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Easy Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Linguine

creamy lemon garlic butter shrimp scampi linguine - featured image
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A quick and easy shrimp scampi linguine with a creamy lemon garlic butter sauce that is perfect for a fuss-free, delicious dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail-on for presentation if desired)
  • 8 ounces linguine, cooked al dente according to package instructions
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Zest and juice of 1 large lemon (about 2 tablespoons juice)
  • ½ cup dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc), optional but recommended
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 tablespoon salt per 4 quarts water). Add linguine and cook until al dente, usually 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat dry shrimp with paper towels to avoid steaming. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Pour in white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Stir in heavy cream and lemon zest. Let the sauce gently simmer for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  6. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Add lemon juice last to keep the fresh brightness intact.
  7. Return shrimp to the skillet along with cooked linguine. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce feels too thick. Season with salt and pepper and fold in chopped fresh parsley.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to avoid steaming and rubbery texture. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Simmer sauce gently to prevent cream from curdling. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce as needed. Add lemon juice at the end to keep brightness.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp scampi, creamy shrimp pasta, lemon garlic shrimp, linguine recipe, easy dinner, quick shrimp recipe, garlic butter shrimp

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/easy-creamy-lemon-garlic-butter-shrimp-scampi-linguine-recipe-for-perfect-dinner/