This Ridiculously Easy Shrimp Scampi in 20 Minutes is the perfect weeknight meal option for busy home cooks who want to whip up a delicious and flavorful dinner in no time. This classic Italian-American dish features succulent shrimp cooked in garlic butter, white wine and lemon juice and can be served over pasta or with crusty bread. The best part? It takes only 20 minutes to make from start to finish – making it an ideal option for those who want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying a delicious meal with their loved ones.
So grab your ingredients and let’s get started on this ridiculously easy shrimp scampi recipe that your whole family will love!
Jump to RecipeThe History and Origins of Shrimp Scampi: From the Mediterranean to the United States
Shrimp scampi is a popular Italia-American dish that typically consists of shrimp sautéed in a sauce made of garlic, butter, white wine and lemon juice and served over pasta or with a generous portion of crusty bread. The name of this dish is also a bit of a misnomer.
“Scampi” is actually a word from Italian cuisine that refers to a type of crustacean that is similar to a small lobster or langoustine. For Italian-American immigrants who wanted to recreate this familiar dish in the states, shrimp were likely viewed a close substitute, and the word “Scampi” slowly became synonymous with the method of preparation instead of the seafood being used within the dish. The traditional ingredients of olive oil and fresh herbs gave way to butter in America. And while the origin of the dish is Italian, the addition of shrimp and the sauce have evolved over time in the U.S.
Today, the dish is typically made by sautéing shrimp in a buttery white wine and lemon sauce, and served over pasta. Shrimp scampi is an easy-to-prepare and delicious dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or appetizer. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or an impressive seafood dish for a special occasion, shrimp scampi is a great option to consider.
Ridiculously Easy Shrimp Scampi in 20 Minutes – Kid Tested and Approved
I love watching people eat, especially kids. If a child likes something, there is no disguising their enthusiasm. How many times have you witnessed a little one sneaking an extra cookie or two with their left hand while greedily clutching onto a half-eaten one in their right – all while still masticating a mouthful of cookie in the process? I love how their eye-brows raise in approval, as if to say, “that’s pretty good”. They dance and wiggle in their chairs. When my daughter was little, she would even hum. For home cooks and professional chef’s alike, there’s great satisfaction in seeing people connect with the food you’ve prepared for them.
As the family gathered over Easter dinner, I knew I had a winner recipe when I spotted my nephew sitting very still and focused on his shrimp. When asked if it met his approval, I got an enthusiastic head nod and a little wiggle. I reciprocated with a smile.
This shrimp scampi recipe is a blend of the traditional Italian version and the Italian-American version. Olive oil is blended with butter and fresh herbs are added back into this dish. A touch of red pepper flakes deliver a subtle warmth, without overpowering the dish. Overall, the time it takes to prepare this dish is spent on prepping the ingredients. Only a few minutes on the stovetop are needed to bring the sauce together and cook the shrimp. As far as quick and easy dinners are concerned, it doesn’t get any easier than this.
Raw shrimp are peeled, deveined and the tails removed. The next step involves roughly mincing the garlic, cutting up the parsley and measuring out the butter, olive oil, white wine and red pepper flakes. If you’d prefer not to use wine, chicken or seafood stock can be substituted.
The sauce is brought to the boil in the pan, before reducing the heat to a simmer for approximately 2 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced by half. The shrimp are then added to the sauce in one layer for even cooking and gently simmered until they are cooked through – approximately 2 minutes on each side, depending on their size.
While you’re waiting for those succulent shrimp to cook, you can work off some of that hungry energy by ripping up a crusty baguette to soak up all that delicious sauce. Once the shrimp are ready, remove them from the heat, sprinkle the top with the Italian flat-leaf parsley and serve. Be sure to take time to sit back and enjoy the looks on your family’s faces while they devour their portion and sing your praises.
Rounding out the perfect Italian-American meal
So what might one serve with this dish? When it comes to side dishes that pair well with shrimp scampi, there are many delicious options to choose from. In the warm-weather months, roasted vegetables, such as asparagus or peppers, bring added color and nutrition to this meal or a simple salad of baby greens with a light vinaigrette can also help balance out the richness of this dish. If you haven’t already guessed, a side of crusty bread is my favorite way to soak up any leftover sauce. For a more heart option, a generous portion of creamy polenta can serve as a comforting and satisfying base for this dish in the fall or winter.
As for dessert, there are a variety of options that can complement the flavors of shrimp scampi. Lemon bars or tarts are a refreshing way to end the meal, and a good complement to the lemon juice used in this shrimp dish. For a rich and indulgent way to finish the meal, tiramisu, panna cotta or mousse are all nice classic, dessert options. Gelato, sorbet or ice cream can be simple and sweet way to cool down if dining al fresco in the summer heat.
My personal favorite would be a small scoop of Heavenly 3-Ingredient Peach Ginger Kombucha Sorbet and maybe a biscotti to go with my coffee afterwards. Both of these desserts are delicious, but if you’re looking for something easy with few ingredients and a bit of that “wow-factor”, try the sorbet. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Buon appetito!
Ridiculously Easy Shrimp Scampi in 20 Minutes
Course: MainCuisine: Italian AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes10
minutesSucculent shrimp cooked in a garlic butter and white wine sauce, and topped with fresh herbs.
Ingredients
- For preparing the sauce and shrimp
1 pound large raw shrimp, shelled, deveined and tails removed.
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic, fine chopped
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/3 cup dry white wine
salt and black pepper to taste
fresh lemon juice to taste
- For garnish and serving
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
1 crusty baguette
Directions
- Prepare the sauce and shrimp
- In a large sauté pan, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté over medium-high heat for approximately 1 minutes.
- Add the white wine and reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the sauce to reduce by half – approximately 2 minutes.
- Working quickly, add the shrimp in one layer and sauté until they just turn pink on the first side – approximately 2 minutes. Quickly turn the shrimp over and cook for another 1-2 minutes on the second side.
- Remove from heat. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a serving dish or directly into bowls.
- Garnish and serve
- Sprinkle the fresh parsley over the top of the shrimp scampi and serve with crusty bread.
