Easy Shrimp Scampi Without Wine

5 from 3 votes

Easy Shrimp Scampi Without Wine

You'll love this version if you've been hunting for a Shrimp Scampi Recipe without Wine! Made with fresh herbs, shrimp, and a creamy butter sauce, this easy shrimp scampi recipe will quickly become a family favorite. It's decadent, slightly spicy, and tangy!

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: people

Author: Brianna May

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound shrimp, peeled & deveined*
1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons olive oil
4 Tablespoons salted butter, cold
2 small shallots, finely diced
8-10 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes*
1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
1 lemon, juiced & zested
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
8 ounces angel hair pasta

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss the shrimp, salt, garlic, and pepper together. Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil while you cook the shrimp.
1 pound shrimp, peeled & deveined*, 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, freshly ground black pepper
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil.
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer across the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add 1 Tablespoon of butter to the skillet.
4 Tablespoons salted butter, cold
Add the shallot and sauté for 3-4 minutes or until softened.
2 small shallots, finely diced
Add the garlic and chili flakes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
8-10 cloves garlic, finely minced, 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes*
Deglaze the skillet with the chicken broth, scraping all of the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Reduce the chicken broth by half. Reduce the heat to low. Add the lemon juice and zest.
1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth, 1 lemon, juiced & zested
Boil the angel hair pasta according to the package instructions. I usually boil the pasta for the shortest time instructed. Reserve some pasta water. While the pasta boils, stir in the remaining cold butter. The sauce should be glossy.
8 ounces angel hair pasta
Toss the pasta in the sauce. Add pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Gently toss in the shrimp and fresh parsley.
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Notes

Shrimp: Typically, tails are left on for presentation but they can be removed before cooking; use U20-25 shrimp (aka jumbo shrimp) or bigger if you can find them. Fresh shrimp is ideal for this recipe. However, you can also use frozen shrimp to create a quick, easy shrimp scampi recipe with frozen shrimp.
Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
Red Chili Flakes: You can omit if sensitive to spice. Or, if you prefer a spicier flavor, you can add more red pepper flakes to taste.
Pat the shrimp dry. Minimizing the moisture ensures the shrimp for this shrimp scampi recipe without wine cook evenly in the pan. Starting with dry shrimp also helps create a golden color and better texture as you sear them.
Salt the pasta water. Salting the pasta water helps keep the noodles from sticking together/clumping. Avoid adding oil to the boiling water, as it will make the sauce slide off the cooked noodles.
Use cold butter. Cold butter helps emulsify the delicious shrimp scampi sauce as it cooks, helping to create a thicker sauce.
Set a time for the pasta. Angel hair cooks fast, so it’s best to set a timer. Overcooked pasta can become gummy/mushy quickly. Aim to cook your pasta until it’s al dente, as leftovers will hold up better in the fridge.
Add pasta water to loosen the sauce. The starch in pasta water helps thin the sauce until you reach the desired consistency. Slowly add in pasta water until it’s fairly thin. Avoid adding too much water, which will make the sauce overly liquidy.

Nutrition