Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe

This Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe is a bright and garlicky recipe, which features butterflied shrimp and homemade shrimp stock. It’s a restaurant-quality pasta dish, ready in about 40 minutes.

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Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe Ingredients

• 6 garlic cloves, pressed or grated
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound medium shrimp (21 to 25 count), peeled, deveined and butterflied (reserve shells)
• 1/4 onion
• 3/4 pound thin linguini
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small bunch parsley, leaves chopped

How To Make Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe

1. Marinate the shrimp: In a medium bowl, combine the pressed garlic, zest and juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste. Add the prepared shrimp and toss to coat evenly. Set aside to marinate while you prep the rest.
2. Make the shrimp stock: Place the reserved shrimp shells and the 1/4 onion in a small pot over medium heat. Cover with water (just enough to submerge them) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes to extract the flavor. Strain the liquid into a bowl and discard the shells and onion.
3. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and add a generous amount of salt. Add the linguini and cook until just tender (“al dente”), about 2 minutes less than instructed on the package. Important: Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta.
4. Sear the shrimp: Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the shrimp (leaving the marinade in the bowl for now) and cook until they turn pink and start to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the pan to a plate.
5. Make the sauce: Pour the remaining marinade from the bowl into the hot skillet. Let it cook for a few minutes to mellow the garlic. Then add about 1 cup of the homemade shrimp stock and the 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Continue to cook over medium-high heat until the sauce reduces by half and thickens slightly.
6. Finish and combine: Add the zest and juice of the remaining lemon, the butter, and the chopped parsley to the reduced sauce. Stir to combine and melt the butter. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta and the seared shrimp back into the pan. Toss vigorously to coat everything in the sauce.
7. Serve: Turn out into a serving bowl and serve immediately while hot and glossy.

Recipe Tips

• Why Butterfly Shrimp? Butterflying the shrimp (cutting them down the back so they open like a book) increases their surface area. This means more caramelization when searing and more nooks for the garlicky sauce to cling to.
• The Stock is Key: Don’t throw away those shells! Boiling them creates a stock that infuses the entire dish with a deep, sweet seafood flavor that water or chicken broth cannot replicate.
• Undercooking Pasta: Cooking the pasta 2 minutes less than the package directions ensures it doesn’t turn into mush when you toss it in the hot sauce at the end. It will finish cooking in the flavorful liquid.
• Emulsifying: Tossing the pasta vigorously with the butter and starchy pasta water creates an emulsion—a creamy, cohesive sauce that coats the noodles rather than pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
• Lemon Zest: Add the fresh lemon zest at the very end (step 6) to preserve its bright, floral aroma, which can dull if cooked too long.

What To Serve With Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe

This light but rich pasta needs simple sides to complete the meal.

• Garlic Bread: Essential for mopping up the extra lemon-butter sauce.
• Arugula Salad: The peppery greens cut through the richness.
• White Wine: A glass of crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
• Roasted Asparagus: A perfect vegetable pairing.

How To Store Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Seafood pasta is best eaten fresh.
• Reheat: Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce. Do not microwave for too long, or the shrimp will become rubbery.
• Freeze: Freezing is not recommended for this dish, as the shrimp texture will suffer and the pasta may become mushy.

Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 480
• Total Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 140mg
• Sodium: 650mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 45g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 1g
• Protein: 28g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving (based on 4 servings).

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