The Best Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi Recipe for Busy Weeknights

Crispy baked shrimp scampi tantalizes seafood lovers with its irresistible golden-brown exterior and succulent interior.

Ocean-fresh shellfish refines into a restaurant-worthy dish that feels both elegant and comforting.

Buttery, garlicky notes weave through each delicate morsel, creating a symphony of Mediterranean-inspired flavors.

Perfectly seasoned and baked to crisp perfection, this recipe elevates humble ingredients into a spectacular meal.

Home cooks can easily master this restaurant-quality technique with simple kitchen skills and minimal preparation time.

The magic happens when high heat meets carefully selected ingredients, resulting in a dish that looks impressive and tastes extraordinary.

Confident cooking awaits you, promising a delightful culinary adventure that will become a family favorite.

Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi That Delivers Crunch and Flavor

• Savor Speedy Seafood Delight: This shrimp scampi delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just 15 minutes with minimal prep work, perfect for busy home cooks craving a gourmet meal.
• Enjoy Crispy Texture Perfection: The Panko breadcrumb topping creates an irresistible golden crust that adds incredible crunch to tender, succulent shrimp, elevating the entire dish's mouthfeel.
• Celebrate Foolproof Flavor Fusion: Simple ingredients like lemon, garlic, butter, and Parmesan cheese combine to create a bright, rich, and zesty profile that transforms ordinary shrimp into an extraordinary entrée without complicated techniques.
• Experience One-Pan Convenience: This recipe eliminates multiple cooking steps by baking everything in a single skillet, reducing cleanup time and making it an ideal weeknight dinner solution for home chefs seeking delicious yet stress-free meal preparation.

Ingredients for Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi

• Shrimp: Fresh, large shrimp with tails on for best flavor and presentation, wild-caught preferred for richer taste.

• Shallot, Garlic: Adds depth and sharp flavor to the dish, fresh and finely minced for even distribution.
• Parsley: Bright, fresh herb that provides color and light herbal notes, flat-leaf variety recommended.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base and helps create golden crispy topping, unsalted butter allows better seasoning control.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds salty, nutty flavor and helps create crisp breadcrumb topping, freshly grated is best.

• Panko Breadcrumbs: Creates extra crispy texture, Japanese-style breadcrumbs preferred for maximum crunch.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Offers subtle heat and complexity, adjust amount for personal spice preference.

• Lemon: Provides bright, acidic flavor and helps tenderize shrimp, fresh lemon juice recommended.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing overall flavor, freshly ground black pepper preferred.

Directions to Make Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi at Home

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Get a large baking dish ready for the shrimp.

Step 2: Season the Seafood

• Shrimp
• Lemon juice
• Minced shallot
• Melted butter
• Salt
• Black pepper

Gently toss the ingredients to ensure shrimp are evenly coated.

Step 3: Create the Crispy Topping

• Remaining melted butter
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Minced garlic
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Red pepper flakes
• Chopped parsley

Mix until the ingredients form a crumbly texture.

Step 4: Assemble and Bake

Spread the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the baking dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top. Bake for 12 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through and the dish is bubbling.

Step 5: Achieve Golden Crispiness

Switch the oven to broil. Broil for 1 minute to create a golden, crispy top layer.

Step 6: Serve and Garnish

Sprinkle remaining fresh parsley over the dish. Drizzle with additional lemon juice. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for extra zesty flavor.

Tips for the Best Baked Shrimp Scampi

• Select Fresh Shrimp: Choose large, deveined shrimp for the best texture and easiest preparation.
• Arrange Strategically: Spread shrimp in a single layer to ensure even cooking and maximum crispiness.
• Don't Overcook: Watch carefully during baking to prevent rubbery shrimp; they're done when just turning opaque and pink.
• Boost Breadcrumb Crunch: Toast Panko breadcrumbs briefly before mixing to enhance their golden, crispy texture.
• Maximize Flavor Depth: Use fresh garlic and quality Parmesan cheese for a more robust and authentic scampi taste.

Storing Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi Without Losing Texture

• Refrigerate: Transfer cooled shrimp scampi to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Avoid leaving seafood at room temperature for extended periods.
• Reheat: Warm gently in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to preserve texture and prevent overcooking. Sprinkle a few drops of water to help maintain moisture and prevent dryness.
• Freezing: Not recommended for this dish, as the delicate shrimp and crispy breadcrumb topping will lose quality and become soggy when thawed.

Great Matches for Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a zesty sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio to complement the shrimp's delicate flavor and cut through the buttery richness.
• Match with Crusty Bread: Serve warm, rustic sourdough or French bread to soak up the delicious garlic-butter sauce and enhance the dining experience.
• Create Bright Side Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's richness and add fresh, peppery notes that echo the shrimp's lemony profile.
• Serve with Herbed Orzo: Prepare a simple herbed orzo pasta as a side dish to catch the flavorful scampi sauce and provide a complementary starch component.

Ideas for Switching Up Shrimp Scampi

• Mediterranean Herb Infusion: Replace red pepper flakes with oregano, thyme, and za'atar for a Mediterranean-inspired flavor profile, adding a robust herbal essence to the shrimp.
• Coconut Curry Fusion: Swap Parmesan with shredded coconut, add mild curry powder, and incorporate a splash of coconut milk for a tropical and spicy variation that transforms the dish.
• Spicy Cajun Kick: Substitute Parmesan with Cajun seasoning, add cayenne pepper, and mix in chopped andouille sausage for a bold, southern-style shrimp scampi with intense heat and rich complexity.
• Gluten-Free Crisp: Use almond flour instead of Panko breadcrumbs, incorporate ground almonds into the topping, and ensure all ingredients are gluten-free for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the original recipe's crunch.

Crispy Baked Shrimp Scampi Recipe

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4.7 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Crispy baked shrimp scampi brings Mediterranean coastal flavors to home kitchens with elegant simplicity. Garlic-kissed shrimp nestled in golden breadcrumbs promises a restaurant-quality experience you’ll savor with pure Mediterranean delight.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on or off
• ⅓ cup butter, melted, divided
• 1 brown shallot, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Seasoning and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 pinch salt, to taste
• 1 pinch pepper, to taste
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed (or more to taste)
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

Coating and Garnish Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 3 lemon wedges, to serve

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to a high temperature of 425ºF, preparing a spacious baking vessel for the seafood preparation.
2. Toss the succulent shrimp with zesty lemon essence, finely chopped shallots, rich melted butter, and a pinch of seasoning, ensuring each morsel is thoroughly coated.
3. Artfully distribute the marinated shrimp in a radial pattern, positioning pieces from the outer rim towards the center of the cooking vessel.
4. Craft a golden crust mixture by combining crisp Panko crumbs, aromatic minced garlic, sharp Parmesan cheese, a hint of spicy red pepper flakes, and fragrant parsley.
5. Generously sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumb blend over the shrimp, creating an even, tempting coating.
6. Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes, monitoring until the shrimp transform from translucent to opaque and the edges become slightly bubbling.
7. Activate the broiler function and allow the dish to crisp for an additional minute, watching carefully to achieve a perfectly golden, crunchy topping.
8. Remove from the oven and embellish with remaining fresh parsley, provide a final splash of citrus, and accompany with bright lemon wedges for an elegant presentation.

Notes

• Choose medium to large shrimp with shells removed for the best texture and easy eating.
• Arrange shrimp in a single layer to ensure even cooking and crispy golden topping.
• Pat shrimp dry before seasoning to prevent excess moisture and achieve maximum crispiness.
• Use fresh Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself for richer, more intense flavor.
• Serve immediately after broiling to maintain the crisp breadcrumb topping and prevent sogginess.
• Pair with crusty bread or pasta to soak up the delicious buttery garlic sauce.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 280
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 300mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 14g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 18g
• Cholesterol: 150mg