Name: Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined; Kosher salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; Olive oil spray; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 lemon, juiced; 1/4 cup white wine; 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs; 2 tablespoons light butter, softened (room temperature)

If you love seafood that’s bursting with bright, fresh flavors but want to keep things easy and approachable, then you’ll absolutely adore this Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe. It delivers that classic garlicky, lemony goodness with a crisp, buttery breadcrumb topping — and trust me, it’s a fan-freaking-tastic way to enjoy shrimp that’s tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked every time. Plus, it takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to impress company without sweating it in the kitchen. Let me walk you through why this simple recipe quickly became one of my go-to shrimp dishes!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super Quick & Easy: You’ll have a delicious seafood dinner in just about 20 minutes, no fuss or complicated prep.
Bright & Flavorful: The fresh lemon juice and garlic pack a punch, balanced by buttery panko topping for texture and richness.
Versatile Meal: Enjoy it on its own, toss with pasta, or pair with your favorite veggies for a complete dinner.
Impresses Every Time: This baked shrimp looks and tastes restaurant-quality but is so easy to pull off at home.

The image shows a white rectangular baking dish filled with a single layer of cooked shrimp, which are pink and orange with a slight shine. On top of the shrimp, there is a layer of minced garlic and small chopped green herbs scattered evenly. Two halved yellow lemons are placed near the edges of the shrimp, adding bright color. Next to the baking dish, a white bowl is filled with plain cooked noodles, light yellow in color. The dishes are placed on a wooden board, but the background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic, shrimp scampi, seafood dinner, easy shrimp recipe, lemon garlic shrimp

Ingredients You’ll Need

These pantry staples come together so beautifully — each ingredient plays a star role in building that classic shrimp scampi flavor with an irresistible crunch on top. Use the freshest shrimp you can find and get ready to hear compliments!

Flat lay of fresh peeled shrimp with translucent shells, three whole garlic cloves, a bright yellow lemon sliced in half showing juicy pulp, a small white ceramic bowl of white wine, a small white ceramic bowl filled with golden panko breadcrumbs, a small white ceramic bowl holding soft pale yellow butter, a small white ceramic bowl of coarse kosher salt, a small white ceramic bowl of cracked black peppercorns, and a small white ceramic bowl with clear olive oil, all arranged in perfect symmetry placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic, shrimp scampi, seafood dinner, easy shrimp recipe, lemon garlic shrimp

Shrimp: I prefer peeled and deveined for quick prep; fresh or thawed frozen shrimp both work.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the best punch; no shortcuts with jarred because raw garlic shines here.
Lemon: Freshly squeezed juice transforms the dish with bright, zesty flavor—bottled just won’t do.
White wine: Adds a subtle depth and complexity; if you don’t drink wine, a splash of chicken broth works in a pinch.
Panko breadcrumbs: These add light crunch and soak up the buttery sauce perfectly.
Light butter: Softened, not melted—this helps bind the breadcrumbs into a sandy topping texture.
Kosher salt + pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out shrimp’s natural sweetness.
Olive oil spray: Gives a nice light crispness without weighing down the shrimp.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how easy it is to make this Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe your own by tweaking a couple ingredients — it’s a fun way to keep it fresh and suit your taste or dietary needs.

Spicy Kick: Adding red pepper flakes to the garlic mixture gives this recipe a wonderful heat that my family goes crazy for—perfect if you like a little spice.
Herb Boost: Try sprinkling chopped parsley or basil on top before serving for a fresh, green pop of color and flavor.
Gluten-Free: Swap panko for gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed nuts to keep the topping crunchy without gluten.
Low Wine or No Alcohol: If you prefer to skip the wine, use extra lemon juice and a splash of chicken broth to keep that acidity and moisture.

How to Make Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Shrimp

First things first, preheat your oven to a hot 425°F. This high heat helps the shrimp cook quickly and lets that breadcrumb topping turn golden and crispy. Next, arrange your peeled and deveined shrimp evenly in a small baking dish — making sure they’re in a single layer so they cook evenly. No crowded shrimp here!

Step 2: Layer on the Flavors

Spray the shrimp lightly with olive oil spray, then season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Pour the freshly squeezed lemon juice and white wine evenly over the shrimp—this combo adds moisture and zesty brightness. Next, sprinkle the minced garlic right on top. When I first tried this, I almost skipped the wine, but trust me, it makes a delicious difference!

Step 3: Make the Buttery Panko Topping

Here’s a little trick I discovered: mixing softened (not melted) butter with panko breadcrumbs gives you a textured paste—kind of like wet sand—that’s easy to spread and toasts beautifully in the oven. Spread this evenly over the shrimp so every bite has a little buttery crunch.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Pop the baking dish into your preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it—the shrimp should turn opaque pink and the topping should be nicely browned but not burnt. Overcooked shrimp get rubbery, and you definitely want to avoid that!

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Pro Tips for Making Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe

Choose Even-Sized Shrimp: This helps the shrimp cook uniformly, so you won’t end up with some overcooked and some underdone.
Butter Temperature Matters: Use softened butter—not melted—for the breadcrumb topping to get that perfect sandy texture without clumps.
Don’t Skip the Wine: Adding white wine elevates the flavor, but if you have none on hand, chicken broth plus a splash of lemon juice is a great swap.
Watch the Bake Time: Shrimp cook very fast; pulling them out right as the topping browns ensures juicy, tender shrimp every time.

How to Serve Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe

A white rectangular baking dish holds cooked shrimp arranged in a single layer with their tails showing and bodies pink and white. On top of the shrimp are small, light yellow crumb-like pieces and scattered fresh green herb pieces, likely basil. There are two lemon halves placed on the shrimp, one at the bottom left and one at the top right of the dish. Behind the dish, there is a white bowl filled with plain cooked noodles, light yellow in color. The whole scene is set on a wooden board over a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic, shrimp scampi, seafood dinner, easy shrimp recipe, lemon garlic shrimp

Garnishes

I always finish with some freshly chopped parsley or basil sprinkled right on top—it adds such a lovely color and a fresh herbal brightness that balances the buttery richness. Sometimes I add thin lemon slices or wedges too, so everyone can squeeze extra citrus if they want that zing!

Side Dishes

I love serving this shrimp scampi over a bed of al dente spaghetti, letting the garlicky butter sauce soak into the pasta. But I also pair it with roasted baby potatoes and steamed asparagus for a low-carb dinner. Garlic bread is always a popular side in my house—perfect for mopping up all those juices!

Creative Ways to Present

For special dinners, I’ve plated the shrimp over creamy risotto or saffron rice, garnished with microgreens and edible flowers—I know, fancy! It instantly impresses guests without much extra effort. Serving it family-style in a large baking dish straight from the oven also creates a cozy vibe everyone loves.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover baked shrimp scampi keeps great in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I like to separate the shrimp from the breadcrumb topping if possible, to keep the crunch from getting soggy.

Freezing

While freezing cooked shrimp can sometimes change the texture, I’ve frozen this recipe once by removing the topping and shrimp into separate containers. When reheated carefully, it still tastes good, but fresh is always best with shrimp.

Reheating

To keep shrimp from getting rubbery, I gently warm leftovers in a skillet over low heat with a splash of lemon juice or wine. For the topping, a quick toast under the broiler for a minute or two brings back some of that crunch.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Absolutely! Just be sure to fully thaw and pat the shrimp dry before assembling to avoid excess moisture, which can make the breadcrumb topping soggy.
What if I don’t have white wine?

No worries—you can substitute an equal amount of chicken or vegetable broth with a splash of extra lemon juice to maintain that bright, flavorful sauce.
Is this recipe spicy?

Not by default, but you can easily add red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne to give it some heat, depending on what you like.
How can I prevent overcooking the shrimp?

Keep an eye on the shrimp after about 12 minutes; they cook fast. Once they turn pink and start to curl, they’re ready! Baking at a high temperature for just 15 minutes helps ensure they stay tender.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, this Baked Shrimp Scampi with Lemon and Garlic Recipe is one of those dishes I go back to again and again because it’s reliable, easy, and downright delicious. You get that perfect balance of garlicky zest, buttery crunch, and juicy shrimp without a ton of fuss or cleanup. Honestly, I love how this recipe makes me feel like a pro in the kitchen — and I know you’ll enjoy it just as much. Give it a try, invite someone you love to share it with, and savor every bite!