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chicken scampi with linguini garnished with parmesan cheese on a white platter.
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4.92 from 35 votes

Chicken Scampi

Get ready to savor this Chicken Scampi that's bursting with a buttery, garlicky, and slightly spicy sauce! Served over your favorite pasta and sprinkled with fresh Parmesan cheese, this dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner yet impressive enough for guests. Easy to make and incredibly delicious, it's a meal you'll come back to time and time again!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: chicken scampi, chicken scampi recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 645kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound linguini or spaghetti or angel hair pasta
  • 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

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 645kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 676IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 191mg | Iron: 2mg