Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
This Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi is ready in 20 minutes with garlic, butter, and lemon. Simple, restaurant-worthy, and perfect with crusty bread for a main dish or served by itself for an elegant appetizer.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 231kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp large, peeled and deveined (16-20 count)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- ½ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp very dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt on both sides.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter.
- When the pan is hot, add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, just until pink and opaque. Transfer the shrimp to a plate immediately to avoid overcooking.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet, followed by the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant, being careful not to let the garlic brown.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes, white wine, lemon zest, and lemon juice, then simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly.
- Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the skillet and toss gently for about 1 minute, until the shrimp are well coated in the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Remove from the heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
- This dish can be tossed with linguine or angel hair pasta, spooned over garlic bread, or served alongside steamed asparagus or broccoli.
- Remove the shrimp from the heat as soon as they turn pink and form a loose C shape, as overcooked shrimp curl tightly into an O shape and become rubbery.
- Keep the heat moderate when cooking the garlic, since it burns quickly and should only be cooked briefly.
- White wine provides a classic scampi flavor, but chicken broth works well as a non-alcoholic substitute.
- Using a combination of olive oil and butter prevents burning while maintaining a rich, balanced flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 562IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg