Chicken Scampi
This Chicken Scampi recipe is one of our favorite restaurant-style meals right at home. Inspired by one of our favorites at Olive Garden, this copycat recipe is so simple and quick to make at home. Our secret recipe is better and more affordable than dining out too!
We are so excited to share our Chicken Scampi recipe with you! This classic Italian recipe is usually made with shrimp (scampi actually means “shrimp!”), but here we are swapping the shrimp for breaded chicken. We love the Olive Garden version of the recipe, it’s one of our favorite things to order out when we are back visiting family in Kentucky.
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The best part is it only takes a pasta pot and a large skillet to make this easy dinner. The creamy and lemony sauce is so flavorful with every bite. If you love a pasta recipe, then also try our Pizza Pasta Recipe and Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy to make dinner recipe for the whole family. This is a meal that any age and any kind of eater will love. It’s a no-fuss, simple pasta and chicken recipe.
- Minimal equipment required. We keep it simple with just a pasta pot and a large skillet. This makes cleanup super easy too!
- Customize with your favorite flavorful ingredients. We add all sorts of veggies to our chicken scampi, feel free to add your favorites like other greens, squash, or even asparagus in the springtime.
Laura Ashley’s Tip: We use frozen and breaded chicken tenders to keep things simple, but you can also make the breaded chicken from scratch by dredging in flour, eggs, and then panko breadcrumbs and baking the chicken until golden and cooked through.
Ingredients
Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card
- Spaghetti: Noodles that form the base of this recipe.
- Olive oil: The cooking fat for the recipe.
- Butter: We love to add butter as well for that signature rich scampi sauce flavor.
- Red onion: Adds a bit of zing in every bite.
- Red and yellow bell pepper: Great color and fresh vegetable flavor.
- Sliced mushrooms: Adds a nice heartiness with more veggies.
- Garlic cloves: Infuses the sauce with the classic garlic flavor we all love.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Adds a hint of spice!
- Chicken broth: Gives a richness to the sauce.
- Lemon juice: The acid that heightens all of the flavors.
- Heavy whipping cream: The secret creamy ingredient for the best scampi sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds that salty, cheesy flavor.
- Frozen breaded chicken: The protein we love to add to our chicken scampi. We always have some of this in the freezer.
- Shredded parmesan and sliced fresh basil: Two of our favorite options for garnish on this chicken scampi.
Tools You’ll Need
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Large Skillet
- Silicone Tongs
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Measuring Cups
- Air Fryer (optional)
How to Make Chicken Scampi
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti 2 minutes less than al dente directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and set aside.
- Cook chicken according to package directions in the oven or air fryer.
- Add olive oil and butter to a medium skillet on medium-high. Once the pan is hot and butter melted, add the onion, peppers, and mushrooms. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and crushed red pepper, and cook an additional minute.
- Stir in the broth, lemon juice, cream, and parmesan, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Fold in the drained pasta and incorporate with the sauce. Add the reserved pasta water, and simmer 3 minutes.
- Cut the chicken into large pieces and add to the top of the pasta. Plate, and garnish as desired.
Expert Tips
- Add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese towards the end of cooking. This ensures that the cream doesn’t break when simmering to make a rich and velvety sauce.
- Be sure to reserve some of the pasta cooking water for the sauce. This starchy pasta liquid is pure gold to help emulsify and bind the sauce together.
- Add other vegetables as desired. We also love this chicken scampi with asparagus, peas, zucchini, and greens like spinach.
- Make your own breaded chicken if you want. It’s very easy if you prefer to make it from scratch by dredging in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. You can follow our chicken Parmesan prep instructions. We love to air fry our frozen chicken for ease and an extra crispy outside.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through. We often recommend to store the chicken separately so it doesn’t get soggy inside the pasta.
We don’t recommend freezing this recipe as it will compromise the texture and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
It uses noodles like spaghetti coated in a creamy lemon, parmesan sauce and topped with breaded chicken.
Butter, garlic, onion, chicken broth, lemon juice, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.
A classic scampi recipe uses shrimp, this is called chicken scampi because it uses chicken rather than shrimp.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Chicken Scampi
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 small red onion thinly sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1-1 1/2 pounds frozen breaded chicken
- Garnish options: shredded parmesan and sliced fresh basil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti 2 minutes less than al dente directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and set aside.
- Cook chicken according to package directions in the oven or air fryer.
- Add olive oil and butter to a medium skillet on medium-high. Once the pan is hot and butter melted, add the onion, peppers, and mushrooms. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and crushed red pepper, and cook an additional minute.
- Stir in the broth, lemon juice, cream, and parmesan, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Fold in the drained pasta and incorporate with the sauce. Add the reserved pasta water, and simmer 3 minutes.
- Cut the chicken into large pieces and add to the top of the pasta. Plate, and garnish as desired.
Video
Notes
-
- Add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese towards the end of cooking. This ensures that the cream doesn’t break when simmering to make a rich and velvety sauce.
-
- Be sure to reserve some of the pasta cooking water for the sauce. This starchy pasta liquid is pure gold to help emulsify and bind the sauce together.
-
- Add other vegetables as desired. We also love this chicken scampi with asparagus, peas, zucchini, and greens like spinach.
-
- Make your own breaded chicken if you want. It’s very easy if you prefer to make it from scratch by dredging in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. You can follow our chicken Parmesan prep instructions. We love to air fry our frozen chicken for ease and an extra crispy outside.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through. We often recommend to store the chicken separately so it doesn’t get soggy inside the pasta. We don’t recommend freezing this recipe as it will compromise the texture and flavor.
Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
