This delicious Shrimp Scampi Recipe without Wine recipe features succulent, tender sauteed shrimp with a quick and easy buttery garlic sauce. Serve them over your favorite pasta or rice for a quick weeknight main course or by themself as an easy party appetizer.

A closer photo of shrimp scampi without wine on a white plate with noodles on the side.

Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Shrimp scampi is one of those recipes that creates a fancy looking dish, but it only requires a few simple ingredients that come together in under 20 minutes from prep to plate!

And if you are garlic lover, the simple, delicious sauce the shrimp are coated with will taste like heaven to you. It’s the perfect answer for a busy weeknight meal but it’s elegant enough to serve guests at a dinner party.

A great thing about this recipe is it’s a wonderful hearty main course when served over pasta or you can serve it over zucchini noodles for a low carb option.

The buttery shrimp are awesome served as an appetizer at holiday parties or other gatherings as well. Other easy shrimp recipes that make cooking a weeknight dinner a breeze are these tasty Cajun Shrimp Tacos and this Bang Bang Shrimp recipe.

💓 Why We Love This Recipe

This shrimp scampi recipe is easy to make and the simple garlic butter sauce that coats them will make your taste buds come alive.
Because this recipe requires super basic steps, it makes an awesome dish for beginner cooks or even for teaching older kids how to cook.
Versatile recipe that you can easily change up. You can make a wine sauce, a spicy Cajun style sauce or and Italian herb sauce with just a few simple additions.

🔪 Recommended Tools

Large skillet
Sharp kitchen knife
Measuring cup
Measuring spoons

🛒 What’s Needed to Make Simple Shrimp Scampi

Fresh shrimp peeled and deveined
Sea salt or kosher salt
Black pepper powder
Butter
Olive oil
Fresh garlic cloves minced
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Chicken broth (or dry white wine optional)
Lime juice
Chopped fresh parsley

How to Make this Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Season the raw shrimp with a little of the salt and pepper.

Step One: Sauté Garlic

Steps in making Shrimp Scampi Recipe without Wine is to sautee a garlic in a pan

In a heavy-bottom frying pan over medium heat melt butter and add olive oil, add garlic, and sauté for a few seconds until the garlic is fragrant (30 secs-1 min).

Step Two: Cook Shrimp

Another step in cooking Shrimp Scampi Recipe without Wine is to add the shrimps and wait for it to turn red.

Once the butter melts add shrimps in a single layer and cook for around 2 minutes on each side or until they just start to turn pink.

Step Three: Make the Sauce

Another process is to add a sauce to the shrimps.

Pour in broth or chicken stock, add red pepper chili flakes, and simmer it for 2-3 minutes until the shrimps are cooked through.
Stir in the remaining 2 tbsp butter and lime juice. Mix and take it off the heat immediately, do not overcook.

Step Four: Garnish and Serve

Shrimp Scampi Recipe without Wine on a white plate with linen on the side

Once the shrimp cooks, add chopped parsley and serve hot immediately with al dente angel hair pasta or linguine pasta or even a slice of toasted crusty bread.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a couple of days.

Tips for Making the Best Shrimp Scampi

The most important thing is to not overcook the shrimp. When they are overcooked, shrimp become tough and rubbery.
Though buying fresh shrimp is best, if you have to buy frozen, look on the package at the ingredients. It should just say, “packaged in water” or “shrimp and water.” Just make sure you aren’t buying precooked shrimp.
You’ll want jumbo shrimp or large shrimp for scampi. Small shrimp cook too fast and requires a whole more work peeling them.
If you can find them, look for easy-peel shrimp. It really helps the peeling process.

Classic Shrimp Scampi Variations and Add-ins

Wine: If you prefer a white wine sauce with shrimp scampi pasta, you will use half broth and half wine. I suggest using a dry wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

Butter sauce: This delicious shrimp scampi sauce uses lime juice, but I often swap that out for fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. It makes a flavorful sauce with a lemony kick.

Toppings: Add a tasty topping to the cooked shrimp. Parmesan cheese, toasted breadcrumbs or pine nuts make great toppings.

Spices: If you like a little added heat, you can make a spicy shrimp scampi sauce by adding in some hot sauce, a little extra pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Veggies: If you want to add some fresh veggies to your shrimp dish, you can add some sauteed red peppers, sauteed slices mushrooms or onions.

Can Scampi be Frozen?

Technically, shrimp scampi can be frozen but it’s not the ideal dish to freeze. Shrimp have the tendency to become touch when frozen.

Can Shrimp Scampi Be Reheated the Next Day?

Absolutely! This makes a great next day lunch. Just reheat it in a pan or in the microwave until it is warmed through.

What Can I Do with Leftover Shrimp Shells?

Don’t throw out your shrimp shells! They are loaded with amazing briny flavor that makes wonderful soups, gumbo and seafood stews. Just gather all those pale pink shells and throw them in a freezer bag. They will stay fresh for several months in the freezer.

To make a tasty seafood stock, you can just add the shells directly out of the freezer into some chicken broth with your favorite seasonings. Bring it to a boil and then turn it down on medium to medium low heat allowing it to simmer for about 30-45 minutes. Strain it before adding to your seafood dish recipes.

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Shrimp Scampi Recipe without Wine

Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe

💓 Why We Love This Recipe

🔪 Recommended Tools

🛒 What’s Needed to Make Simple Shrimp Scampi