Shrimp Scampi Over Pasta

By
Kimberley Eggleston
Kimberley Eggleston
Kimberley Eggleston is a registered dietitian, nutrition class instructor, and food writer who specializes in healthy cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/23/23
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Headshot of Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana earned her B.A. in Fine Art at Queens College and her culinary certification from the Institute of Culinary Education. Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer, and product tester at Food Network.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Easy Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi

The Spruce

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Scampi is the Italian word for prawn (which is another word for shrimp), so translated in English "Shrimp Scampi" means "Shrimp Shrimp." But no matter what the name of this well-known and well-loved dish means, it is defined as a delicious preparation of shrimp cooked in butter, garlic, and parsley, often served over pasta.

While most shrimp scampi recipes are made with loads of butter, this easy shrimp scampi uses only a bit of butter as the base, supplemented with aromatic olive oil to give it a lighter taste with extra flavor. Since the cooking time is as long as it takes for the pasta to cook, it is perfect for a weeknight dinner. And although simple to prepare, this dish is impressive, and can easily be doubled; plus, the pasta base means only a side vegetable is needed to round out the meal.

"This shrimp scampi is a classic! It's a dependable, shrimp-forward recipe that comes together quickly and easily. I used linguine instead of angel hair, but whatever you choose, your dinner is sure to be delicious." —Diana Andrews

Shrimp Scampi Over Pasta/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/2 pound angel hair pasta

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 pound (31 to 35) large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 1/4 cup lightly packed, coarsely chopped fresh parsley

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.

    Cooked angel hair pasta in a pot
    The Spruce 

  3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. When the butter melts, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

    Olive oil, butter in garlic in frying pan
    The Spruce

  4. Add the shrimp, parsley, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook until the shrimp are pink and curled, about 3 minutes total.

    Shrimp, parsley, lemon juice in frying pan
    The Spruce

  5. Drain the pasta and toss it together with the shrimp mixture, Parmesan cheese, and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

    Easy Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi
    The Spruce

Tip

You can buy raw (usually deveined) shrimp either from your local fish market or frozen in bags from your supermarket. If you are using frozen shrimp, place in a colander and run under cold water until thawed. Peel and dry with a paper towel before cooking.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
330 Calories
19g Fat
20g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 330
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 153mg 51%
Sodium 3530mg 153%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 7mg 37%
Calcium 105mg 8%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 225mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)