Description
Olive garden’s chicken scampi dazzles home cooks with restaurant-quality pasta perfection. Garlic-infused butter sauce and tender chicken create a mouthwatering Italian-American classic you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 12 ounces (340 grams) angel hair pasta or spaghetti
Seasonings and Spices:
- ½ cup (65 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Vegetables and Dairy:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan, for serving
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water and bring to a rolling boil, carefully adding pasta to cook until tender with a slight bite, typically 8-10 minutes.
- Carefully drain pasta in a colander, gently shaking to remove excess water, then transfer to a warm holding dish.
- Season chicken pieces with a blend of salt, pepper, and dried herbs, ensuring each morsel is evenly coated.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating a shimmering surface.
- Sauté chicken until golden brown and cooked through, developing a rich caramelized exterior and ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken and set aside, keeping warm.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant and lightly golden, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Pour white wine into the pan, allowing it to simmer and reduce, concentrating the flavors and creating a luxurious base.
- Add heavy cream and italian seasoning, stirring continuously to create a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Incorporate lemon juice and red pepper flakes, balancing the creamy sauce with bright, zesty notes.
- Return chicken to the skillet, gently coating with the luscious sauce.
- Combine prepared pasta with the chicken and sauce, tossing delicately to ensure even distribution.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and grated parmesan cheese, adding a final layer of flavor and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately, presenting a restaurant-quality dish bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
Notes
- Always choose high-quality, fresh linguine or angel hair pasta for the best texture and flavor absorption.
- Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a slight firmness, preventing it from becoming mushy when mixed with the sauce.
- Reserve a small cup of pasta water before draining, which can help adjust sauce consistency if needed and adds a subtle starchy richness.
- Rinse pasta with cold water only if you’re making a cold pasta dish; for hot scampi, keep pasta warm and slightly moist to help sauce cling better.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 73 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg