When you mix juicy shrimp, garlic, and a buttery sauce, you get shrimp scampi. It’s a great choice for a quick and tasty meal. But thinking about what to serve with shrimp scampi might leave you wondering. Below we have some mouthwatering side dish options that will complement its rich flavors.
Shrimp scampi is a classic and very popular seafood dish. It is made with big shrimp cooked in garlic, butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. It’s typically served over pasta and garnished with parsley. You can serve this delicious dish with the best sides whether you’re having a dinner party or cooking a cozy meal for two.
An easy addition to any seafood dish, garlic bread is a great addition to shrimp scampi. Thick slices of Italian bread are slathered with lots of garlic butter and toasted until they are perfectly crisp and golden brown. This side dish is great for sopping up that tasty sauce. Texas toast is a great alternative to to garlic bread as well.
A classic side dish for this easy dish is roasted vegetables, like a colorful mix of bell peppers, zucchini, and onions, tossed in olive oil and roasted until soft. They are full of flavor and good for you.
Lemon butter rice is a light and refreshing side dish that has just the right amount of sour lemon and rich butter. It’s a burst of freshness served with garlic shrimp scampi.
Everyone who eats roasted lemon honey garlic asparagus will taste citrus and sweetness in every bite. The honey, garlic, and sour lemon make it a delicious side dish for shrimp scampi.
Quinoa salad is a refreshing and healthy side dish. It has lots of protein, crunchy vegetables, and a sour vinaigrette dressing, which makes it a great side dish for shrimp scampi.
Parmesan roasted potatoes are tasty chunks of potato tossed in earthy olive oil, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese. They are baked to perfection and are the perfect mix of savory and crispy. When it comes to shrimp scampi side dishes, you might want something filling and hearty. Potatoes are always a winner in this category!.
Ramp up the flavors of your shrimp scampi with a flavorful pesto pasta. Your shrimp scampi recipe goes great with angel hair pasta tossed in basil pesto and topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Polenta is a rich side dish made from ground cornmeal that is cooked until it is smooth and soft. It is then topped with grated Parmesan cheese, butter, and cream. This is one of the best side dishes to go with shrimp scampi because it tastes great and has a rich texture.
Shrimp scampi tastes great with saffron rice because it has a mild flavor that goes well with it. If you want your garlic butter shrimp scampi to be the star of the show, this is a great choice!
When butternut squash is baked, it gets soft and caramelized, and a tasty mix of olive oil, cinnamon, and brown sugar is added to it. This mildly sweet side is a great contrast to garlicky shrimp scampi.
Broccoli florets might be simple, but they make a great side dish when they’re prepared well. Vegetable side dishes like broccoli florets will go well with your fresh shrimp scampi if you steam them just right and season them with a zesty mix of lemon pepper and garlic salt.
Caprese salad is a classic side dish that goes well with shrimp scampi for a special occasion. It’s cool and classy. This delicious side dish is a great way to finish off your meal. It has large pieces of juicy tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and a balsamic glaze.
Zucchini noodles are a healthier alternative to regular noodles. They are made by spiralizing fresh zucchini, cooking it until it’s soft, and then mixing it in a light garlic and herb sauce. The simple ingredients in shrimp scampi let the dish’s delicate flavors shine through, and the fullness of the meal makes it more pleasant.
Lemon-roasted Brussels sprouts are soft, tasty, and good for you! The lemon juice, zest, and garlic give them a tangy and zesty flavor, and then a lot of grated Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top. They’re the perfect light side for this classic Italian dish/.
It’s always nice to have whipped mashed potatoes as a side dish with any meal. The rich, buttery, and creamy mashed potatoes go well with the strong flavors of shrimp scampi.
Shrimp scampi is a classic and delicious seafood dish that combines succulent shrimp with garlic, butter, lemon, and white wine. With its bright, rich flavors, shrimp scampi makes a fantastic main course. However, coming up with the right side dishes to serve alongside can sometimes be tricky.
In this article, we’ll recommend 17 of the very best side dishes to pair with shrimp scampi. With options ranging from veggies and salads to pastas and grains you’ll find plenty of ideas for rounding out your shrimp scampi meal.
Complementary Flavors for Shrimp Scampi
When choosing side dishes for shrimp scampi you’ll want options that complement the key flavors in the dish
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Seafood – Since shrimp is the star, sides that also contain seafood or play off its briny flavor work well.
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Garlic – The garlic butter sauce is central to shrimp scampi, so sides with garlic notes make sense.
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Acidity – The lemon brightens up the scampi, so acidic components like tomatoes or citrus in sides helps balance the richness.
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Herbs – Fresh parsley adds vibrance, making herbaceous sides a great pairing.
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Butter – The dish has a decadent, creamy flavor, so lighter sides prevent it from feeling too heavy.
With those flavors in mind, here are 17 of our favorite shrimp scampi side dishes!
1. Garlic Bread
Warm, crusty garlic bread is a no-brainer pairing with shrimp scampi. It soaks up all that delicious garlic butter sauce and offers a nice textural contrast to the tender shrimp. Fresh parsley on top mirrors the garnish.
2. Lemon Orzo
Orzo pasta seasoned with lemon, parsley, and a bit of garlic makes a bright, zesty side for shrimp scampi. The rice-shaped pasta feels a bit lighter than traditional noodles. Fold in some shrimp for bonus seafood flavor.
3. Roasted Asparagus
Earthy, nutty roasted asparagus is a classic complement to seafood. Toss the spears with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and roast until caramelized. A squeeze of lemon at the end brings out the flavors of the scampi.
4. Tomato Salad
A fresh tomato salad offers a cool, acidic counterpart to warm shrimp scampi. We love pairing juicy tomato slices with mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Make it a caprese salad!
5. Sautéed Zucchini
For a quick and easy veggie side, sauté zucchini ribbons in olive oil with minced garlic. Sprinkle on some parsley and lemon zest. The bright, fresh flavors perfectly balance the richness of the scampi.
6. Fettuccine Alfredo
Buttery, garlicky fettuccine Alfredo makes a decadent but delicious pairing with shrimp scampi. For a lighter option, try making zucchini noodles instead of traditional pasta. Sprinkle both with parsley.
7. Polenta
Creamy, mellow polenta acts as the perfect blank canvas for shrimp scampi. Drizzle the scampi sauce over polenta for an easy, satisfying meal. Grate Parmesan on top for more richness.
8. Lemon Rice
Fluffy lemon rice brings a citrusy punch to balance shrimp scampi’s richness. Cook rice in lemon zest, juice, chicken broth, and olive oil for incredible lemon essence in each bite.
9. Bruschetta
Shrimp scampi bruschetta makes for an elegant starter or light meal. Top toasted bread with shrimp scampi, diced tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze.
10. Caesar Salad
A crisp Caesar salad is a go-to pairing with seafood. Romaine, Parmesan, croutons, and a zesty dressing complement shrimp scampi perfectly.
11. Cheddar Bay Biscuits
These popular olive garden copycat cheddar bay biscuits have lots of garlic flavor from the garlic herb seasoning blend. Warm and fluffy, they’re great for dipping in the scampi sauce.
12. Roasted Potatoes
Crispy roasted potatoes are a hearty, comforting side for shrimp scampi. We suggest seasoning them with garlic, rosemary, paprika, salt, and pepper before roasting to add big flavor.
13. Linguine
For a classic pairing, you can’t go wrong with linguine noodles tossed with a bit of scampi sauce. Garnish with extra parsley for a pop of color.
14. Vegetable Medley
A medley of quick-roasting veggies like zucchini, squash, peppers, and onions makes an easy, healthy side. Toss in olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning before roasting.
15. Dinner Rolls
Warm, soft dinner rolls are perfect for dipping in the rich, butter garlic sauce. Bonus points if you can find Parmesan garlic rolls!
16. Risotto
Creamy lemon risotto makes an indulgent base for shrimp scampi. The starchy rice soaks up the sauce beautifully. Parmesan cheese and parsley stir in more flavor.
17. Arugula Salad
Peppery arugula salad offers a nice contrast to creamy scampi. Toss arugula with a lemony vinaigrette, shaved Parmesan, and tomatoes for a restaurant-quality side.
Time to Feast on Shrimp Scampi!
With so many tasty options, from hearty pastas to fresh veggie sides, you’re sure to find the perfect accompaniments for shrimp scampi on this list.
Remember to choose sides that complement the key notes in scampi: garlic, lemon, herbs, butter, and seafood. Pick a couple of your favorites, cook up a scampi platter, and get ready to enjoy a delicious meal!
