This garlic shrimp scampi with zucchini combines garlic, lemon and a little butter for familiar scampi flavor. Thin zucchini ribbons take the place of pasta, and a short cooking time helps keep them from turning soggy. Thaw the shrimp before you start so dinner can move quickly.
Tips for garlic shrimp scampi with zucchini
Use peeled, deveined raw shrimp and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Pat them dry before cooking. A vegetable peeler makes wide zucchini ribbons without a spiralizer. Cut strips from the seedy center and cook them too. Bread or rice can round out the meal, but is not included in the estimate.
Helpful equipment: a large nonstick skillet. Check the size and features for your kitchen before buying.
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Makes 4 servings. One serving: one-quarter of the shrimp, zucchini and all sauce. Prep 15 minutes; cook 15 minutes; total elapsed time 30 minutes.
Garlic Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 lb zucchini ends trimmed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Peel zucchini lengthwise into wide ribbons; thinly slice the remaining centers. Pat thawed shrimp dry. Keep raw seafood and its utensils separate from ready-to-eat food.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp in two batches, about 2 minutes per side, until firm, pearly and opaque throughout. Transfer to a clean plate.
- Lower heat to medium. Add butter and garlic; stir 30 seconds without browning garlic. Add all zucchini, salt and pepper. Toss 3–5 minutes until just tender; use a deep skillet or work in batches if crowded.
- Return shrimp and any juices to the pan. Add lemon juice and parsley, toss briefly to heat through and divide into four equal portions with all sauce.
Storage and meal prep
Refrigerate in shallow covered containers within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Keep at 40°F or below for 3–4 days and reheat leftovers to 165°F. Zucchini softens during storage; for better meal prep, keep sliced raw zucchini separate and cook it near serving time.
More practical ideas
Try creamy garlic chicken and broccoli for another option. See our grocery planning guide for more help.
About the nutrition
Estimated nutrition includes every listed ingredient divided into 4 equal servings. Brand substitutions and extra sides change the result. This development draft has not been kitchen-tested.