Shrimp Scampi with Orzo in lemony garlic butter sauce – easy one pan recipe in 30 minutes!

Friends I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating:

I love a good one pan recipe and this one is a seafood lover’s dream.

Tender, al dente orzo and perfectly cooked shrimp in a creamy sauce with white wine, bursts of lemon, plenty of fresh garlic and a hint of red pepper flakes.

The best part is it comes together in under 30 minutes.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE:

It’s a complete meal in one pan loaded with so much flavor.
There’s plenty of juicy shrimp and tender orzo in a garlicky, buttery white wine sauce.
It’s a simplified version of classic shrimp scampi recipe.
This is a comforting dish and an easy weeknight meal from simple ingredients.
One-pot meals are a great way to get dinner on the table in a snap with minimal cleanup.

WHAT’S IN SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH ORZO?

large raw shrimp peeled and deveined
olive oil
whole lemon
garlic cloves
salt and pepper to taste
butter
orzo
dry white wine sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio
chicken stock
fresh spinach
crushed red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
grated Parmesan cheese
fresh parsley

SUBSTITUTIONS, VARIATIONS AND ADDITIONS:

Sub fresh kale shredded instead of spinach
Add frozen peas or
Fresh asparagus cut in bite size pieces or
Shredded carrots
Vegetable broth instead of chicken stock

HOW TO MAKE SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH ORZO:

Place deveined shrimp in a medium bowl then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, juice from half of the lemon, all of the zest, half of the minced garlic, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Turn to coat the shrimp then let it sit for 10 minutes.

To a large skillet melt butter and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.

Once the butter melts add the orzo turning to coat it in butter and cook 1-2 minutes or until lightly golden and toasted.

Add the remaining garlic and cook 30 seconds.

Reduce heat to low, pour in the wine and cook 1 minute as the alcohol cooks down and reduces.

Pour in chicken stock and the juice from the other half of the lemon and spinach.

Season with salt and pepper. Cover, bring to a boil then reduce heat and and simmer 8-10 minutes or until the orzo is cooked to al dente. Stir occasionally so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

Stir the parmesan cheese into the orzo.

Place raw shrimp on top of the orzo in a single layer, shaking off excess moisture, gently pressing them into the orzo.

Cover and cook over low heat 3-4 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through.

Remove from the heat. Sprinkle parsley over the top then cover the skillet and let the dish rest 2 minutes.

Serve right away with some crusty bread.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SHRIMP SCAMPI ORZO:

You really don’t need to add a single thing with this easy, one skillet dish! That’s just another great thing about it, but you can never go wrong with a nice crusty bread to sop up anything left on your plate.

SUBS AND VARIATIONS TO THIS RECIPE:

rough chopped spinach
Serve with extra lemon slices.
rough chopped kale
peas
asparagus
shredded carrots
low sodium chicken broth

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO STORE LEFTOVERS?

Stove leftover Shrimp Scampi Orzo in an airtight container or other sealed container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

Reheat in the microwave.

Enjoy!

Tried this easy Shrimp Scampi with Orzo recipe? Leave a comment, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and TAG ME on social media! @agoudalife or #agoudalife