Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
This Shrimp scampi recipe is the ultimate comfort food - with its rich, buttery sauce and succulent shrimp, it's sure to warm your heart and your stomach. And the best part? It's super easy to make!
Ingredients
- 1 lb angel hair
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- old bay, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water until it is al dente, drain off the water, and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the garlic and onion. Sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- (If needed, peel and devein shrimp) Season shrimp with old bay and toss until seasoning is spread evenly.
- Add them to the skillet. Sear for about 1 min. Add butter. Cook until they are pink and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the wine, seafood broth, lemon juice, parsley, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer until it has reduced by about half, about 5-7 minutes. (If you want your sauce a bit thicker, add a cornstarch slurry 1tsp at a time. See slurry ratio in notes)
- Add pasta to the skillet and toss it with the sauce until it's well coated. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and toss again.
- Return the shrimp to the skillet and toss everything together until it's heated through.
- Serve the shrimp scampi hot, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Thicker Sauce: If you want your sauce a bit thicker, add a cornstarch slurry 1tsp at a time. 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water whisked together.
Don’t overcook the shrimp: As soon as the shrimp turn pink and are no longer translucent, they are done. Overcooking the shrimp can make it tough and rubbery.
Use fresh ingredients: The key to a great shrimp scampi is using fresh, high-quality ingredients. This includes fresh shrimp, garlic, parsley, lemon, and white wine (if using).
Don't overcrowd the pan: This can cause the shrimp to steam rather than sear, resulting in a less flavorful dish.
Use a mix of butter and olive oil: Using a combination of butter and olive oil adds richness and depth of flavor to the dish.
Red pepper flakes: This will give it a subtle kick of heat without overpowering the other flavors.
Serve immediately: Shrimp scampi is best served immediately after cooking while it's still hot and fresh.