Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Plump shrimp swimming in a garlicky white wine butter sauce over linguine. This is the 15-minute dinner that never gets old.
Main Dish · Prep 10 min · Cook 12 min · Serves 2 · Easy · By Tina · Published
Ingredients
- 400 g large shrimp, peeled, deveined
- 250 g linguine
- 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 40 g butter
- 120 ml white wine, dry
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 0.5 tsp chili flakes
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt, to taste
Shrimp scampi is proof that simple food done right beats complicated food every time. Shrimp, garlic, butter, white wine, lemon. That is the ingredient list. And yet the result is something people will remember.
The key is not overcooking the shrimp — they need maybe 2 minutes per side and they are done. The sauce comes together while the pasta boils: saute garlic in butter, deglaze with wine, add lemon juice, toss in the cooked shrimp, and pour everything over linguine.
I have made this for first dates, dinner parties, and sad Tuesdays. It works for all of them.
Pro Tips
- Use large or jumbo shrimp. Small shrimp overcook in seconds and get rubbery.
- Cook the garlic until JUST golden, not brown. Burnt garlic is bitter and ruins everything.
- Deglaze with the wine while the pan is hot. Let it reduce by half for concentrated flavor.
- Toss the pasta in the sauce with a splash of pasta water. The starch helps the sauce cling.
Serving
Twirl the linguine into bowls, arrange the shrimp on top, spoon extra sauce over, and finish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon. Crusty bread for mopping is mandatory.
More main dish recipes
- Goulash (Easy · 35 min · serves 8)
Beef, paprika, and a long simmer create this deeply savory, comforting stew that is pure nostalgia on a plate. - Green Curry with Chicken (beginner · 20 min · serves 2)
One of the World’s Best Curries — Rich, Spicy & Addictive - Grilled Halloumi and Vegetable Flatbread (Easy · 10 min · serves 2)
Charred halloumi, roasted peppers, and a smear of pesto on warm flatbread. This is the lunch that makes salad… - Grilled Lamb Chops with Chimichurri (Easy · 8 min · serves 2)
Perfectly pink lamb chops with the brightest, herbiest chimichurri. This is the recipe that makes me feel… - Harissa-Roasted Eggplant with Couscous (Easy · 35 min · serves 2)
Smoky, spiced eggplant roasted until collapsing-tender, served over fluffy couscous with yogurt and herbs.… - Homemade Pizza Dough (Medium · 15 min · serves 2)
A foolproof pizza dough recipe that produces a chewy, crispy crust with beautiful air pockets. This versatile…