Classic Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp scampi, loosely translated, means “shrimp shrimp” in Italian.  And while the shrimp may be the star of the dish, there is so much more to it.  Garlic, lemon, and parsley join forces in a velvety, buttery, wine sauce to form what might be one of the most iconic Italian-American seafood dishes.  Serve by itself as a pre-dinner snack, or add some pasta or rice and you’ve got an entire meal that will be a hit any night of the week.  Because, after all, it can be made in under 30 minutes.

What is shrimp scampi?

Shrimp Scampi comes in many variations, but most recipes will contain garlic, lemon, white wine, and parsley as ingredients.  Scampi or langoustines in Italy are not shrimp.  They are small lobster-like crustaceans.  In America, Italian chefs substituted shrimp for scampi, but kept both names, thus creating the popular Italian-American dish known as shrimp scampi.  Not quite an oxymoron, but just an interesting way to keep the scampi name intact. 

Our favorite way to eat shrimp scampi is with a loaf of crusty Italian bread.  The bread does a fantastic job of mopping up that buttery, garlicky wine sauce.  SO GOOD.  A glass of Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio also pairs perfectly with this dish.

And since shrimp scampi pairs so well with bread, we also love these shrimp scampi rolls which are a more budget-friendly alternative to lobster rolls.

If you want to serve it over a pound of pasta, we recommend increasing the liquid ingredients by 50% and using some added pasta water in the sauce.  In this very similar Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta, we added pasta water in the same manner to create the sauce.  You can also serve this dish over rice.

How to make it

Each numbered pic corresponds to the numbered written instructions below. 

1. Begin by adding a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to the 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp in a glass bowl.  Mix well and set aside.
2. Remove any large stems from the parsley, then mince a 1/4 cup.

3. Mince 6 cloves of garlic.  Or use as much as you like as garlic is truly a personal preference.
4. Heat a large pan to medium and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of butter.  Let it melt then add the garlic.
5. Once the garlic turns lightly golden (about 2-3 minutes) add 3/4 cup of dry white wine and a 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.  Turn heat to high and let the wine reduce by half (about 3-5 minutes).
6. Once reduced turn heat back down to medium and add the shrimp in.  Saute for 4-5 minutes.

7. Once the shrimp turn pink and slightly firm they are done.  Turn off the heat.
8. Add in all the parsley and the juice of half a lemon.  Season with black pepper to taste.  Taste test and make any last-minute adjustments to salt, pepper, or red pepper flake levels if required.

Serve with lemon wedges and crusty Italian bread.  Enjoy!

If you’re looking for a veggie to pair with this dish, check out these delicious sides that can be made just as quickly as this classic shrimp scampi recipe.

• Italian Broccoli
• Sauteed spinach with garlic
• Sauteed Broccoli Rabe With Garlic And Oil

Top tips

• Baking soda and salt brine the shrimp, making them plumper and juicer.  It’s a simple technique that is great for almost all shrimp recipes.
• Fresh good quality ingredients make all the difference in this dish.
• Use fresh garlic, parsley, and good-quality white wine.  Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay are both good wine choices.
• Shrimp tend to dry out and get rubbery when reheated or when cooked too much.  Just cook the shrimp until they are pink and firm to the touch.  Taste test or cut one in half while cooking to check for doneness.  Cooking time will vary based on the size of the shrimp.  For example, U21/25 shrimp are larger and will take longer to cook than U41/50 shrimp.  The “U” refers to the amount per pound.
• Serve with crusty Italian bread.  For pasta add 50 percent more wine and butter.  Also, use a bit more pasta water to make a sauce that won’t dry out.
• Leftovers can be reheated gently on the stovetop until warmed through, but it is recommended to eat it all right away.

Try these other Italian shrimp recipes

• Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Linguine – Classic Italian-American spicy shrimp dish with plum tomatoes and white wine.
• Shrimp Oreganata – Super tasty seasoned breadcrumbs sprinkled onto colossal shrimp and oven-baked.
• Shrimp Arrabbiata – Shrimp in a spicy red sauce with vinegar peppers.  

If you like this shrimp scampi recipe give it a share!  Leave a comment.  We would love to know how you did and it’s nice to show others as well.  Thanks!

The full recipe video for this and many others can be found below in the recipe card and on the  Sip and Feast Youtube Channel.   We are working on making every single recipe on this site into a full-length instructional video.   We are also on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.  We appreciate you reading this and making our recipes!  Thanks!