If you’re looking for a dinner that feels a little fancy but is surprisingly easy to make, add this Shrimp Scampi with Pasta to your menu. Juicy shrimp and tender pasta tossed in a vibrant lemon garlic butter sauce. The whole meal comes together in one pan in about 30 minutes.
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Shrimp Scampi with Pasta Video
Watch the Shrimp Scampi Pasta video tutorial to see just how easy it is. It’s such a wholesome dinner, you’ll make this shrimp scampi pasta on repeat.
Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe
This recipe is as simple as combining classic Shrimp Scampi with pasta and veggies to turn it into a one-pan dinner. Just like our Creamy Shrimp Pasta, this is perfect for busy weeknights because it’s easy, takes less than 30 minutes, and tastes like fine dining.
Tossing shrimp scampi with pasta is our favorite way to serve scampi. The sauce is so good, I even have a Chicken Scampi Recipe if you want to switch out the protein.
Shrimp Scampi Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta – We used spaghetti, but you can use just about any pasta here; linguini, penne, angel hair, etc. Homemade Pasta makes it extra special.
- Asparagus – For the freshest asparagus, select a vibrant green color with ends that are tight. See my tips below on the quickest and easiest way to trim the ends of your asparagus.
- Shrimp – Look for raw shrimp (preferably wild caught) that are large 21-30 count. A different size will work, but adjust the cooking time accordingly. Tail on or off will work.
- Butter and olive oil – when combined, the butter is less likely to burn since olive oil has a higher smoke point.
- Garlic – for the best flavor, use fresh garlic cloves and not pre-minced.
- Lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley – add vibrant and fresh flavor to the sauce. Be sure to zest the lemon before juicing it.
- Parmesan cheese – add this to taste. You can either add it to the pan or pass it around the table for serving. Freshly grated will taste great. P.S. This cheese grater makes dinner feel like a night out.
Can I Substitute Cooked Shrimp?
Cooking raw shrimp gives you the best flavor, as it takes on the garlic flavors from the pan, and the bits of the shrimp in the pan add flavor to the sauce. If you have cooked shrimp on hand, be sure to fully thaw and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Add them to the pan just long enough to heat through, or they will become rubbery.
The Easiest Way to Trim Asparagus
Asparagus ends are fibrous and must be removed before cooking. The fastest way is by snapping off the ends, and wherever they snap is where the fibrous part ends. You can also use a vegetable peeler to remove fibrous ends.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
- Cook Pasta – Boil salted water in a large pot and cook pasta until al-dente according to the package instructions.
- Cook Asparagus – In a separate large, deep pan over medium/high heat, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter. Add asparagus, season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper, and cook uncovered for 5 minutes until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer asparagus to a plate.
- Sauté Shrimp – In the same hot pan, add the remaining butter and oil. Add garlic and red pepper flakes if using, and saute for 1 minute. Add shrimp in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, and saute until shrimp are pink and opaque (1 min per side). Do not overcook.
- Finish the Sauce – Turn off the heat anad add lemon zest, lemon juice, and parsley, and stir to combine. Return pasta and asparagus to the pan, and toss to combine. Serve with grated parmesan.
Natasha’s Pro Tip for the Best Flavor
Be sure to turn off the heat before adding the lemon zest, juice, and parsley. For the most vibrant flavor, you don’t want to continue cooking once those ingredients are in. Think of them as a garnish.
Serve with
Since Shrimp Scampi with Pasta is a meal in itself, you don’t need much to make this a special dinner. We pair it with these simple sides:
P.S. If you love this Shrimp Scampi with Pasta as much as I do, you won’t want to miss my top 3 shrimp recipes: Shrimp Tacos (with the best sauce), Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta, and Shrimp Fried Rice.
Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb spaghetti, homemade pasta, or your pasta of choice
- 1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2″ pieces
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or added to taste
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined (16-20 or 21-25 count)
- 1 1/4 tsp fine sea salt , divided, plus more for cooking pasta
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground, or to taste
- 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, from 1 large or 2 small lemons
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- freshly grated parmesan, to serve
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 1 Tbsp salt and cook pasta according to package instructions until Al'dente (meanwhile, continue with recipe). Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta, return to the pot, and cover to keep warm.
- Place a large, deep pan over medium/high heat and add
1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter. Add asparagus, season lightly with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper, and cook uncovered for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from pan. - In the same hot skillet, add 2 Tbsp oil and 2 Tbsp butter. Once the butter is melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using, and sautee, stirring frequently for 1 minute. Add shrimp in a single layer and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Saute until shrimp are pink and not translucent (about 1 minute per side). Be careful not to overcook or the shrimp will be tough.
- Turn off the heat and add lemon zest, juice, and parsley, and stir to combine. Add pasta and asparagus, and toss everything to combine. If the sauce seems dry, add some of the hot pasta water. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy Weeknight Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this Shrimp Scampi Pasta recipe, you are sure to find more favorites in this list. From one pasta lover to another, these top-rated pasta recipes are a must-try:
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Lasagna Recipe
- Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Penne Alla Vodka
- Stuffed Shells Recipe
- Gnocchi Recipe
- Chicken Pesto Pasta
So love this dish! The citrus juice of lemon boosts all the other flavors and they all just blend harmoniously. Thank you for this recipe!
All of Natasha’s recipes that I make come out so good and are keepers in our household 😊 this recipe was delicious! Fresh ingredients and a light dish that was easy to whip up! I will be making this again 😋
Hey Natasha I’m Latima 😊 I just want to tell you I made this recipe today n omg 😍❤️❤️❤️ it taste delicious I love the taste of lemon garlic 😍 , instead of asparagus I put broccoli can’t wait for my husband to try this out he will love it . Definitely gonna make this again 10/10 .
Hi Latima! That sounds wonderful, I hope he loves it! Thank you for trying my recipe. I appreciate the feedback.
I was wondering whether broccoli would work! I will try!
Thanks so much for this recipe Natasha! I am allergic to asparagus (I know weird allergy LOL). What can I substitute for the asparagus as I like the idea of having a veg/greens in the dish?
Hi you’re welcome! You can try broccoli, green beans or zucchini!
One of my favorites, made it countless times! Delicious. Natasha, I’ve never asked this while reviewing a recipe but I want to ask you about the white dish in the video that you use to put the Scampi Pasta in. Hope I’m not being rude by asking but I’ve been looking for a dish like that. Any chance you remember what or where you got it?
Your one of my favorite blog sites. Keep cooking the good stuff!!
I’m so glad you love this recipe! You can check my Amazon Affiliate Shop for the kitchen tools that I’m using. Hope that helps!
I have made this many times. I do leave out the lemon. It’s so yummy
This is so delicious so easy and so quick it’s a winner every time
OMG…DELISH!! I started out small with so.e leftovers…now I will use this recipe to do add to a dinner party!
Just wonderfully satisfying, my new comfort food!
Can you make this a day ahead and use shrimp 16-20 l?
Hello! If you’ll be making this recipe ahead, you can prepare the components separately and combine them with the pasta on the day that you will be serving them. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Natasha! Thank you so much for creating such beautiful recipes~ you truly are an inspiration for so many cooks out there. I have a question regarding creating dinner ideas though: would gladly appreciate it if you could help me out here! Do you usually create different dinner recipes within a week but pretty much repeat them over multiple weeks? Or do you try to cook something different every time?
I try to cook something different every time but I tend to also repeat some recipes that my family loves!
I made the recipe exactly as written. It was bland and kinda boring. I would make again maybe just kick the seasoning and lemon up.
Would this taste good without the parsley? Eager to try it!
That will be fine without parsley. Hope you’ll love it!
Delicious! A worthy dish to serve guests!!
I substituted Whole Green Beans for the Asparagus as my husband is not fond of Asparagus! 🫤🤯
Also, I added some Zucchini and it was amazing!!! A DEFINITE REPEAT!!! Yum!
Excellent! We loved it very fresh and clean!.
Restaurant quality. Amazing. If you’ve made the creamy shrimp pasta then you need to try this
Awesome recipe… was delicious.. will make it again but going to use lobster instead of shrimp..
Wonderful recipe! Followed it to a T My shrimp were quite large to I halves them longways. Excellent
This recipe is so good! I’ve made it several times using frozen shrimp which makes it easier. I follow the directions on the package and they work great! Once thawed they heat quickly and the meal is delicious!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
This was delicious!! This is the first time I made it. My husband and I both enjoyed it. Made it exactly by your directions. I loved the way you cooked the asparagus. They came out perfect. The only thing I have to say is that I am very slow at prepping a meal and I would say it took me total of 90 min to cook this meal ( prep and cooking). But would definitely make again.