A plate of angel hair with lemon shrimp scampi with two toasted baguette slices behind the plate

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This shrimp scampi makes for a super easy family meal, but it’s fancy enough for a nice dinner party. Pair this Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi with the toast.

I posted yesterday, plus the green beans I’ll post soon (sorry for the tease) and you’ll have yourself a very impressive meal; making it look like you’ve slaved away for hours in the kitchen.

Nope! Instead you can focus on the details and make sure to pick out some good tunes for your party; something that will fill the air if you say something embarrassing (I was fairly socially awkward and shy for a good part of my life and I’ve learned to fill that space with sayings like, “what time is it,” and “who cut the cheese” or “where’s my hot dog” – I shouldn’t post inside jokes because now I’m having one of those socially awkward moments…… I could use a little music right now.

Ingredients for the Shrimp Scampi:

1 Tbsp salt + drizzle of olive oil for boiling water
3/4 pound angel hair pasta (or your favorite pasta)
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp)
1 lb large shrimp; peeled and deveined; 16-20 or 21-25 per pound would work
1 tsp salt for shrimp
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 Tbsp grated lemon zest (from 1/2 lemon)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1.5 to 2 lemons)
1/8 tsp hot red pepper flakes

Pasta with Lemon Shrimp Scampi

A note on Peeling and Deveining Shrimp:

This takes the longest amount of time; you can buy shrimp pre-peeled and deveined, but don’t buy them pre-cooked. That’s a NO GO. Back to deveining; this creates a pretty butterflied shrimp and gets the nasty gunk out that you can’t see until you cut the back of the shrimp. Make a single slice down the back of the shrimp, then rinse. Pat dry shrimp before sautéing or they may splatter.

shrimp-scampi

How to Make Shrimp Scampi:

(tip: have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go since the pasta cooks quickly):
1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add 1 Tbsp salt and drizzle water with olive oil (keeps pasta from sticking). Add 3/4 lb pasta and cook according to directions on the package. Angel hair only takes 5 minutes.

Pasta with Lemon Shrimp Scampi-6

2. In another, heavy-bottomed skillet, melt 3 Tbsp butter with 3 Tbsp olive oil over medium/high heat. Add pressed garlic and saute 1 minute.

shrimp-scampi-1

3. Add shrimp in a single layer and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Saute until shrimp turn pink (about 2 min each side); don’t overcook or shrimp will turn rubbery.

shrimp-scampi-2

4. Remove shrimp from heat and mix in the 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest, 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes.

shrimp-scampi-3

5. Pour shrimp over the cooked and drained pasta and toss to combine.

shrimp-scampi-4

shrimp-scampi-hero

Credits: Recipe adapted from Ina Garten’s Linguine with Shrimp Scampi.

Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi Recipe

4.94 from 30 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
A plate of angel hair with lemon shrimp scampi with two toasted baguette slices behind the plate
This shrimp pasta makes for a super easy family meal, but it's fancy enough for a nice dinner party.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 -5
  • 1 Tbsp salt + drizzle of olive oil for boiling water
  • 3/4 pound angel hair pasta, or your favorite pasta
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp)
  • 1 lb large shrimp; peeled and deveined; 16-20 or 21-25 per pound would work
  • 1 tsp salt for shrimp
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp Grated Zest, from 1/2 lemon
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1.5 to 2 lemons
  • 1/8 tsp hot red pepper flakes

Instructions

Tip: have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go since the pasta cooks quickly!

  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add 1 Tbsp salt and drizzle water with olive oil (keeps pasta from sticking). Add 3/4 lb pasta and cook according to directions on the package. Angel hair is done in 5 minutes.
  • In another, heavy-bottomed skillet, melt 3 Tbsp butter with 3 Tbsp olive oil over medium/high heat. Add garlic and saute 1 minute.
  • Add shrimp in a single layer and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Saute until shrimp turn pink (about 2 min each side); don't overcook or shrimp will turn rubbery.
  • Remove shrimp from heat and mix in the lemon zest, chopped parsley, lemon juice and red pepper flakes.
  • Pour over the cooked and drained pasta and toss to combine.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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4.94 from 30 votes (15 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Mirella
    September 9, 2022

    Hi Natasha,
    Did this recipe today. It was so so delicious. I Just double the amount of butter and olive oil.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 9, 2022

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂

      Reply

  • Betsy
    May 31, 2022

    Would love to have more “sauce” to go over angel hair pasta so its not dry. Would you suggest adding wine and? I dont want heavy cream based sauce.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 31, 2022

      Hi Betsy, I have not tested this to advise. You’d have to experiment with it. Broth and wine may work.

      Reply

  • Margie
    February 12, 2022

    We loved the shrimp scampi with lemon. (I put it on rice). My partner commented 3 times during dinner how good it is.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 12, 2022

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Margie!

      Reply

  • Joni Lequerica
    February 5, 2022

    Just made this but added 1/2 red bell pepper. Sautéed it with shrimp. Unbelievable, so delicious. Pepper added another level of taste!!!

    Reply

  • Lane
    January 19, 2022

    I really liked your recipe, and so did my boyfriend! Do you have any suggestions for sauces that I could add to this dish?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 19, 2022

      Hi Lane, I saw someone else shared this in the comments “At the end of cooking I added a splash of heavy cream because we like a sauce with pasta. Hubby and I loved it, very flavorful.” I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Ameena
    August 9, 2021

    I made this this 2 days ago and it was so tasty and flavourful. Today my husband asked it again to make. I’m sure that I will be making this dish very often now. Thanks a lot for your simple and yummy recipe

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 9, 2021

      Looks like you both just discovered your new favorite! Glad you both liked it, thanks for sharing your good feedback with us.

      Reply

  • Cindy
    May 25, 2021

    Made this tonight. We only had whole wheat thin spaghetti and I omitted the red pepper flakes, we don’t like them. At the end of cooking I added a splash of heavy cream because we like a sauce with pasta. Hubby and I loved it, very flavorful. Thank-you for the recipe. It was so quick and easy, I used frozen shrimp(thawed) that came already deveined with tails off.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 25, 2021

      I’m so glad you both enjoyed that, Cindy! We love quick and easy recipes, and I’m so glad you do too!

      Reply

  • Renee
    March 14, 2021

    Wanted to make this tonight but forgot to pick up fresh parsley. Do you think dried parsley would work?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 14, 2021

      Hi Renee, I imagine that should work too! I hope you love the recipe.

      Reply

  • Nina
    April 3, 2020

    Hey Natasha, I tried that recipe before but a tiny bit different. I used fresh chilli and fried that together with the garlic in the beginning. Makes the taste more surround the pasta I think. I didn’t used lemon zest just the juice, so I found your variation in that better. Overall its a family favourite I prefer that now to Spagetthi Bolognaise. Lots of love to you xx Nina

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 3, 2020

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Nina!

      Reply

  • Brenda Treadaway
    March 12, 2020

    Hi Natasha! I made this recipe tonight, and my daughter, son-in-law and I devoured it! I did thaw and use frozen jumbo shrimp we had on hand, added a green onion for garnish, had dried parsley so substituted that for fresh. With the garlic, olive oil, and lemon, the end result was yummy! We also added some parmesan cheese to the finished dish. My daughter has made some of your other recipes, and we all appreciate how informative your recipes are with ingredients pictured, and most of all, they’re delicious! Thank you for sharing your cooking talent with us.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 12, 2020

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Brenda!

      Reply

  • Nara
    November 19, 2019

    Dear Natasha,
    Greetings!
    Amazing Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi Recipe! This recipe came out so delicious. I rave about your cooking to everyone I know!!
    Can this recipe be made the day before? Also what’s the best pan to use to cook the shrimps?
    Thank you so much for sharing all your fabulous recipes!!
    Kindest regards
    Nara

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 19, 2019

      Hi Nara, we love it fresh but I bet it would work if made ahead. If you test that please let me know how you like the recipe.

      Reply

  • Susan DeMars
    July 13, 2019

    best Shrimp Scampi EVER.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 14, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

  • Kiss
    December 27, 2017

    Hello dear! I can’t find your shrimp scampi recipes video. Did you deleted?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 27, 2017

      Hi, I do have the video recipe here, sorry I forgot to put the new video in the original post!! 🙂

      Reply

  • Keith Mitcehll
    February 20, 2017

    We really enjoyed this recipe. I added some chicken stock to give a little more liquid. The pepper flakes also added some kick.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 20, 2017

      That’s great! I’m happy to hear you enjoy the recipe Keith! 🙂

      Reply

  • Veronica
    December 5, 2016

    This is a family favorite and I make this often! The only thing I leave out is the pepper flake since my daughter and husband don’t like spicy. Thank you for such a simple but flavorful recipe! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 5, 2016

      You are very welcome Veronica and thank you for such a nice review 😁!

      Reply

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