but also great with a side of crusty bread to soak up all that delicious sauce. For a low-carb option, serve over zucchini noodles.
Kitchen Rescue Tips!
- The Problem: "My shrimp is tough and rubbery!"
- The Quick Fix: This happens from overcooking. The secret to perfect shrimp is that they cook incredibly fast. Watch them closely! They are done as soon as they turn pink and curl into a "C" shape. If they curl into a tight "O" shape, they are overcooked.
- The Problem: "My sauce is too thin!"
- The Rescue: The starchy pasta water you reserved is magic! It will thicken your sauce and help it cling to the noodles. Add a tablespoon or two at a time while tossing until the sauce is the perfect consistency.
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