Dairy-Free Shrimp Scampi is a delicious seafood dish that's bursting with garlic, lemon, and (dairy-free) buttery goodness. It's perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, or even for celebrating a special occasion.
Make a complete meal by pairing it with a Dairy-Free Caesar Salad, garlic bread (like my Healthier Garlic Bread), roasted veggies like Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower, and a glass of white wine, iced tea, or sparkling water with lemon.
If you make this shrimp scampi for a special dinner or occasion, I highly recommend serving one of these decadent desserts with it: Dairy-Free Brownies, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, or Dairy-Free New York Cheesecake. If you want to keep dessert quick and simple, just like this dinner, make this quick Chocolate Banana Milkshake.
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📝Ingredient Notes
- Dairy-free butter: I like to use Country Crock with Olive Oil (or Country Crock with Avocado Oil). You should use your favorite tasting, non-dairy butter.
- White wine: Use a good Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Nutritional yeast: Shrimp scampi is usually made with freshly grated parmesan. In place of cheese, nutritional yeast is a great choice to bring in a cheesy flavor.
🍋Substitutions/ Variations
- Dairy-free butter: In place of butter you can use olive oil, but the flavor will be different.
- Shrimp: In place of shrimp, you can use scallops or grilled chicken. For a vegetarian option, you can try mushrooms or even hearts of palm.
- Linguine noodles: For a gluten-free option, use any gluten-free pasta of your choice. A good choice would be gluten-free spaghetti noodles. For other regular pasta options, you can use spaghetti noodles, angel hair pasta, or even fettuccine.
- White wine: For an alcohol-free version, use chicken broth or vegetable broth in place of wine.
🥣Equipment
- A large pot or skillet
- A pot and strainer for the pasta
- Knife and cutting board
- Zester (if gating the garlic)
🔪How to Make Dairy-Free Shrimp Scampi
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add linguine noodles and cook until tender.
2. In a large pot or skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels, and coat with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the hot oil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Then remove the shrimp from the pan.
3. Add dairy-free butter and minced onion to the pan. Let the onion cook for about 2 minutes. At the last minute, add the grated garlic.
4. Pour the white wine into the pan and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Mix in the lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and crushed red pepper flakes, then add the cooked shrimp. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for a couple more minutes before adding the pasta. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
🧊Storing
Store leftover shrimp scampi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Reheating: It's best to reheat shrimp scampi gently to prevent overcooking the shrimp. Reheat it in a skillet over low to medium heat or in the microwave at a reduced power setting. Stir occasionally until heated through.
✅Pro Tips
- Use fresh shrimp: Using high-quality, fresh shrimp is going to give you the best flavor and texture. If you can't get fresh, use the best quality frozen shrimp you can find, and be sure to thaw them completely before cooking.
- Don't overcook the shrimp: Overcooking shrimp can make them tough and rubbery. They only need 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Once they turn pink and opaque, they are fully cooked.
- Don't be shy with the garlic: Garlic is a very important ingredient in shrimp scampi. Use plenty, and be careful not to burn it. Burnt garlic has an unappetizing flavor.
- Choose white wine over broth: Chicken or vegetable broth is a great non-alcoholic substitution. But the white wine adds a wonderful depth of flavor. Use a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. You want to simmer it with the shrimp to amp up the flavor, and also so that the alcohol can evaporate.
- Use fresh parsley: Fresh parsley adds color and freshness to the dish. You can also use fresh basil!
- Add lemon juice just before serving: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp just before serving to brighten the flavors.
- Adjust the seasonings to taste before serving: Always taste for salt and pepper before serving.
- Don't add too many noodles: Going too heavy on the noodles won't leave you with much sauce to coat them. I wouldn't use more than 12 ounces of noodles for this recipe. You want the flavorful sauce to coat each noodle.
⁉️Frequently Asked Questions
Shrimp scampi is an Italian-American dish made with shrimp that is sautéed with garlic, butter, olive oil, white wine, and lemon juice! It's seasoned with salt, pepper, fresh parsley, and sometimes crushed red pepper flakes. It's usually served over pasta or with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
Shrimp scampi is best served fresh, but you can prepare it in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day in advance. Gently reheat it in a skillet over low to medium heat until the shrimp is warm.
Pasta, rice, or crusty bread is perfect for soaking up the yummy sauce. My go-to choice is tossing it with linguine noodles. You can also serve it with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
In place of wine, use chicken or vegetable broth. This will add a good flavor without using any alcohol.
🍷Pair with These Recipes
⭐️Before you go! If you enjoyed this recipe for Dairy-Free Shrimp Scampi, leave a recipe rating below! You can also take a picture and tag me on instagram. 📸
📖 Recipe
Dairy-Free Shrimp Scampi
Ingredients
- 12 ounces linguine pasta
- ½ medium yellow onion minced
- 4 to 5 garlic cloves grated or minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Jumbo or large shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ cup dairy-free butter like Country Crock Plant Butter with Olive Oil
- ¼ cup dry white wine like Pinot Grigio
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional Garnishes
- fresh parsley chopped
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add linguine noodles and cook until tender.
- In a large pot or skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels, and sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Add the shrimp to the hot oil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Then remove the shrimp from the pan.
- Add dairy-free butter and minced onion to the pan. Let the onion cook for about 2 minutes. At the last minute, add the grated garlic.
- Pour the white wine into the pan and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Mix in the lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and crushed red pepper flakes, then add the cooked shrimp.
- Turn the heat to low and let the shrimp simmer in the sauce for a couple of minutes. Add the cooked and drained pasta noodles to the shrimp scampi and mix until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftover shrimp scampi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer: The nutrition label is only an estimate. Amounts may vary based on the products used and different nutrition calculators. If tracking nutrition information is important to you, it's recommended that you plug these ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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