Description

A quick, 15-minute garlic butter shrimp scampi recipe that requires minimal cleanup and pantry-friendly ingredients. This foolproof method ensures tender shrimp and a rich, flavorful sauce without the restaurant pretension.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined
½ cup unsalted butter (divided)
6–8 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
2 lemons (juice of one, zest of one)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Thaw frozen shrimp in cold water if necessary, then drain and pat completely dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Zest one lemon, then juice both lemons. Measure out 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Chop the parsley.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once melted and foaming, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes until golden pink, then flip and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining ½ cup of butter to the pan. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
Pour in white wine (or broth) and lemon juice. Scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly reduced.
Return shrimp to the pan. Toss in the sauce for 1 minute to reheat. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and chopped parsley. Adjust salt to taste.
Serve immediately over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.

Notes

Do not overcook the shrimp; they should be opaque and curled in a ‘C’ shape. Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure proper searing. If serving with pasta, save some starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. This dish does not freeze well due to the butter and shrimp texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
Calories: 320
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 450
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 14
Carbohydrates: 4
Fiber: 1
Protein: 28

Keywords: shrimp scampi, garlic butter shrimp, easy dinner, quick seafood, weeknight meals, one pan dinner, gluten-free option