20-Minute Brown Butter Shrimp Scampi
Quick, easy, and packed with flavor, this Brown Butter Shrimp Scampi is a weeknight warrior in any kitchen, and one my family especially loves. Make sure to have your ingredients ready to roll, so the dish will come together quickly for you. Taking a minute or two to prep will pay dividends here.Â
- Yield: Serves 4 to 6 1x
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb. linguine noodles
Salt and pepper, as needed
5 TBSP unsalted butter
24 oz. large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off; you can use less shrimp if you like)
5 cloves garlic, minced or grated
2 TBSP olive oil, plus more to keep the noodles from sticking
Juice + zest of 1 lemon
½ cup white wine
â…“ cup finely chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- In heavily salted water (like the ocean), cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to the pot. Drizzle a little olive oil into the noodles to keep them from sticking and give them a little toss.
- Meanwhile, add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Allow it to melt fully and then keep cooking it until it begins to brown and smells nutty; takes about 2 to 3 minutes after it has fully melted. As soon as this happens, pour the brown butter into a small dish and set aside for now. No need to wipe out the pan!
- Add 1 TBSP olive oil to the pan and, with the heat set to medium, add the shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, just until they’re pink and have curled into tight C’s. No longer! Transfer the shrimp to a tray or plate for now. Don’t wipe out the pan.
- Add the remaining TBSP olive oil to the pan and lower the heat a little, to med-low. Add the garlic first, followed by the lemon zest and juice, and the wine. Simmer for a couple of minutes, to cook the garlic and reduce the wine. Add the reserved brown butter into the sauce, along with the chopped parsley (if using).
- Add the pasta right into the pan with the brown butter lemon sauce, followed by the shrimp and toss toss toss (tongs are good for this), ensuring the shrimp and noodles pick up all that flavor. Serve right away.Â