Chicken Scampi
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Dive into this delectable 20 Minute Chicken Scampi, where tender pieces of chicken bathe in a rich, garlicky butter sauce, all served atop your favorite pasta. It’s a simple yet elegant dish that’s bursting with flavors so divine, it’ll turn your kitchen into the best Italian restaurant in town!
Hey, my friends! Ever dreamt of having a restaurant-style meal right in the comfort of your own home? Well, dream no more! This Chicken Scampi is your ticket to a culinary adventure filled with rich, indulgent flavors that will transport you straight to a cozy Italian Trattoria. The chicken, lightly dusted with cornstarch and Italian seasoning, sears to a delightful golden brown, offering a savory crunch that gives way to tender, juicy bites. Each piece is a flavor bomb that dances on your tongue, making each mouthful a celebration.
But let’s not forget about that heavenly sauce! Garlic and red pepper flakes sizzle in a mix of butter and olive oil, the fragrant aroma tickling your senses and setting the stage for the magic that’s about to happen. A generous splash of white wine adds depth and complexity, simmering down to a sauce that’s nothing short of luxurious. The final grace note? A squeeze of fresh lemon juice for that perfect zing that cuts through the richness and balances the dish beautifully. Tossed with your favorite pasta and garnished with freshly grated Parmesan, this Chicken Scampi is a symphony of flavors that’s ready to take center stage at your dinner table. So go ahead, roll up those sleeves and prepare for the standing ovation. It’s showtime!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Scampi
- Restaurant Quality at Home: This Chicken Scampi is a luxurious, indulgent dish that’ll make you feel like you’re dining in a fancy Italian restaurant, right from the comfort of your own kitchen.
- Quick and Easy: Don’t be fooled by its elegance, this dish is surprisingly easy to whip up. With a prep and cook time of just 20 minutes, you’ll have a flavorful, satisfying meal on the table in no time, making it a great option for busy weeknights or last-minute dinner guests.
- Customizable: This recipe is incredibly versatile. You can easily adjust the heat with more or less red pepper flakes, swap the chicken for shrimp, or toss in your favorite vegetables.
- Pasta – For this dish you can use either linguini, spaghetti or angel hair pasta, which is probably the most commonly used in a scampi dish.
- Chicken – The star of the dish! The chicken is seasoned and seared to perfection, providing a protein-packed bite. Feel free to swap it out for shrimp or tofu for a different spin.
- White Wine – The wine deglazes the pan and adds depth to the sauce. You can substitute it with chicken broth if you prefer to cook without alcohol. You’ll want to use a dry, crisp white wine such as a Pinot Grigio, unoaked chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Use a wine that you love drinking and you can have along side this meal.
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch is used to give the chicken a nice crust and to thicken the sauce. You can substitute it with flour if needed.
- Spices – You’ll need Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Simple but tasty. No Italian seasoning? Mix some oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil.
- Garlic – In my opinion, you can’t have chicken scampi without garlic, and lots of it. If you’re out, garlic powder can work in a pinch.
- Olive Oil and Butter – These fats are used to sear the chicken and to create a rich, flavorful base for the sauce. You could use all of one or the other if you prefer.
- Parmesan Cheese – The cheese adds a salty, umami flavor to the dish. You could substitute it with pecorino romano or asiago cheese.
Okay, my friend, let’s turn this kitchen into an Italian bistro with our Chicken Scampi! Trust me, it’s super easy, let’s get started.
Grab a pot and boil some water. We’re making our pasta first. Just follow the instructions on the package. You know the drill, salty like the sea.
Let’s get our chicken ready, first. Pat it dry, toss it in a bowl with cornstarch, Italian seasoning, some salt and pepper. Give it a good mix, make sure every piece is coated. Then, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Throw in half the olive oil and butter. Once it’s hot, add the chicken pieces. Cook ’em until they’re beautifully browned all around. This should take about 5 minutes. Once they’re done, put them on a plate and set them aside.
Here comes the fun part! Add the remaining butter and olive oil to the skillet. Then, add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir everything around until it’s fragrant. Now, carefully pour in the white wine. Let it reduce a bit, about 2 minutes. It’ll deglaze the pan and pick up all those tasty bits stuck at the bottom.
Once the sauce is done, take the skillet off the heat and add the lemon juice. Then, add the chicken back into the skillet and give everything a good toss. Taste it and add more salt and pepper if you think it needs it.
Now we’re ready to plate! You can serve the chicken over the cooked pasta or toss it all together with some fresh parsley. Sprinkle some Parmesan on top and voila! You’ve got yourself a mouth-watering Chicken Scampi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Chicken Scampi?
While Scampi generally means a saute of shrimp, it can also be used on other seafood or even poultry, as featured in this chicken scampi recipe. Scampi is a dish that is classically made with garlic, butter and white wine.
Should I reserve some pasta water to add to the sauce?
Usually when making any kind of sauces for pasta, it’s a good idea to reserve some pasta water, especially if the pasta tends to get dry too soon as it absorbs liquid. However, I found that there’s plenty of sauce in this recipe that I didn’t really need any extra pasta water, but go ahead and reserve some and use it if needed.
What can I serve with Chicken Scampi?
I love to serve this dish with some great crusty bread with some homemade garlic butter. You can also serve this along some veggies, such as roasted asparagus or roasted broccoli.
Can I make this alcohol free?
Yes, you can substitute white wine with chicken broth if you prefer a non-alcoholic version. The flavor profile will be slightly different, but still delicious.
Can I use pre-cooked chicken?
Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken to save time. Just be sure to add it in later in the cooking process, so it doesn’t overcook and become tough.
Expert Tips
- Patting the Chicken Dry: Before seasoning and cooking your chicken, make sure to pat it dry first. This extra step might seem trivial, but it’s actually key to getting a nice sear on the chicken.
- Cooking the Chicken: Be sure not to overcrowd the pan when browning the chicken, as this can lead to steaming rather than browning. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Choose Quality Ingredients: The simplicity of this dish means each ingredient shines, so choose fresh and high-quality ingredients when possible. Use fresh lemon juice, high-quality olive oil, and freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor.
- Pasta Choice: While linguini is traditional, you can use any pasta you prefer. Just remember, thinner pasta like angel hair will cook faster, so adjust your timing accordingly.
- Adjust the Heat: The red pepper flakes add a bit of heat to this dish. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, feel free to reduce the amount or omit them entirely. On the other hand, if you like it spicy, feel free to add more!
- Wine Selection: Use a dry white wine you enjoy drinking for the sauce. The flavor of the wine will come through in the dish, so it’s important to choose one you like. If you prefer not to cook with wine, you can substitute with chicken broth.
Storage
Store leftover chicken scampi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, you can reheat it in the microwave, but for best results, warm it up on the stove over medium heat. If the sauce is too thick after refrigeration, loosen it up with a bit of chicken broth or water while reheating. You’ll find the flavors have melded beautifully and it may even taste better the next day!
Other Great Recipes To Try
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Chicken Scampi
Ingredients
- 1 pound linguini (or spaghetti or angel hair pasta)
- 1½ pounds chicken (boneless and skinless, cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup butter (unsalted)
- 6 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook the the pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water.
- Prep the chicken: Pat dry the chicken pieces then place them in a bowl. Add the cornstarch, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and toss everything together.
- Fry the chicken: In a large skillet, add 2 tbsp of the olive oil and 2 tbsp of the butter and heat over medium high heat until the butter is melted. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet, in a single layer, and sear until browned all around, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken, along with remaining butter to a plate.
- Make the sauce: Add the remaining butter and olive oil to the skillet and cook until the butter has melted. Add the garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the garlic is aromatic. Pour the wine into the garlic butter mixture and cook for 2 minutes until the wine reduces a bit and the alcohol cooks off.
- Finish the dish: Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Return the chicken to the skillet and toss it well with the sauce. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper if needed.
- Garnish and serve: You can serve this over the cooked pasta or toss it with the pasta and parsley. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Choose Your Pasta: While I’ve used linguini here, feel free to choose your favorite! Angel hair, spaghetti, or even penne can work great in this dish. Just remember to cook your pasta al dente because it will continue to cook in the sauce.
- Wine Substitution: If you’d like to make this dish without alcohol, you can substitute the wine with chicken broth, though the flavor profile will change slightly.
- Cheese Matters: I can’t stress this enough – use freshly grated Parmesan! The flavor is incomparable to the pre-grated stuff, and it melts beautifully into the dish.
- Adjust Heat: The red pepper flakes add a nice heat to the dish, but feel free to adjust to your own spice tolerance. You can even leave them out if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Don’t Overcook: Be careful not to overcook your chicken! It should be just cooked through, as overcooking can lead to dry, tough chicken. Remember, it will continue to cook a bit in the hot sauce.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I cooked this tonight and we really enjoyed it. I love the way that the red pepper flakes provide a bit of heat to the dish. You feel it more than taste it. It is subtle, but it is there. My daughter appreciated the fact that the chicken was seasoned and not bland. The overall flavor of the sauce was subtle, but delicious. I will include this in my repertoire.
Hi there! I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your daughter enjoyed the Chicken Scampi. It’s always wonderful to hear when a recipe is a hit. I completely agree, the red pepper flakes add a lovely bit of heat without overwhelming the dish – it’s all about that balance, right? And yes, seasoning the chicken is a key step to ensure every bite is flavorful. I’m so glad you found the sauce subtle yet delicious, that’s exactly what I’m aiming for. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and I’m honored to have this recipe included in your repertoire. Enjoy your future cooking adventures!
I made this delicious recipe tonight and served it over rice instead of pasta. It was so good my family gobbled it up and said this one is a keeper. Thanks for a winner winner chicken dinner!!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m thrilled to hear that your family loved the chicken scampi. Serving it over rice sounds like a fantastic twist – I’ll have to try that myself! Keep on enjoying those winner winner chicken dinners and keep an eye out for more recipes that your family might love. 😊🍽️🎉
Would you have an Instant Pot version?
You can, but honestly I don’t see why you would because the chicken cooks fairly quick and the noodles are cooked separately. So you’d have to sear the chicken first then cook it on high pressure for 5 minutes, which would take longer to bring the IP to pressure and then to release the pressure. Up to you thought, it can be done.
Absolutely love this recipe! Ty!
I have made this several times and always comes out perfectly!
I have in past added a bit of heavy cream/Parmesan cheese to sauce to make more like Alfredo. Delicious!
Absolutely delicious! My family loves this dish! I have made it several times now-
I have in past used heavy cream in the sauce as well to make it like an Alfredo which is also delicious.
I’m so happy to hear it!
This was so good! My family absolutely loved it! We mixed the chicken and pasta together and added some pasta water! Love the amount of garlic! A definite make again!
Everyone liked it.
chicken scampi is another winner in our house! Quick and easy to make plus very good full meal. Served with a salad and sat back for the compliments. TY Jo
Very tasty! Added some mushrooms and it worked well.
I followed the recipe exactly as it is written and it is delicious. I wish it made extra sauce. I would love to soak the bread in it and eat it. Definitely will make again.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe. That sauce really is great to dunk your bread into. 🙂
This was delicious!
This Chicken Scampi was so delicious and so easy to make, my whole family loved it. Thanks, Jo for another great recipe!
My pleasure! Glad you guys enjoyed it!
The whole family loved this recipe. We love anything lemon + italian. I tweaked the recipe a bit by adding spinach and some leftover green beans I had. Also added another cup of chicken broth to make it saucier and used the whole lemon juiced + zest. Turned out perfectly. Always trying to pump up a recipe by adding veggies for more vitamins. Thanks for another delicious recipe!
My pleasure!