Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine

Need a very easy dinner idea? This Shrimp Scampi Recipe (without wine) takes just 15 minutes to make. It’s so simple, yet so flavorful.

shrimp scampi with lemon slices in a skillet surrounded by hunks of baguette.

Featured Comment:

“Delicious and easy!!” -Judi G.

Admittedly, this blog is full of casseroles and other hearty fare. But every once in awhile, I stumble on a classic seafood recipe that deserves a spot on this vintage recipe blog.

This Shrimp Scampi Recipe (without wine) is from a 1970s Southern church cookbook. It turns out, shrimp scampi was pretty popular in the 1970s. I chose it for its simplicity, but also for what it excludes—the wine!

I’m not much of a white wine drinker, so I rarely have it on hand. Most shrimp scampi recipes contain wine, but not this one.

This recipe is the perfect mix of butter and olive oil, with plenty of fresh garlic and lemon juice, that forms a rich, luscious sauce for the shrimp.

If you have some extra shrimp, don’t miss my Macaroni Salad with Shrimp and this Shrimp Dip with Cream Cheese—they are a couple of classics that everyone loves!

Jump to:
shrimp scampi in a small round white dish.

Why is this the BEST shrimp scampi without wine?

  • You don’t need wine to make shrimp scampi. Really! The lemon juice adds the perfect amount of acidity to complement the rich, buttery sauce.
  • Despite just having a few ingredients, it is SO flavorful! It’s basically shrimp cooked in garlic butter, so what could go wrong?
  • It takes 15 minutes to make, start to finish. The hardest part is not burning the garlic. I have some tips on that below.

Ingredients

shrimp, lemon, oil, butter, parsley, and other ingredients.
  • You can use whatever size raw shrimp you have on hand. I used large, frozen, peeled and deveined shrimp with the tails still on, which I defrosted.
  • A mixture of olive oil and butter creates the rich, luscious sauce. These two ingredients are why you need some baguette to soak up all the sauce!
  • Fresh garlic gets cooked into the buttery sauce. It flavors the shrimp perfectly.
  • The acidity from the lemon juice complements the sauce so nicely.
  • A handful of fresh parsley on top gives the dish a pop of color and freshness.
  • Salt and pepper are a must for perfect seasoning.

How to make shrimp scampi without wine

This dish cooks quickly, so you’ll need to prepare all of your ingredients ahead of time.

Before starting:

  1. Chop the garlic.
  2. Defrost and pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel.
  3. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
  4. Chop the parsley.

Start by heating the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. On a scale of 1–10, the heat should be at a 3.

garlic frying in butter and oil in a skillet.

Cook the garlic, stirring frequently, for 30 seconds. Make sure that the garlic does not start to turn brown—we don’t want burned garlic to ruin the whole dish!

Quickly add the shrimp in a single layer (you may need to do this in batches). Cook the shrimp for 1–2 minutes on the first side.

partially cooked shrimp in butter in a skillet.

Carefully flip each shrimp, and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes on the other side.

Take care not to overcook the shrimp. They should have a “C” shape to them. If they have an “O” shape, they are overcooked (more on that below!).

cooked shrimp frying in butter in a skillet.

If you have additional shrimp to cook, place the cooked shrimp on a plate, and add any remaining uncooked shrimp to the skillet.

When each batch of shrimp is finished cooking, add all of the shrimp back to the pan.

Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Top with chopped fresh parsley and serve right away.

metal skillet filled with shrimp scampi.

How to defrost shrimp quickly

The quickest method to defrost shrimp is to place it in a colander in the sink. Run cool water over the shrimp until defrosted.

You can also defrost shrimp in the refrigerator overnight. Do not let shrimp sit at room temperature for more than an hour or two.

Tips for not burning the garlic

The number one tip for not burning garlic is turn DOWN the heat. On a level from 1–10, the heat should be at a 3.

If the garlic looks like this or darker, remove it from the pan and start over.

burnt garlic in a white ramekin.
This is burned garlic. Don’t use it—it’s bitter and will ruin the dish.

What does overcooked shrimp look like?

Shrimp that is overcooked will make an “O” shape. Shrimp that is perfectly cooked will form a “C” shape.

Overcooked shrimp is tough and chewy. Perfectly cooked shrimp will have a nice “bite” to them without being chewy or dry.

example of overcooked shrimp and perfectly cooked shrimp in a small white dish.

The key to not overcooking shrimp is to either turn down the heat OR cook the shrimp for less time. Since we’re cooking the shrimp scampi at medium-low heat, the shrimp will cook in about 1–2 minutes per side.

📖 Recipe

shrimp scampi with lemon slices in a skillet.

Shrimp Scampi (No Wine)

Published by Kate
There's no wine needed for this easy take on shrimp scampi. The acidity in the lemon juice complements the rich and luscious sauce perfectly.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 310 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb peeled and deveined raw shrimp (I used large: 21/30)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2–3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions
 

  • Pat the shrimp dry, and season with ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
  • Heat the 4 tablespoons butter and ¼ cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add 5 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds, stirring often.
  • Add half the shrimp in an even layer. Cook for 1–2 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through.
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
  • Add the remaining shrimp, and cook for 1–2 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through.
  • Add the first batch of cooked shrimp back to the skillet.
  • Remove from the heat, then stir in 2–3 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley.
  • Serve over rice, over pasta, or with a large piece of crusty bread for soaking up that delicious sauce. To make it low-carb, a simple salad on the side is perfect.

Video

Notes

If you’re starting with frozen shrimp, defrost it first. I set the shrimp in a colander and run cool water over them for a few minutes until defrosted. You can also defrost them in the refrigerator overnight. 
Do not let the garlic turn brown. If it does, throw it out and start over. 
Take care not to overcook the shrimp. Perfectly cooked shrimp makes a “C” shape. Overcooked shrimp has an “O” shape. 
Variations: 
  • Add red pepper flakes to taste (start with a pinch).
  • Stir in a few chopped tomatoes.
  • Sprinkle chopped fresh tarragon on top instead of parsley.
  • Happen to have some white wine on hand? Add a splash before adding the shrimp.
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Defrost the shrimp in the refrigerator before reheating.
I recommend reheating any leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat. Using the microwave works too, but it’s easy to overcook the shrimp that way (and then they’re be tough/chewy). 

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 16gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 1080mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 728IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 1mg
Keyword shrimp scampi
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below!
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2 Comments

    1. So glad you enjoyed it, Judi! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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