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Easy Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Looking for some pre-cooked shrimp recipes? With tender garlic shrimp on a bed of soft pasta, this simple shrimp scampi recipe makes the ultimate weeknight dinner comfort food.

Close-up image of finished shrimp scampi on a white plate. Cooked shrimp is placed on a bed of spaghettini.

Pre-Cooked Shrimp Scampi Recipe

This easy dish has three of our favorite things: pasta, garlic and shrimp!

Shrimp and other seafood can be intimidating for people to cook with, but it doesn’t need to be. For this recipe in particular you can even use pre-cooked frozen, devained shrimp if you don’t want to deal with the fresh kind.

Overhead image of a bed of pasta topped with cooked shrimp and sprinkled with fresh parsley on a white plate.

I also love to make this shrimp scampi with any leftovers from a shrimp ring if we have company over. I tend to exclude the lemon as I don’t like it with my food – feel free to adjust to your tastes.

Ingredients

  • ½ lb. angel hair pasta
  • ⅓  cup pasta water reserved after cooking
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 lb. medium shrimp
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh squeezed juice of ½ lemon
  • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped, for topping
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese for topping

How to Make Shrimp Scampi

Boil the pasta according to box directions. Be sure to reserve ⅓ cup of the pasta water after cooking.

Spaghetinni pasta pulled out of a blue pot of boiling water with a black spoon.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, then add garlic. Saute for about one minute.

Frying pan with olive oil drizzled inside.

Add shrimp to the pan, and season with salt and pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook 1-2 minutes more, until shrimp are starting to turn pink.

Shrimp being cooked inside of a frying pan.

Add the pasta water, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, and cook 2-3 minutes, until the liquid reduces and the shrimp is cooked through.

Shrimp simmering in frying pan.

Stir in 2 tbsp. Butter, and squeeze in juice of ½ a lemon- less if you don’t like much lemon flavor.

Remove from the heat. To serve, plate your pasta, then spoon shrimp and sauce over top, add fresh chopped parsley and parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Close up view of a fork with a bit of finished shrimp scampi.

One thing I can assure you is that this recipe for schrimp scampi is better than the one you will find at Red Lobster for $5.99 !

For addition recipes using fresh or pre-cooked shrimp, try:

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Close up image of cooked garlic shrimp scampi on a bed of spaghetinni pasta.

Simple and Savory Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Jane and Sonja
A quick and easy weeknight dinner idea, this fancy-looking yet simple shrimp scampi recipe with garlic is sure to impress the entire family!
4.98 from 68 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 499 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ lb. angel hair pasta
  • cup pasta water reserved after cooking
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves of garlic crushed
  • 1 lb. medium shrimp
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh squeezed juice of ½ lemon
  • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped for topping
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions
 

  • Boil the pasta according to box directions. Be sure to reserve ⅓ cup of the pasta water after cooking.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, then add garlic. Saute for about one minute.
  • Add shrimp to the pan, and season with salt and pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook 1-2 minutes more, until shrimp are starting to turn pink.
  • Add the pasta water, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, and cook 2-3 minutes, until the liquid reduces and the shrimp is cooked through.
  • Stir in 2 tbsp. Butter, and squeeze in juice of ½ a lemon- less if you don’t like much lemon flavor.
  • Remove from the heat. To serve, plate your pasta, then spoon shrimp and sauce over top, add fresh chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 499kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 36gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 312mgSodium: 1135mgPotassium: 286mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 991IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 331mgIron: 4mg
Keyword pasta, seafood, shrimp
Tried this recipe?Tag @sustainmycookinghabit or #sustainmycookinghabit!
4.98 from 68 votes (65 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




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John

Wednesday 21st of August 2024

Simple, easy, perfect for a quick meal, wife loves it maybe I’ll do wine instead of water, I would like a little more flavor but overall good.

Tami

Sunday 18th of February 2024

Very good recipe I also made it with chicken.

Steven

Friday 13th of October 2023

Thank you Jane, Sonja and Mom Branka for sharing your recipe. It's so easy, fast to prepare AND delicious!! My "go to" shrimp scampi recipe...

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