Description
A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner that tastes like restaurant quality. This shrimp scampi pasta is ready in 20 minutes using simple pantry staples and frozen shrimp.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 pound linguine or spaghetti
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 lemons (juice of 1, zest of 2)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Parmesan cheese, optional for serving
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 5-10 minutes, then drain and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from pan if desired to prevent overcooking, or push to the side.
- Pour in white wine and chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Add the cooked pasta and shrimp back to the skillet. Toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time if the sauce is too thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately topped with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
Pat the shrimp dry before cooking to ensure they sear rather than steam. Do not overcook the shrimp or they will become rubbery. Save the starchy pasta water to help the sauce cling to the noodles. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content; store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or cream.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: shrimp scampi, pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, budget friendly, quick meals, seafood pasta, garlic butter sauce, easy dinner