Easy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi Linguine
A quick and easy shrimp scampi linguine recipe with a perfect balance of lemon, garlic, and buttery richness, ready in under 20 minutes. Ideal for busy weeknights or casual dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen shrimp)
- 8 ounces (225g) linguine pasta
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large lemon, juiced and zested
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) dry white wine (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 9-11 minutes). Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque with a slight curl. Remove shrimp to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Pour in white wine and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly, scraping up browned bits.
- Stir in lemon zest and juice from half the lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Return shrimp to the skillet. Add drained linguine and toss gently to coat in the sauce. Use reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, if the sauce needs loosening.
- Stir in chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubberiness; cook 2 minutes per side. Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling to pasta. If white wine is strong, add a pinch of sugar to balance acidity. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Cook shrimp in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: shrimp scampi, lemon garlic shrimp, linguine recipe, quick dinner, easy pasta, seafood pasta, weeknight meal