Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe (with Fettuccine)

Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe with Fettuccine is a 20-minute meal that will make you keep twirling your fork for another bite of the delicious lemon, garlic, olive oil, and butter sauce wrapped in pasta and plump shrimp. It is calling you for dinner tonight!

You only need a simple salad and homemade crusty bread to enjoy this beautiful shrimp scampi pasta meal.

If you love shrimp, try these great recipes: Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta Recipe, Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp, and Orzo Skillet with Sun-dried Tomatoes Shrimp and Artichokes.

Jump to:

• Simple Ingredients
• Quick and easy shrimp pasta recipe
• Italian Shrimp Scampi Pasta Sauce
• How to make Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe- Step by Step
• Buying shrimp for shrimp scampi pasta recipe
• Is shrimp scampi pasta Italian?
• Best pasta to use with shrimp scampi
• Substitutions
• Variations
• How to Store Leftovers
• What to serve with Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe
• Top tips
• FAQ
• Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe with Fettuccini

Simple Ingredients

This delicious shrimp scampi pasta recipe uses fresh and minimal ingredients just like the seafood pasta dishes we make in Italy.

• Shrimp
• Pasta
• Olive oil
• White wine (suggested: sauvignon blanc)
• Fresh lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• Garlic
• Red pepper flakes
• Butter
• Parsley (garnish) Read more parsley here: Parsley vs. Italian Parsley: What’s the Difference?
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Reserved pasta water

See recipe card for quantities.

Quick and easy shrimp pasta recipe

This fettuccine with shrimp recipe comes together easily because the shrimp requires little work, and the cooking time is short.

The shrimp cook in an olive oil and lemon butter bath while the pasta water boils. Transfer everything to a sauté pan, cook for a few minutes, and it's done!

Ingredient quality is key. Look for pasta made from durum wheat semolina. You will first boil it and the toss for few minutes in the sauce to absorb its flavors. 

Italian Shrimp Scampi Pasta Sauce

This indulgent lemon garlic shrimp fettuccine is one of the best tasting pastas and I don't say that all the time (okay, almost, I love pasta dishes so much- would I really be Italian if I didn't?).

For this pasta and shrimp combo, I'm choosing a classic lemon garlic shrimp flavor that is simple and satisfying. You won't see heavy cream, parmesan cheese, or (too much) butter in this recipe.

The sauce is made the authentic Italian way with a light lemon, olive oil, and butter sauce that complements the shrimp perfectly.

Authentic Italian sauces- are well balanced and "lighter" than the typically alfredo or cheese-based sauces you find in Americanized Italian cooking.

How to make Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe- Step by Step

Shrimp scampi recipe is easier to make than you think. Instead of going to a fancy Italian restaurant- make this meal at home for your family and friends. It will soon become one of your favorite dinners.

This is the best shrimp scampi pasta recipe! It is a quick dinner that is also a luxurious-tasting meal.

Hint: Make sure to properly cook your pasta al dente by following this guide: How Long to Boil (pasta)- Perfect Every Time.

Buying shrimp for shrimp scampi pasta recipe

If you live in an area where you can buy fresh shrimp, lucky you! Do that! I love to buy shrimp at the seafood counter at my local grocery store. When I am in Italy, we buy it freshly caught the same day- so lucky!

For everyone else, you can purchase shrimp at the store in all varieties (large, medium, small, shell on/off, tail on/off, fresh, frozen, etc.).

I recommend buying extra large, tail-on, un-cooked shrimp for this shrimp recipe. Once thawed, remove the shells.

Best way to defrost shrimp

LONG METHOD

The safest way to defrost shrimp is to put the bag in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking it. A rule to go by is that you’ll need about 24 hours of thawing for each pound of shrimp. 

SHORT METHOD

If you need to thaw it quickly, the safest way is to pour the frozen shrimp into a colander in the sink and run cold water over the shrimp until it thaws.

Don’t use hot or warm water as it will start to cook the shrimp. Don’t thaw shrimp at room temperature. 

Is shrimp scampi pasta Italian?

The shrimp scampi recipe, as people know it in the United States is an Italian-American dish. You might even be familiar with it from the Olive Garden restaurant (which in case you didn't know, isn't really Italian cuisine ;).

The word scampi is the plural of scampo. Scampi are tiny, lobster-like crustaceans with pale pink shells (also called langoustines). Italian cooks in the United States swapped shrimp for scampi.

In Italy, especially in Southern Italy, and specifically Sardegna, where I am from, we eat A LOT of seafood and pasta. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh shrimp.

Another seafood dish you will love Seafood Pasta with Red Sauce (Linguini Frutti di Mare).

Best pasta to use with shrimp scampi

For this shrimp scampi pasta recipe with fettuccine, I obviously prefer the wider ribbon-like strands of fettuccine pasta. They are the perfect thickness to complement the buttery sauce and robust shrimp flavor.

Here are other options that work well with shrimp scampi. In general, I recommend a long pasta variety. Read more about match pasta shapes to sauces here.

• Angel hair pasta (the thinnest pasta variety)
• Linguine
• Tagliatelle
• Spaghetti

Of course, it is your personal preference! You can also make your own Authentic Homemade Pappardelle Pasta Recipe- if you want to go the extra mile!

Substitutions

Can you make this recipe without wine?

Absolutely! I do feel that the small amount of wine I use in this recipe adds great flavor, and it's fun to drink that same wine with the meal.

But if you're not a fan of wine, you can omit the wine and leave the rest of the recipe as is. It would still be delicious.

A white wine substitute could be chicken stock or chicken broth. It won't taste the same, but it will add richness to the sauce non the less.

Variations

You can try the recipe the first time and always try a variation the next time you make it!

• Fresh Basil - add a little garnish of fresh basil for a pop of color and flavor.
• Cheese - in Italy, we typically do not mix cheese and seafood. With that said- I won't tell anyone if you add freshly grated parmigiano cheese or parmesan cheese to the sauce or even as a garnish. Your secret is safe with me!
• Vegetables - this recipe tastes wonderful with sautéed asparagus and even blistered cheery tomatoes.

If you love lemon kinds of pasta, try Lemon Butter Pasta Sauce (Pasta al Limone).

How to Store Leftovers

This section assumes that you even have leftovers! In my home with three hungry children- we rarely do.

Here are a few airtight containers that work well for storing leftover pasta dishes, and more: Pyrex different sizes, Snapware different sizes, Glasslock oven safe, and Rubbermaid Takealongs.

Refrigerator

This best shrimp scampi will keep in the fridge for about 3 days. Shrimp starts to get weird if kept in the fridge for too long, so I recommend eating any leftovers as soon as possible (that is, if you have any leftovers!).

Freezer

Do not refreeze thawed and cooked shrimp. It will not taste good at all once thawed and reheated. Frozen pasta isn't ideal, and neither is this sauce.

The best thing to do is make this dish fresh again for the best flavor and texture. It is so easy to make you won't mind making it on a busy weeknight.

What to serve with Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe

Shrimp scampi is a perfect main meal. If you want to add an easy appetizer, try: Best Italian Zucchini Fritters (easy recipe), or Easy Bruschetta Recipe with Mozzarella and Tomato Basil.

Try a delicious Italian homemade bread: Ciabatta, Easy Focaccia, or Healthy No-Knead.

Don't forget dessert! Try a no-bake dessert like Italian Tiramisu!

FAQ

More recipes you will love:

• Italian Stuffed Calamari Recipe in Tomato Sauce
• BEST Lobster Ravioli Sauce with Lemon Brown Butter
• Broccoli Pasta with Sausage Recipe (Italian)
• Best Baked Cod Recipe (Easy)
• Angel Hair Pasta Recipe with Garlic and Herbs (Easy)
• Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass With Lemon Butter Herb Sauce
• Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce

Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.

I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

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