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Easy Shrimp Scampi | Seafood Penne

Name: Easy Shrimp Scampi
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 onions (medium, chopped in chunks); 1 red bell pepper (chopped); 10 ounces portabella mushrooms (sliced); 4 teaspoons garlic paste (or 4 cloves, minced); 1 stick butter; 1 pound pasta (I used penne); 1 pound shrimp (shelled and de-veined); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/16 teaspoon Pepper (or to taste); 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Last updated on May 3, 2022. Originally posted on May 3, 2022 By Elaine 34 Comments

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This easy shrimp scampi recipe is made with a garlic and butter sauce that melts right in your mouth. Serve it over your pasta of choice and enjoy!

What do I love about this shrimp scampi? Everything.

It has succulent shrimp, chunky veggies and a glorious flavorful sauce draped over penne pasta. I know that most shrimp scampi is made with long noodles like linguini, fettuccini, or spaghetti but I prefer my pasta with some bite to it. And this pasta, has such a lovely texture and makes for a mouthful of deliciousness.

Need an easy weeknight dinner? Then this easy shrimp scampi recipe is the way to go!

Do I have to use penne to make this recipe?

No. You can still make it with linguini or fettuccine, but I beg you, please make it with penne, rigatoni or ziti just to experience the difference. I guarantee you will be happy with the results.

Can I use precooked shrimp in this easy shrimp scampi recipe?

You sure can, but why would you? Shrimp is super easy to cook. In fact, it only takes 5 minutes to sauté large shrimp and these plump, freshly cooked shrimp tastes better than precooked shrimp. Try it and see.

Helpful tips

Start boiling the salted water at least 10 minutes before you start making this meal. Once it comes to a boil, add the pasta and start on the vegetables.
Chunk the vegetables instead of dicing, for a heartier dish.
Butter is key so don’t skimp and use the full stick. It really makes the best scampi sauce.
Use raw shrimp, not precooked as it is so easy to make.
Here’s how – stand at the sauté pan as you cook the shrimp as it only takes five minutes and is easy to overcook. Once the shrimp is opaque, it is done.
Experiment and use a pasta with some bite like penne.
If you prefer more traditional shrimp scampi, use either linguini, spaghetti, fettuccini, or angel hair pasta.
Sometimes I add a dry white wine like pinot Grigio or Sauvignon blanc. But I chose not to with this recipe. If you want to add some, ¼ cup is a perfect amount. My advice is not to use chardonnay as I think it’s to sweet.
People also tend to add fresh lemon juice in their scampi recipe, but truthfully, I don’t like it in this dish. But if you can’t live without it, add 2 – 3 tablespoons of the fresh juice.
Serving this for guests? Add some fresh parsley to each plate to add to such a colorful dish.

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How to cook easy shrimp scampi

Pre-step

Pre-boil salted water and add the pasta to boiling water at the same time you start cooking the vegetables so they will be done at roughly the same time.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – raw, shelled and deveined shrimp, onion, red bell pepper, and baby portobello mushrooms.

Step two

Chop the onions, bell peppers, and portobello mushrooms in chunky pieces.

Platter with three rows of chopped vegetables with a package of penne pasta and a stainless steel bowl of raw shrimp in the background.

Step two

Heat a sauté pan, large skillet, or wok on medium. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and once that heats up (it should shimmer), add the onion and red pepper and sauté them for 10 minutes.

Step four

Add the sliced mushrooms, garlic paste (or 3 garlic cloves – minced), salt, black pepper and sauté it all for 5 minutes. (A)

Step five

Add stick of butter. (B)

Mushrooms, pepper, onions and a stick of butter in a wok cooking

Step six

Add de-veined, shelled shrimp, toss it with the vegetables and cook for 5 minutes. Once it is opaque and plump, they are done.

Shrimp added to the wok full of vegetables

Step seven

Drain pasta and add to wok with the shrimp and veggies and toss to combine.

Cooked pasta added to the shrimp and veggie mixture

Plate the shrimp scampi.

Overhead view of the shrimp scampi in two bowls

And serve.

Close up of the shrimp and pasta dish in a blue plate

I hope you enjoyed this easy shrimp scampi recipe. I certainly enjoyed making it and eating it, as did Christopher. 🙂

Leave me a comment to tell me what pasta you prefer to have in your scampi!

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And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!