One Pot Shrimp Scampi and Orzo

One-Pot Shrimp Scampi and Orzo – Garlicky buttery Shrimp Scampi with tender flavor-packed orzo.

One-Pot Shrimp Scampi and Orzo

A quick one-pot meal that tastes like a restaurant-quality dinner. Freshly sautéed shrimp with a garlicky, buttery shrimp scampi sauce, paired with orzo and baby spinach to make a complete meal all in one pot. This is truly one of those dinners that is faster and better than takeout. Forget the sad, cold takeout shrimp and pasta and make this recipe instead. Most of the ingredients are pantry-friendly and the shrimp and orzo are both quick-cooking ways to have a delicious dinner.

Ingredients for One Pot Shrimp Scampi and Orzo

• Olive Oil – to sauté the shrimp.
• Shrimp – any size, medium to extra-large, thawed shrimp will work. Just adjust the cooking time based on the size.
• Salt and Pepper – Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Lemons – for fresh lemon juice and lemon slices for garnish.
• Butter – for sautéing the garlic and crushed red pepper. This is the base of the scampi sauce.
• Garlic – freshly minced preferred.
• Crushed Red Pepper – adjust amount used to preferred spice level.
• Wine – use a dry (not sweet) white wine like chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, or pinot grigio.
• Chicken Broth – use a low-sodium chicken broth
• Orzo – this quick-cooking pasta is ideal for one-pot meals and can easily absorb extra liquid and still have a good texture.
• Parmesan Cheese – use freshly grated, good-quality Parmigiano Reggiano for best flavor.
• Baby Spinach – remove bigger stems.
• Fresh Parsley – for freshness and garnish.

How to Make One Pot Shrimp Scampi and Orzo

This is an easy, quick, and complete one-pot dinner that is built in three steps.

1. Sauté the shrimp. Season and sauté the shrimp. We don’t want the shrimp to overcook, so they need to be set aside while the orzo is cooking. They will be added back in the last step.
2. Build the scampi sauce. Use butter, freshly minced garlic, crushed red pepper, and wine to make a flavor-packed sauce. Reserve two tablespoons of the scampi sauce to top shrimp before serving.
3. Cook the Orzo – Cook the orzo in remaining shrimp scampi sauce and chicken broth. Then stir in parmesan and baby spinach to make a complete meal. Return shrimp to pot, top with scampi sauce, and serve.

Recipe Tips

1. For the Freshest Shrimp – use frozen shrimp and thaw at home. You can thaw shrimp quickly by transferring to a plastic baggie and placing in a bowl of cold water. All seafood is frozen, and if you are the one thawing it, you have more control over the temperature and ultimately the freshness.
2. Shrimp Size – a variety of shrimp sizes will work for this recipe. Just adjust the initial sauté time.
3. Tail-On or Tail-Off – this is just personal preference! I generally use tail-on shrimp in my photos because it photographs better, and you can see they are shrimp at a glance. If you prefer to mix the shrimp into the orzo before serving, it would be easier to remove the tails before cooking and serving.
4. Wine Substitute – Additional chicken stock can be substituted for wine.

My Most Popular Shrimp Recipes

• One-Pot Marry Me Shrimp and Orzo
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
• Shrimp Tostadas with Corn Salsa
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi