Description
A quick, one-pan shrimp scampi pasta that tastes like restaurant quality but is ready in just 15 minutes. This buttery, garlicky, and lemon-bright dish is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter
- 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 lemons (one for juicing, one for garnish)
- ½ cup (120ml) dry white wine (or chicken/vegetable broth)
- 8 ounces (225g) linguine or spaghetti
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp if necessary and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Mince garlic, zest and juice lemons, and chop parsley. Set all ingredients aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. 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 and golden (do not brown).
- Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- Pour white wine (or broth) and lemon juice into the skillet. Scrape up browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 1-2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add the drained pasta and cooked shrimp back to the skillet. Toss to combine. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Stir in chopped parsley.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately topped with extra lemon zest and parsley.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry to ensure they sear rather than steam. Do not overcook shrimp or they will become rubbery. Use reserved pasta water to emulsify the sauce and make it creamy. If making dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil. For a creamy version, add ½ cup heavy cream in step 5.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate per person
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: shrimp scampi, one-pan dinner, quick pasta, weeknight dinner, easy seafood, garlic butter pasta, 15 minute meals