Y’all have to try this easy shrimp scampi recipe. It’s quick, simple, and has restaurant flavor without the restaurant bill! You just sauté some shrimp in a buttery, garlicky sauce, then let them simmer with a splash of white wine and a few spices. I’ve made this shrimp scampi with pasta recipe for almost two decades, and I can confidently say it’s slap yo mama good!
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How to Make This Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Step 1: Add ¼ cup butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Once the butter melts, add the shrimp.
Step 2: Sprinkle with salt and pepper to season and sauté until they turn pink. Then remove and place to the side
Step 3: Add minced garlic and cook.
Next, pour in the wine and lemon juice. Lower heat to medium-low and reduce the sauce by about half.
Step 4: Season with red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoons of parsley, and garlic powder. Stir together, and toss back in the shrimp.
Step 5: Turn off heat and swirl in butter.
Step 6: Top with parsley as garnish and serve over linguine noodles (or your favorite pairing!).
PRO TIP: Serving this with pasta? Boil your noodles first. Shrimp wait for no one, and scampi is best served HOT right out the skillet!
Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
For the Shrimp Scampi:
- 6 tablespoons Butter
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined, fresh or thawed frozen
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup white wine or broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound linguine or pasta of choice
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, until just al dente.
For the Shrimp Scampi:
- Add Butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Once melted, add shrimp. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté for about 1 or 2 minutes on each side until the shrimp turn pink. Remove and set to the side
- Add minced garlic and cook for just about 30 seconds.
- Next pour in wine and lemon juice then season with red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoons of parsley and garlic powder. Stir together, lower heat to medium low and reduce sauce by about half. Then toss back in shrimp.
- Turn off heat and swirl in butter. Top with parsley as garnish once plated over pasta.
Notes
- Get everything prepped ahead of time. This garlic butter shrimp scampi moves fast, so make sure your ingredients are chopped, measured, and ready to go.
- Use large peeled and deveined shrimp if you can. Small ones cook in a flash and can get rubbery real quick. I like to go with 16/20 count for this recipe.
- If your shrimp ain’t cleaned, clean em up right. Use a paring knife or kitchen shears to cut along the back, then pull out that dark vein with a toothpick or the knife tip and rinse under cold water.
- Shrimp cook super fast, boos. You’ll know they’re ready when they curl into a loose “C” and turn a nice pink.
- Fridge: Let your shrimp scampi cool to room temp, then transfer it to an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay fresh for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm it gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of broth or a little extra butter to loosen the sauce. Don’t crank the heat or you’ll dry out the shrimp! Just heat it until warmed through.
Nutrition
Recipe Tips
- Prep everything first. This garlic butter shrimp scampi comes together real quick, so have your ingredients chopped, measured, and close.
- Go with large peeled and deveined shrimp. Small shrimp cook in seconds and can turn chewy fast. For this easy shrimp scampi recipe, I like using 16/20 count shrimp.
- If your shrimp aren’t clean, clean em good. Take a paring knife or kitchen shears and slice along the back. Pull out that vein with a toothpick or the tip of the knife, then rinse under cold water.
- Shrimp really don’t take long, boos. You’ll know they’re done when they curl into a loose “C” and turn pink with a little pop.
Serving Suggestions
- Pasta: You can serve this garlicky shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta (aka capellini) for a classic shrimp scampi pasta vibe, but it’s also amazing tossed with linguine, spaghetti, fettuccine, or even penne.
- Rice or Mash: Spoon it over a bed of fluffy white rice or mashed potatoes. They both soak up all that buttery sauce!
- Grits: Go Southern-style and pile your shrimp scampi over creamy grits, cheese grits, or cauliflower grits.
- Salads and Veggies: Whip up a crisp Caesar salad, cucumber and onion salad, or a batch of balsamic Brussels sprouts and steamed veggies.
- Bread: Don’t forget the bread, boos! Garlic bread, cheesy garlic breadsticks, or a warm crusty baguette to mop up every drop of that buttery scampi sauce.
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Recipe Help
It’s up to you, boo. Leaving the tails on can add a lil more flavor to the sauce, but I usually take them off so it’s easier to eat.
If you really wanna make the best shrimp scampi recipe, go for a dry and crisp white wine. Skip the sweet wines!
I love getting, trying and loving your wonderful recipes. I’m going to try this shrimp scampi tomorrow. I have loved this dish from a favorite resturant, but never knew how to make. Can’t wait to make , Thank You!
I can’t wait to hear what you thought of it!
I cooked this recipe for my parents tonight, and we all loved it! Thank you!! My dad ate all of the grits .
So so happy you enjoyed this.
One of the best recipes ever for shrimp and grits.
I made this for Sunday’s breakfast along with omlettes. Delicious!!
You’ve done it again-I will never go back to pasta with my shrimp scampi! Delicious