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A blue bowl filled with shrimp scampi with a red napkin in the background
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Easy Shrimp Scampi

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!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword easy shrimp scampi
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 433kcal
Author Elaine Benoit

Equipment

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

Instructions

  • Boil the salted water before you start the recipe.  Add the pasta once you start sautéeing the vegetables so they will be done at the same time
  • Heat a heavy sauté pan or wok on medium heat and add oil
  • Add onions and bell pepper and sauté for 10 minutes
  • Add mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper and sauté for 5 minutes
  • Add butter and allow to melt
  • Add shrimp to vegetable mixture and stand there stirring every few minutes until shrimp becomes pink and opaque (5 minutes)
  • Add drained pasta to shrimp and vegetable mixture.  Stir to mix, add a few tablespoons of parmesan cheese
  • Plate
  • Eat
  • Enjoy

Notes

Tips for making Easy Shrimp Scampi
  • 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, 1/4 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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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 870mg | Potassium: 382mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 835IU | Vitamin C: 24.2mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 2.2mg