If you are craving a restaurant-quality seafood dinner but want something quick, easy, and delicious, this Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi recipe is your new best friend. Savory, garlicky, and bursting with bright flavors, this version captures the essence of everyone’s favorite shrimp scampi with the warm, buttery touch that Red Lobster is famous for. It’s perfect for weeknight meals or impressing guests without hours in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Speedy and Simple: Ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy evenings or last-minute cravings.
Rich Flavors: Garlic, lemon, and butter blend beautifully to create a comforting yet vibrant taste.
Fresh Ingredients: Uses fresh shrimp and pantry staples for an easy-to-source and wholesome meal.
Versatile Meal: Enjoy it over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread to soak up every bit of sauce.
Impressive Appeal: Feels like dining out but made in your own kitchen without the hassle.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe calls for simple, essential ingredients that combine to build layers of flavor, texture, and color, ensuring every bite is as mouthwatering as the last.

Large shrimp: Peeled and deveined, fresh or thawed work best for tender, juicy results.
Butter: The star for richness and a silky sauce that coats every shrimp.
Garlic cloves: Minced finely to infuse a pungent, savory aroma and flavor.
Lemon juice and zest: Adds bright, citrusy freshness that cuts through the butter.
White wine: Enhances the sauce with subtle acidity and depth, but can substitute chicken broth.
Fresh parsley: Chopped for a pop of color and fresh herbal notes.
Red pepper flakes: Optional, for a gentle kick to balance the richness.
Salt and pepper: To taste, bringing all the flavors together.
Angel hair pasta or linguine: For serving, soaking in the luscious scampi sauce perfectly.

Variations for Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi

Feel free to customize this Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi recipe to better match your tastes or dietary needs—it’s very adaptable without losing its signature charm.

Gluten-Free Twist: Swap the pasta for gluten-free or spiralized vegetable noodles for a lighter dish.
Spicy Boost: Add more red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne for extra heat.
Herb Enhancements: Mix in fresh basil or chives along with parsley for a different herbal dimension.
Cheesy Upgrade: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan just before serving for a creamy finish.
Protein Swaps: Use scallops or chicken breast pieces instead of shrimp for a new variation.

Easy Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi Recipe to Try

How to Make Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients

Begin by peeling and deveining your shrimp if needed. Mince the garlic cloves finely and chop the parsley. Zest and juice the lemon so all components are ready to go when you start cooking.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta

Boil a pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking, then set aside.

Step 3: Sauté Garlic and Shrimp

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the minced garlic. Cook for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Add shrimp in a single layer, seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using, then cook until pink and opaque, usually 2-3 minutes per side.

Step 4: Add Wine and Lemon

Pour in the white wine and lemon juice, letting it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and meld the flavors together. Stir carefully to coat the shrimp in the sauce.

Step 5: Combine and Garnish

Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet with the shrimp and sauce. Mix well so everything is evenly coated. Turn off the heat and sprinkle with fresh parsley and lemon zest for brightness.

Pro Tips for Making Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi

Use Fresh Shrimp: Fresh or properly thawed shrimp ensure the best texture and flavor for your scampi.
Avoid Overcooking: Shrimp cook quickly; remove from heat as soon as they turn pink to keep them tender.
Butter First: Melting the butter before garlic helps release its flavor and creates a rich base.
Don’t Skip Lemon Zest: Zest adds bright citrus oils that elevate the sauce beyond just lemon juice.
Choose the Right Pasta: Thin noodles like angel hair or linguine work best to cling to the silky sauce.

How to Serve Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi

Garnishes

Freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkle of lemon zest brighten the dish and give it that inviting, vibrant look. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a visual and flavor contrast.

Side Dishes

Serve your Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi alongside crusty garlic bread to soak up the buttery sauce or a light mixed greens salad to balance the richness with a crisp bite.

Creative Ways to Present

For a fun twist, try serving the shrimp scampi in hollowed-out lemon halves or over creamy mashed cauliflower for a low-carb option. Another great idea is plating it atop grilled polenta rounds or even inside warm pita bread for handheld indulgence.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Shrimp can become rubbery if kept too long, so eat soon for the best texture.

Freezing

Because shrimp do not freeze well once cooked, it’s best to freeze only the sauce if you want to save some for later. Freeze in a sealed container for up to 1 month, then thaw and reheat with freshly cooked shrimp and pasta.

Reheating

Reheat gently on low heat in a skillet with a little extra butter or olive oil to restore moisture, stirring frequently to prevent overcooking the shrimp.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Yes! Just make sure to thaw the shrimp completely, pat them dry, and remove excess moisture before cooking to get the best sear and texture.

What can I substitute for white wine?

If you prefer not to use wine, chicken broth or seafood stock works well, adding flavor without altering the dish too much.

Is this recipe spicy?

The base recipe is mild, but you can easily add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to bring in some heat to your taste.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Absolutely! Replace the butter with olive oil or a dairy-free margarine to maintain richness without dairy.

What pasta works best with shrimp scampi?

Angel hair or linguine pasta are perfect because they’re thin enough to soak up the sauce while providing a light, balanced bite.

Final Thoughts

This Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi recipe is a fantastic way to bring restaurant-style seafood into your home kitchen without stress or complex steps. Its bright, buttery, garlicky sauce makes every bite a delight, and the quick preparation means you can enjoy it any night of the week. Give this recipe a try—you might just find it becomes one of your favorite go-to dinners!

Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi

Print Recipe

This Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi recipe delivers a quick, easy, and restaurant-quality seafood dinner bursting with bright, garlicky, and buttery flavors. Perfect for weeknight meals or impressing guests, it combines fresh shrimp with lemon, garlic, white wine, and butter for a comforting yet vibrant taste, ideal served over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.

Author: Lina
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free (if using gluten-free pasta or vegetable noodles)

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp and Protein

1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed)

Sauce

4 tbsp butter
4 garlic cloves, minced finely
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1/4 cup white wine (or chicken broth as substitute)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Serving

8 oz angel hair pasta or linguine

Instructions

Prep Your Ingredients: Peel and devein the shrimp if necessary. Mince the garlic finely, chop the parsley, and zest and juice the lemon. Prepare all ingredients before cooking for a smooth process.
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Sauté Garlic and Shrimp: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Add the shrimp in a single layer, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook shrimp until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Add Wine and Lemon: Pour in the white wine and lemon juice, simmering for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and blend flavors. Stir gently to coat the shrimp evenly with the sauce.
Combine and Garnish: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the shrimp and sauce. Toss everything thoroughly so the pasta is evenly coated. Turn off the heat and sprinkle with fresh parsley and lemon zest for a bright finish.

Notes

Use fresh or fully thawed shrimp for best texture and flavor.
Avoid overcooking shrimp to keep them tender—remove from heat as soon as they turn pink.
Melt butter before adding garlic to release maximum flavor.
Do not skip lemon zest to add vibrant citrus oils enhancing the sauce.
Thin pasta types like angel hair or linguine cling best to the sauce.
For a dairy-free version, replace butter with olive oil or dairy-free margarine.
To add more heat, increase red pepper flakes or add a dash of cayenne pepper.
Substitute pasta with gluten-free noodles or spiralized vegetables for a gluten-free option.
To store leftovers, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days; reheat gently to avoid rubbery shrimp.
Freeze sauce separately for up to 1 month and reheat with freshly cooked shrimp and pasta.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 450 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 20 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 25 g
Cholesterol: 180 mg

Keywords: shrimp scampi, Red Lobster style shrimp, quick seafood dinner, garlic butter shrimp, lemon shrimp pasta, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight dinner