Gnocchi shrimp scampi features pillowy potato dumplings tossed with shrimp in a creamy garlic butter sauce. It’s a to-die for dinner, perfect for beginner cooks since it tastes gourmet but requires little skill and is budget-friendly!

The hubs and I are super particular about type of seafood that we’ll eat and how it’s prepared.

So it’s a bit easier to cook that stuff ourselves rather than go out for it.

Also, having an Italian husband- I tend to inherently trust traditional recipes from his side of the family.

After generations, they know what they’re doing right?

Needless to say, it’s become one of my favorite seafood dishes to enjoy.

Served over a bed of warm gnocchi?

Heaven!

What is scampi in Italian food?

So many people think that scampi refers to a cooking style of sautéing mild protein like chicken or shrimp in garlic butter.

But scampi is actually the name of a crustacean (that loosely resembles a teeny, tiny lobster).

Yes, in Italy it was traditionally cooked up in a garlic butter sauce.

But when Italians immigrated to the States they swapped shrimp for the crustacean, keeping both names, and giving the dish a delicious American spin.

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

Frozen shrimp – Thawed, peeled, and deveined
Oils – Both olive oil and butter- use brands you’re familiar with and like the flavor of.
Gnocchi– Cooked according to directions on the package
Garlic – Freshly minced is best, but not absolutely necessary.
Herbs & Spices – This recipe gets it’s unique seasoning from a blend of salt, pepper, basil, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Heavy cream– Don’t substitute! You want maximum richness.
Lemon juice
Broth – A little chicken broth is used to thin the sauce.
Parmesan cheese– Shredded

How to Make

This gnocchi shrimp scampi is so easy to make!

Just cook the gnocchi according to the package directions.

Then drain it and set it aside.

While the gnocchi cooks, heat the oil in large skillet over medium heat. When the oil’s hot, add the prepared shrimp.

Cook it just long enough for the shrimp to turn pink on both sides. Transfer the shrimp to a waiting plate, and set aside.

Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt.

Then add the garlic, basil, crushed red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Cook for two minutes, stirring constantly so that the butter won’t scorch.

Stir in the heavy cream, broth, and lemon juice until evenly combined.

Bring the sauce to a nice simmer, and let it simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.

Add the Parmesan cheese, stirring until it’s completely melted and the sauce’s smooth.

Add the gnocchi and shrimp to the pan and gently toss them with the sauce to evenly combine.

Let the mixture simmer for another minute or two, just until everything’s heated through.

Don’t let it go to long or it will overcook the shrimp, turning them rubbery.

Remove the skillet from heat and let it rest for five minutes so that the sauce continues to thicken.

Serve immediately, topped with parsley and extra shredded cheese- if desired.

Enjoy!

Storing Leftovers

Gnocchi shrimp scampi is best served and enjoyed the same day.

However if you have leftovers, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for no more than 2 days.

What to Serve with Gnocchi Shrimp Scampi

This is a meal all on its own but if you want to round it out, serve it with a side salad and hunk of crusty bread or garlic bread.

Tips and Tricks

Gnocchi tends to cook very quickly and be done when it floats. Keep an eye on it while you cook so you don’t over cook it and wind up with mushy dumplings.
Don’t want to use gnocchi? Substitute pasta instead or even a filled pasta like ravioli or tortellini.
You could always add a little extra garlic to kick it up even more!

Other Gnocchi Recipes

Gnocchi shrimp scampi is one of our favorite date night at home meals to make.

Cook it up and enjoy!

Looking for other recipes with gnocchi?

Try these:

If you’ve tried this GNOCCHI SHRIMP SCAMPI, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!