Description
This Famous Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi recipe features succulent large shrimp cooked in a garlic butter sauce with a hint of white wine and lemon, served over perfectly al dente linguine or angel hair pasta. Quick and easy to prepare, this dish delivers restaurant-quality flavor with fresh ingredients and a touch of red pepper flakes for mild heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails on)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine or angel hair pasta
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta well.
- Cook the Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season shrimp with salt and black pepper, then add to skillet. Cook shrimp for 1-2 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the white wine (or chicken broth) and lemon juice, add red pepper flakes if using. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and develop flavor.
- Combine Shrimp and Sauce: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss well to coat them evenly with the sauce.
- Add Pasta: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and gently toss everything together. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it to desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the dish, if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Using dry white wine enhances the flavor, but chicken broth can be substituted for a non-alcoholic version.
- Keep the tails on the shrimp for easier handling and better presentation.
- If red pepper flakes are not preferred, omit for a milder dish.
- You can use gluten-free pasta if needed to make this recipe gluten free.
- Reserve pasta water is useful for loosening the sauce and helping it adhere better to the pasta.
- Fresh parsley adds brightness; flat-leaf parsley is preferred over curly.
