Name: One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tbsp unsalted butter; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 4 cloves garlic, minced and divided in half; Pinch of red pepper flakes; 1 cup dry orzo pasta; ⅓ cup dry white wine; 2 cups boiled water; 1 tbsp lemon zest; 12 oz frozen, cooked shrimp; 2 tbsp cornstarch plus 2 tsp water; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; ¼ cup roughly chopped parsley

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One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo is a phenomenal and fast meal to ease the stress of weeknight cooking. Frozen, peeled, and cooked shrimp takes the stress out of cooking with fresh shrimp since there’s no peeling and deveining to be done! And with a creamy garlic butter sauce that pops with lemon as it coats the shrimp and a pan full of toasted orzo pasta, you have a meal that everyone is going to simply devour.

One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo with lemon slices in the pan.

As someone who is always on the lookout for fast and easy dinner recipes, I often lean towards quick cooking pasta meals that are one pot meals.

The one pot meal has become a staple in my house since it reduces clean up because you know what? Doing dishes is my nemesis!

I’d say that I’m making a one pot dinner at least once a week these days, whether it’s a creamy sausage pasta dish I’ve made a hundred times already or a new recipe like this One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo.

A wooden spoon is scooping some of the One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo from the pan.

I’ve had this shrimp scampi recipe saved in my NYT Cooking “saved” folder for ages and I’m so glad I finally got around to making it.

Honestly, what drew me to this recipe was the orzo. I’m a big orzo fan and since making a version of the viral recipe for sundried tomato boursin baked orzo for the first time last summer, getting those little rice-shaped pasta out of my meal-planning head has proven difficult!

What is Shrimp Scampi?

For those who aren’t familiar with this staple Italian dish, shrimp scampi is a recipe where shrimp are cooked in a lemony garlic butter sauce that’s topped with crunchy breadcrumbs.

One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo on a white plate with broccoli and sliced Italian bread on the side.

Some recipes include wine and some don’t, like my mom’s shrimp scampi recipe.

Many scampi recipes are baked, like my mom’s and Ina Garten’s baked shrimp scampi. And then there are lots of recipes out there that are made in a skillet, like this one.

This one pan shrimp recipe also skips the breadcrumb topping but you could totally add one if you’d like to. A recipe I made years ago and that’s similar to shrimp scampi is this garlicky shrimp. Simply use the breadcrumb topping from that recipe for this one instead!

Ingredients

Here’s the basic grocery list for this shrimp scampi recipe. Be sure to keep scrolling down to the recipe for the full Ingredients list and full printable recipe card!

Unsalted butter
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh garlic cloves
Red pepper flakes
Dry orzo pasta
Dry white wine, like Chardonnay
Boiled water
A lemon
Frozen, cooked shrimp
Cornstarch
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fresh parsley

One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo is served on a plate with broccoli and a piece of Italian bread.

How to Make Shrimp Scampi with Orzo

Here are the basic steps to make this shrimp scampi recipe. Be sure to keep scrolling down to the recipe for the full Ingredients list and full printable recipe card!

STEP 1: Heat the butter and oil in a sauté pan until the butter is melted and hot. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir in the uncooked orzo pasta and the red pepper flakes. Stir the orzo around the pan for a few minutes while it cooks and starts to become slightly toasted.

The orzo has been added to the pan of butter, oil, and garlic for the One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo.

STEP 2: Add the dry white wine to the pan and allow it to reduce a little. Stir the water into the orzo, cover the pan, and reduce the heat while the orzo cooks through.

STEP 3: Mix the frozen shrimp, lemon zest, more garlic, and more salt and pepper to the orzo. Cook for just a few minutes to allow the shrimp to thaw. Remember, the shrimp is already cooked!

The frozen shrimp and lemon zest have been added to the pan of orzo for One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo.

STEP 4: If the sauce is watery after a couple of minutes, stir in a cornstarch slurry made of cornstarch mixed with water. This will thicken the sauce so it coats the orzo and shrimp.

Lastly, stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

A handful of fresh parsley has been added to the pan of cooked One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo.

What’s the Best Wine for Shrimp Scampi?

The best wine for shrimp scampi is a dry white wine like Chardonnay. It doesn’t have to be expensive; just something you might drink if you like to drink Chardonnay.

If you’re unsure of what to buy, always feel free to ask the staff in the store where you purchase your wine.

Is Shrimp Scampi Healthy?

Despite having shrimp as a lean protein and the main ingredient of shrimp scampi recipes, most shrimp scampi recipes are not healthy.

My favorite baked shrimp scampi meal for instance, my mom’s Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi, is packed with melted butter in addition to the heart healthy extra virgin olive oil.

What to Serve with Shrimp Scampi

I am a staunch supporter of serving shrimp scampi with pasta. Lucky for me, this meal has the pasta element cooked right into it!

On the side of this dish, a green vegetable would be excellent! Think about sides like roasted or steamed broccoli, sautéed green beans, or sautéed broccolini.

And of course, a Caesar salad or crisp garden salad with my house Italian dressing recipe would also be perfect as an orzo side dish.

A hand is pouring the hot water into the pan of toasted orzo to make One Pan Shrimp Scampi Orzo.

If you want to go a little heavier on the carbs – and really, who wouldn’t? – some crusty store-bought Italian or French bread is always welcome at my table. With plenty of salted butter to go with it, of course.

Sometimes though, when I’m feeling extra ambitious, I like to get my hands into some dough during the day. These Herbed Fantail Rolls, this soft and squishy focaccia, or this crusty whole grain ciabatta bread are all excellent sides that go with shrimp scampi.

Looking for More Orzo Recipes? You’ll Love These!