Easy Shrimp Scampi | Scrumptious 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 July 17, 2020. Originally posted on July 30, 2018 By Elaine 34 Comments

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Like everything else, this easy shrimp scampi recipe has to be served the Lainey way. The chunky vegetables and the penne pasta give this dish a satisfying bite!

Scampi with penne pasta in a bowl, with another bowl of scampi and the wok of filled with it in the background

What do I love about this easy shrimp scampi? Everything.

Look at those succulent shrimp, chunky veggies and glorious sauce! Not to mention the pasta!! I know that most shrimp scampi is made with long noodles like linguini but I prefer my pasta with some bite to it. And this pasta, which is ridged penne, has such a lovely texture and makes for a mouthful of deliciousness.

Pasta, shrimp, oil, butter, veggies and garlic make up the rest of this easy shrimp scampi recipe.

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 shrimp. Freshly cooked shrimp tastes better and feels so much better in your mouth than precooked shrimp. Judge for yourself.

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
Use raw shrimp, not precooked
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
Use a pasta with some bite like penne instead of linguini

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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

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

Platter with three rows of chopped vegetables, from left to right: white mushrooms, red bell peppers and onions, with a package of penne pasta and a stainless steel bowl of raw shrimp in the background.

Step two

Heat sauté pan or wok on medium. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and once that heats up, add the onion and pepper and sauté them for 10 minutes.

Step three

Add the sliced mushrooms, garlic paste, salt and pepper and sauté it all for 5 minutes. (A)

Step four

Add stick of butter. (B)

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

Step five

Add de-veined, shelled shrimp and cook for 5 minutes. (C)

Step six

Drain pasta and add to wok with the shrimp and veggies. (D)

Shrimp cooked with the onion, peppers, butter and mushrooms in the wok and the penne pasta mixed in.

I plate the easy shrimp scampi and serve it to the husband, who is sitting at the table with fork and knife clutched in his hands.

Close up of a bowl of shrimp scampi with penne pasta

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!