Our Favorite Shrimp Scampi.
Forgive me.
For I know exactly what I’m doing.
If a dish full of butter, olive oil and wine is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Ever.
Oh! And don’t forget the garlic.
This shrimp scampi is one of the very first meals I ever made for Mr. How Sweet. It was February of 2007, I made it on a Friday afternoon, and the entire dish was gone by Saturday morning. I recall this clearly. Mr. How Sweet most likely does not remember it, even after reading that line… he is aging rapidly. He says I give him gray hair.
I say he gives me eye sores in the form of Nascar memorabilia and stuffed turkeys. Semi-fair trade. I still have it worse.
There is only one thing that can make this shrimp better.
A fresh ciabatta loaf made into toasty, buttery homemade garlic bread.
As classic and fabulous as this shrimp is, I have to admit that this is only the third time I’ve made it since 2007. It probably has something to do with the fact that Mr. How Sweet claims the little shrimp don’t give him enough protein. So when he ate it last night, he had to have a side of chicken with it. Why must he ruin perfectly good meals? I’m going to boycott chicken.
The dish actually does not take long at all because the shrimp cook so quickly. The prep takes longer than the actual cooking! Don’t be intimidated by the ingredient list… just don’t leave anything out.
And it is by far my favorite kind of pasta: instead of red sauce, you get a smooth, buttery blanket of sauce. If you add the cheese on while it’s still steaming hot, it melts and gets gooey. Sigh.
Then, if you are anywhere near as classy as I am, you will dip your garlic bread into the original serving bowl and lap up the remaining butter and wine.
Shrimp Scampi
serves 2-4 (generous portions)
1 pound raw, peeled and deveined shrimp
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 shallot, sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine, like Chardonnay
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 – 3/4 pound whole wheat linguine
1/3 cup parmesan or asiago cheese
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
Make sure shrimp is cleaned and completely dry, then season with salt and pepper. Boil your water for pasta and cook pasta according to directions.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, adding olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Add sliced shallots with a pinch of salt and saute until soft, about 3 minutes. Add in minced garlic, then immediately add in shrimp (this prevents the garlic from burning) in one layer so each side can cook. Cook for only 60 seconds, then flip shrimp and cook for 60 seconds more. Pour in white wine and let mixture simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in the last tablespoon of butter.
Add all pasta to a large bowl and pour entire shrimp and wine mixture over top. Add red pepper and cheese and toss until everything is combined. Add additional olive oil or salt and pepper to taste if desired. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with garlic bread.
I’d twirl my fork around this any day.
119 Comments on “Our Favorite Shrimp Scampi.”
Shrimp Scampi must be one of my top 5 favorite foods…below nut butters and chocolate, of course! :-P
I adore shrimp scampi! Yours is picture-perfect! MMmm!
That looks absolutely divine – pasta is on the list tonight and that sauce just might make it to my plate!
We love shrimp scampi in our house! I love how the bread soaks up all the buttery wine garlic sauce! YUM!
What a fancy looking dinner :) Shrimp rocks for weeknight meals for the man because it cooks so fast. And any dish with tons of garlic in it is always good.
I don’t eat seafood, but Lloyd is a huge fun- I’ll have to make him this as a treat, especially since he folded 2 baskets of my laundry last night. :)
Don’t eat seafood?? You just broke my heart.
I’ve never tried making shrimp scampi before, but you make it look so easy :) I might have to give it a try.
You must!
Your pictures are so beautiful Jessica! Could you forgo a recipe post one day to do a food photography post?
Whaaaaat? That you SO much! But I wouldn’t know where to start with a post since… I don’t really know anything about photography! I am so honored you’d say that. :)
I think your pix are great! What kind of lens do you use?
Thank you! I have a Nikon D5000 and use a 35mm f/1.8G.
your shrimp scampli looks delicious! i’m super classy too – i’d be licking my plate to get every last bit of that garlicky, buttery sauce mmm
That’s the way to do it!
i’ve never made shrimp scampi but this looks so delicious i might have to try it!
Does Mr. How Sweet just like chicken? Or does he eat out of obligation so he can bulk up? Just curious. I know many guys who eat it for that reason
He loooves chicken. And steak. He’d eat it for every meal every day if he could.
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Such a classic dish. Yum.
Want! My boyfriend doesn’t eat seafood and it breaks my heart. I’ll eat anything that swims!
Make it… then you get it all to yourself.
I’ve never actually tried shrimp scampi before, but this sounds great! And forgive me for sounding a little meat-head-y, but that thing you mentioned about Mr How Sweet feeling like he’s not getting enough protein from the shrimp… I actually think the same thing when I have shrimp!! Oh well, I guess that’s a good reason to add more, right? ;)
Hehehe… you two would get along well. :)
One word: Carbolicious!
Sigh is right. This is one of my favorite dishes of all time. I LOVE shrimp.
i’m TOTALLY that classy…and am likely making this soon. garlic and butter are my weakness.
That looks amaaaazing! Can’t wait to try it out.
Looks fantastic!!! Of course, all of your recipes do! =D
Thank you. :)
I am trying this recipe tonight. And adding bacon!!!!!!!
Best idea ever.
I love shrimp scampi! We don’t make it often either, probably because I hate buying shrimp for some reason!!!
I can’t believe Mr. How Sweet had a side of CHICKEN with that ha! The boy needs his protein!!!! If there is any complaint my husband has in the kitchen, it’s that he needs more protein in his meals.
Q: Did you cook this earlier in the day to photograph it and then reheat? These photos are fab!
Yes, I made it yesterday around 3! I make a lot of our meals in bulk so he can reheat them for lunch, and this was one of them. It’s still delicious reheated – if needed I just add some extra olive oil.
Ahhh, I can practically smell the garlic and butter. Shrimp is such a forgotten quick meal staple… I love it on the weeknights.
OMG! I love shrimp scampi! I don’t care if it is not the perfectly healthy dish, I just love it! I also love you serve it with crusty bread! We always do that too!
Looks absolutely delicious!
OMG. Seriously? I’m craving shrimp scampi at 8 am. Would it be wrong to make this for breakfast?? ;)
Never. I highly suggest it!
Perfect timing. I have shrimp and was looking for a recipe. Thank you much!
Suzanne
Totally going to try this!
this looks good~~~i think i may try this tonite!!!!!!!
well, yeah… as good as it is, bread is a vehicle for more sauce… ;)
Thank you for planning our dinner tonight! I am so making this!
Let me know if you like it!
CANNOT wait to make this one!
So, I see you are using Yellowtail wine- I am such a HUGE Yellowtail lover, it’s almost ridiculous :) Even though it’s relatively ‘cheap’ wine, I think it SO good. If you like red wine, you should try the purple label one- it’s my favorite.
And, thank you for adding the part about lapping up the rest of the sauce with bread. Anytime I have pasta I HAVE to have bread with it…just for that reason. My fiance thinks its so gross, but I mean really, what’s pasta without bread dipped in sauce?! ;)
YUM! This looks fabulous. Keith hates shrimp…silly man. He just doesn’t know what he is missing.
I love how the serving suggestion says 2-4. I think I’ll make it one :)
I have SUCH a hard time with serving sizes because my husband eats so much. I never know what to put!
wow! I have a seafood allergy.. but I just might make this & substitute chicken breast.. I see no reason why that would work…
and that bread… OOOHHH that bread!!!
I think I did make it with chicken once for my husband – it was great!
I don’t think I’ve ever had shrimp scampi, but I am making this recipe this weekend! It looks so yummy!
You don’t know what you’re missing!
Yum, I love shrimp scampi! I just discovered your blog and I love it! :-) You share my love affair for bacon…and chocolate…
Thanks! Glad you found me. :)
Shrimp scampi is basically the only way I’ll eat shrimp. Buttery garlic–yum!
Or fried shrimp, that works too!
The search for the perfect shrimp scampi recipe is like the search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe… which is to say nearly impossible. This one sounds awesome, and might just be a contender! I will have to make it soon.
Wow, this looks absolutely perfect Jessica!! Pretty sure I would dive right into this bowl even though it’s been quite some time since I’ve eaten shrimp! Love lemon butter wine sauces…LOVE!
Heck yes – break out that wine! =) I don’t want to be right either! LOOOOVE shrimp scampi! I’ve been adding pesto to mine lately for some reason… must be craving basil! <3 Yours looks quite yummy – save me a plate! <3
xoXOxo
Jenn L @ Peas & Crayons
Great idea! I love pesto.
I was already getting hungry for lunch, now I am STARVED. Somehow my plain chicken breast (sorry!), spinach, spicy mustard and whole wheat thins sandwich (trying to be healthy and low fat here) is going to taste pretty lame now that I have this beautiful scampi in mind. I will definitely be making this very soon, so simple but so obviously delicious, thank you! Mr. Sweet should really realize how incredibly lucky he is to have you cooking so much fabulous and creative food for him.
I used to eat shrimp scampi all the time at restaurants when I was a kid and then a teen. Oddly I haven’t had it much recently, but you’re reminding me how fab it is. Yum!
Oh my goodness that looks incredible! I would die if my husband asked for chicken on the side. Shrimp are the end all…..
Whenever my boyfriend and I make a similar dish, it doesn’t even make it to the next day;) We typically use angel hair pasta (I’m slowly trying to convert him to whole grain pastas) and for whatever reason, it seems we always finish the box…thinner noodle means we can eat more??!!
I don’t know if I’ve ever had shrimp scampi (gasp!). Girl, yours makes me want to drop what I’m doing and head to the kitchen. Looks so good :)
You NEED some!
I’ll be making this on my sister’s bday, I’m not a big shrimp person but she’s obsessed so thanks!
Ohh, I love shrimp and pasta combos of all kinds. I think a Shrimp Scampi night will be making its way onto our weekly menu pretty soon….yumm!
Mouthwatering! I love shrimp scampi. 2 years ago my mother-in-law almost set our brand new house on fire cooking it! Considering everyone was safe, it was actually a funny story!
Oh
my
gosh.
!!
I’m allergic to shrimp.
Booo. :(