Description
A quick, weeknight-friendly creamy garlic butter shrimp scampi that comes together in just 20 minutes. This forgiving recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a rich, restaurant-quality meal perfect for busy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta (linguine, spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth with lemon juice)
- 1 large lemon (zested and juiced)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil (optional, for tossing pasta)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop parsley, mince garlic, and zest/juice the lemon. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Sear shrimp: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, and cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- Build sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown. Add white wine and simmer for 2 minutes to reduce. Stir in heavy cream and lemon juice; simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine: Return shrimp to the skillet. Add drained pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss to coat. Add more pasta water if sauce is too thick. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with fresh parsley, extra lemon zest, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Do not overcook the shrimp; they turn rubbery if cooked too long. Pat shrimp dry before searing to ensure browning rather than steaming. Save pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce butter. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate per serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: shrimp scampi, creamy shrimp, garlic butter shrimp, quick weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe, seafood dinner, 20 minute meals