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Terrific Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes
An easy and delicious restaurant quality dish you can make at home!
You don’t need a fancy Italian restaurant to enjoy a great bowl of Shrimp Scampi. Our homemade adaptation makes it easy bring vegetables to the table along with the shrimp. We love this recipe and enjoy it year round.
Grab a bottle of dry white wine and a loaf of crusty bread, and in less than an hour you can share an amazing meal of Shrimp Scampi Asparagus & Tomatoes with your friends and family.
Fresh ingredients make all the difference in this dish.
Ingredients you’ll need for our Shrimp Scampi Recipe:
- angel hair pasta – for serving
- unsalted butter
- olive oil
- fresh garlic
- crushed red pepper flakes
- shrimp – fresh or frozen shrimp, thawed
- salt
- fresh ground black pepper
- dry white wine
- lemon juice – plus extra wedges for garnish
- parsley
- fresh asparagus (optional)
- chopped tomatoes (optional)
- fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Depending on the time of year, garlic is either super fresh or leftover from last season. When shopping for garlic choose bulbs the are tight, with no broken skin. Check to make sure the edges of the cloves are not dried up and pulling apart.
When garlic is the star of a dish, buy fresh and store in a cool, dark location. Storing garlic in the refrigerator will dry it out and diminish the flavor.
For this Shrimp Scampi recipe, we like to use a firm tomato such as Campari. Campari tomatoes are larger than a cherry tomato and have a nice sweet flavor. Roma tomatoes would also be a great choice here as they hold together well. I love the size and flavor of the smaller tomatoes, especially in this pasta dish.
How to make easy Shrimp Scampi
- First, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer while preparing the shrimp.
- Melt butter and add olive oil to a large skillet.
- Sauté the garlic and red pepper flakes then add the seasoned shrimp. Cook for about 2 minutes per side (until they turn pink) then remove to a bowl using a slotted spoon. Set aside and keep warm.
- Next add the wine, lemon juice and asparagus to the hot skillet. Bring to a boil and add the remaining butter. Once melted add the shrimp and parsley. Stir to combine, then remove from the heat.
- Turn the pot of water to high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 or 3 minutes. Drain the angel hair pasta and return to the pot. Toss the pasta in a drizzle of olive oil.
- Spoon the shrimp and butter sauce over bowls of pasta, then top with diced tomatoes.
- Finally, garnish with plenty of fresh grated Parmesan cheese, lemon wedges and fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
PRO TIPS:
Once cooked, angel hair pasta can easily clump up in a ball. To prevent the pasta from sticking together, we toss it with a drizzle of olive oil after it’s drained. An extra drop or two of extra virgin olive oil can do amazing things to pasta!
Don’t go overboard with the lemon juice in this dish. We enjoy the zingy tang from a squeeze of fresh lemon juice but don’t want to overpower the buttery garlic flavor.
Also, be sure to check the seasoning before serving. A little salt makes all the difference in this Shrimp Scampi recipe.
Can you leave out the asparagus and tomatoes?
Absolutely! For a traditional Shrimp Scampi recipe, simply omit the vegetables. Remove the shrimp to a bowl while cooking down the wine, lemon juice and remaining butter. Shrimp can easily overcook and become rubbery so don’t boil it in the wine.
Continue making this dish as written and enjoy this great recipe!
What to serve with Shrimp Scampi
Since we’ve added vegetables to this dish, it’s a complete meal in a bowl. If you leave out the asparagus and tomatoes, add a fresh green salad on the side or try serving with steamed broccoli or oven roasted green beans.
Finally, serve the shrimp with a loaf of crusty bread, a bottle of wine and extra olive oil for drizzling on top. Don’t forget the fresh grated Parmesan, too!
Use your favorite pasta for this dish
Angel hair pasta is our favorite for Shrimp Scampi but regular spaghetti works well, too. Any cooked pasta will be great!
You can also serve this shrimp over cooked zoodles for a wonderful low carb option.
Enjoy!
Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound angel hair pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus extra for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic more or less to taste
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- ½ cup dry white wine
- juice of ½ lemon
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley leaves
- 10 fresh asparagus thin stalks cut into 2-inch pieces
- ⅔ cup tomatoes chopped, seeds removed
- Parmesan fresh grated for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer while preparing the shrimp.
- In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sauté the garlic and red pepper flakes for about 2 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and add them to the butter and garlic mixture. Cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side, or until they have turned pink Remove the shrimp from the pan using a slotted spoon. Set aside and keep warm.
- Add the wine, lemon juice and asparagus to the pan and bring to a boil. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter has melted add the shrimp to the skillet along with the parsley. Stir to combine and remove from the heat.
- Turn the pot of water to high and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente - about 2-3 minutes. Drain the angel hair pasta and return it to the pot. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Toss the shrimp and asparagus with the cooked pasta and add the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with additional olive oil if desired.
- Lightly sprinkle with grated Parmesan to serve.
Recipe Notes
- This dish needs some salt so be sure to check the seasoning before serving.
- A little grated Parmesan gives it that extra salty punch.
- The asparagus doesn't need cooked for more than a minute or so. You want it to be crisp tender so use thin stalks in this recipe or precook thicker stalks by steaming if needed.
- Serve with crusty bread and a bottle of dry white wine for a lovely meal - don't forget the white table cloth!
Nutrition
Here are a few more delicious shrimp recipes you might also enjoy:
Shrimp Cocktail is so easy to make, it’s no wonder this classic appetizers popularity has never waned.
Shrimp Piccata over Zoodles – Zucchini noodles (zoodles) are tossed with shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and topped with a white wine sauce. Served with capers and a squeeze of lemon … dinner is on the table in less than 45 minutes!
Spicy Honey Lime Shrimp – 15 minutes is all you need to bring this delicious, sweet-tart and spicy shrimp to the table! These shrimp are finger-licking great!
We’re smitten with the fabulous combination of sweet honey, tart fresh lime juice, and garlic with just a little heat from the dry Sriracha seasoning.
Be sure to serve this absolutely delicious shrimp over pasta or rice so you don’t miss one drop of this amazing sauce.
Originally published April 2016, updated March 2021
jeffrey
it said in very first paragraph while boiling water prepare shrimp…well at least ir told me what to do with the water…how do you prepare shrimp? I dont know please share
Tricia Buice
Hi Jeffrey. Sorry if that is confusing. Steps 2 and 3 are the directions for preparing the shrimp. Hope you enjoyed this easy dish!
Diana
Made this tonight and it’s delicious and so easy to make
Tricia Buice
Thanks Diana! We love easy and delicious too 😁
Elena
❤
Erika Geske
This is very much like the Olive Garden’s “Shrimp Scampi” pasta dish that we have here in Canada! I made it exactly as per the recipe ingredients and instructions and, outside of it being a bit too “pasta heavy” for me personally (I’ll cut the 1 pound down to about a 1/2 to 3/4 pounds of angel hair next time), it was soooo good!
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Erika. Nothing like a good restaurant quality dish you can make at home!
Colleen C Carrico
My family really enjoyed his recipe…..the flavor was great. However, it sure seemed like there was a monstrous amount of pasta and not enough of the “goodies”. I made the recipe exactly as directed. The directions said to “toss the shrimp and asparagus with the cooked pasta”, which I did. Next time I will put pasta on the bottom of a nice pasta bowl and top with the goodies so we aren’t all scrounging for them! Definitely a keeper though.
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Colleen. Enjoy!
Demi Roo
DONT WASTE YOUR FOOD GO TO ANOTHER RECIPE!!!!! Complete fail!!!! I even doubled the shrimp. The flavor was awful!!!!
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Demi. However, I don’t know how it could be that awful with just a few ingredients like shrimp, pasta, olive oil and garlic. This is a classic dish that normally gets great reviews. Perhaps you omitted something, or used the wrong kind of wine. Or by doubling the shrimp you watered down the flavor. Sorry you did not care for this dish.
Joan Thigpen
I tried to print a few of your cookie recipes, but they were too large for the pages, no matter how small I tried to make them. I have never had this problem before. any suggestions.?
Tricia Buice
It has to do with your printer settings Joan. Try clicking on the PRINT recipe button on the recipe card. Then select PRINT again. Options for printing should come up. Select your printer and make sure it appears correctly in the preview. Adjust the settings if needed so it prints correctly. Sorry I can’t be of more assistance!
Marin
I make this often. Today I omitted butter and wine, it was delicious! The pepper flakes are important for flavor and I liberally use lemon and in fact add the rind to the sauce and remove before serving. Do NOT overcook shrimp when sautéing bc they will carry over cook when mixed with hot pasta. Angel hair is definitely the best choice pasta and I forgot to mention I omitted cheese.
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the comment Marin. And I’m so glad this worked for you even without a few main ingredients. Fresh and healthy sounds great 😉
Brenda
Can I use rice like Olive Garden does??
Tricia Buice
Sure Brenda. Serve the shrimp over whatever you like. Our local Olive Garden serves Shrimp Scampi over Angel Hair pasta.
B.A. Survivor
This is the exact recipe that I was looking for. I cannot wait to make it. Thank you so much, in advance.
❤️😊😊😁❤️
Tricia Buice
Can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you! Thanks for giving it a try 😉
Lee Byron
Hello!… made this today. Really good. Wish you included Nutrition info. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Lee! I updated the recipe to include nutritional information. Thanks for asking and for making the recipe.
Jennifer Lewis
Before I found this recipe I used the copy cat recipe of Olive Garden someone had posted. We liked the Olive Garden one okay but it doesn’t hold a candle to this one….My Husband loved this recipe so much he said he would never go to Olive Garden again… Thanks for so much for Sharing it.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Jennifer! You made my day 🙂
Aleksa
Excellent recipe, easy to follow. Not overloaded with ingredients and great taste!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Aleksa! Thanks for trying it and for taking the time to comment.
Lisa B
This recipe is fantastic!! Thanks so much..I’ll be making it frequently! <3
Tricia Buice
Thank you Lisa! So glad you enjoyed it 😉
Chrisn
I made this recipe and family didn’t like it at all.
I made everything accordingly, but just doubled the shrimp and the sauce just to make it a lot more creamier. I only used 1 lemon, and the one lemon made such an impact on the flavor, I had to use baking soda to tone it down cause it was horrible on flavor. I even added some green peppers to the mix just cause my family really likes them and we wanted some extra veggies in it. Even after toning it down on the lemon, family still didn’t care for it. We always like trying new dishes on Pinterest, and so many we absolutely love. This one we will not be making again and do not recommend!
Tricia Buice
Hi Chrisn. Glad you found us on Pinterest and sorry you didn’t enjoy the dish. However, you changed the recipe which is not supposed to be super saucy. It’s supposed to be light with just a hint of lemon. Did you use dry white wine? What kind did you use? Are you sure the wine wasn’t bad? The recipe calls for the juice of 1/2 a lemon and no baking soda but you used the juice of a whole lemon and added baking soda. Also, green peppers may overwhelm the dish, in my opinion. I wish you had tried it as written before judging the recipe.
Rose Sweet Holladay
We LOVE this recipe! Couldn’t find dry white wine so used regular white wine! I can see (taste) where the dry white wine would taste even better! Perfect combination of flavors! We might add some fresh mushrooms next time…but not too many! My mouth does a happy dance with this one!?
Tricia Buice
Awww thank you Rose! Such a lovely comment. We’re very happy you enjoyed this recipe.
B.A. Survivor
Oh wow yes that is a major change. That was no longer shrimp scampi with all of the adding ingredients. Green peppers turned it into a completely different dish all by its self. Then baking soda made it a completely different sauce. I have not even made this dish yet and I know it’s going to be perfect when reading the ingredients. She should totally try the proper ingredients and it would totally change her mind on the flavor and taste. Unless they do not like shrimp scampi.
Christine
I always get this dish when I go to Olive Garden. So I was happy to find your recipe to try and recreate it at home. Your recipe didn’t disappoint. It was very tasty! The next time I make it, I plan on doubling the sauce ingredients to make it a bit more saucy. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Christine! So glad you tried it. We love the butter and garlic combo, especially with shrimp! Thanks again for trying the recipe and for the feedback. Bravo!
Anna
Weird- you should really try the recipe as written. It’s insanely delicious! We even substituted out the shrimp for chicken due to an allergy the second time we made it and it was still amazing.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Anna!
Selena
I read a review that said this recipe was bland but went ahead and made it anyways because there were a lot of good reviews. I have to agree, this dish was bland. I even added extra butter, garlic, and parsley.
Tricia Buice
Sorry you didn’t care for this recipe Selena.
Quackenbush Donna
Absolutely delicious!!
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Donna! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Linda Dunn
Love these recipes but how do I save them.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Linda! You can print the recipes you want to try, or PIN to your must-make board on Pinterest. I don’t have a feature where you can save your favorites – but have been looking into that. Thanks for the kind words.
Shane Purvis
Making this recipe for the umpteenth time. The kids get so excited cause they know as soon as i take the groceries out of the bag…
Tricia Buice
Thanks Shane! Your comment got a big, fat grin from me! So glad you and the whole family are enjoying this recipe. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Lora
What is a good dry white wine to use with this recipe? Thank you!
Tricia Buice
Hi Lora. Any dry white wine that isn’t sweet will work well in this recipe. My favorites are: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc or an un-oaked Chardonnay. Enjoy!
Theanne
This was my first time ever making shrimp scampi. It it was delicious. I tried to double the recipe but I used to many noodles so it was a little dry but over all my family loved it. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I will definitely make it again.
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Theanne. So glad it was enjoyed by all!
Shannon
Absolutely delicious I always go online and make different dishes but this one was a really go to. My six and seven-year-olds are so enjoyed it as well. I made it exactly how you told me to but all I did was add scallops I see your them first put them to the side and then add them at the end when I was tossing the shrimp with the wine butter sauce.
Tricia Buice
I love the addition of scallops Shannon! Brillant addition and I must try for me. Thanks so much.
Paige
This looks so pretty and really delicious too! Your photos are beautiful ?
Tricia Buice
Thank you Paige! This is a good recipe and hope you get the chance to try it.