The Best Homemade Chicken Scampi Recipe Just Like Olive Garden

Dive into the world of Italian-American cuisine with this mouthwatering Olive Garden-inspired chicken scampi that brings restaurant magic straight to your kitchen.

Succulent chicken strips swim in a luxurious, garlicky white wine sauce that promises to tantalize your taste buds.

Each tender bite carries the essence of classic Italian flavors, perfectly balancing herbs and rich, velvety notes.

The recipe captures the warmth of a cozy trattoria with its aromatic blend of fresh ingredients and simple cooking techniques.

Garlic, butter, and white wine create a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate.

This homemade version surpasses the restaurant experience, offering you control over every delectable detail.

Get ready to impress everyone at the dinner table with this restaurant-quality dish that’s surprisingly easy to master.

Instructions for Olive Garden Inspired Chicken Scampi

• Pasta Preparation

Boil water in a large pot and infuse with salt. Cook pasta until almost tender, keeping some cooking water on the side.

• Chicken Creation

Warm a skillet and coat chicken pieces in seasoned flour. Fry until each side transforms into a beautiful golden brown color.

• Magical Sauce Crafting

Melt butter in a pan and sauté onions and garlic until they become translucent. Pour white wine and let it dance and reduce. Add chicken stock, lemon juice, and spices. Let the mixture simmer and develop deep flavors.

• Flavor Fusion

In the same cooking pot, quickly sauté bell peppers and onions. Add cooked pasta and the silky sauce, gently tossing everything together. Adjust seasoning as needed, using reserved pasta water to create perfect consistency.

• Delightful Presentation

Arrange pasta on plates, ensuring each serving is generously coated with the fragrant sauce. Garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and top with crispy golden chicken pieces.

Tips to Nail Chicken Scampi Flavor

• Cooking Tips & Variations
• Pasta Perfection: Choose angel hair or linguine for an authentic Olive Garden-style experience. For a healthier twist, swap traditional pasta with zucchini noodles or whole wheat pasta to add extra nutrition.
• Chicken Alternatives: Replace chicken tenderloins with shrimp for a classic seafood scampi. Vegetarian friends can substitute chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or plant-based chicken alternatives for an equally delicious meal.
• Spice It Up: Adjust red pepper flakes to control heat levels. Fresh herbs like basil or oregano can elevate the sauce's complexity and add a vibrant garden-fresh flavor profile.
• Sauce Secrets: Create a richer sauce by adding a splash of heavy cream or a sprinkle of cream cheese for extra creaminess. For a lighter version, use low-sodium chicken broth and reduce butter quantity without compromising taste.

Serve Up Chicken Scampi Just Like the Restaurant

• Hosting a Dinner Party Delight: Impress your guests by serving this Olive Garden-inspired chicken scampi on elegant white plates. Garnish with fresh parsley sprigs and add a warm breadstick on the side for a complete restaurant-style experience.
• Wine Pairing Magic: Complement the dish's delicate flavors with a crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. The citrusy notes will enhance the lemon-infused scampi sauce and cut through the richness of the buttery chicken.
• Family-Style Feast: Transform this recipe into a fun, interactive meal by presenting the pasta and chicken in large serving dishes. Let everyone serve themselves family-style, creating a warm and communal dining atmosphere that encourages conversation and sharing.
• Leftover Love: Repurpose any remaining chicken scampi by tossing it into a fresh salad the next day. The cold pasta and crispy chicken will make a delightful lunch option that's both convenient and delicious.

Leftover Chicken Scampi? Here’s How to Store It

• Refrigerator Revival: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. The sauce might thicken when chilled, so gently reheat with a splash of chicken stock to restore its silky consistency.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Separate chicken and pasta before freezing to maintain optimal texture. Wrap tightly in freezer-safe containers, keeping for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Smart Prep Hack: Chop vegetables and measure ingredients in advance to reduce cooking time. Chicken can be seasoned and floured earlier in the day, making dinner preparation faster and smoother.
• Portion Control Magic: Create individual meal-prep containers with balanced servings. This approach helps manage portion sizes and provides convenient grab-and-go lunches for busy workdays or quick weeknight dinners.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 610 kcal

Servings: 5

Olive Garden Inspired Chicken Scampi Ingredient List

• Chicken Tenderloins: Tender, lean meat that cooks quickly and absorbs flavors beautifully, choosing fresh or properly thawed pieces ensures best texture and taste.

• Angel Hair Pasta: Delicate, thin pasta that cooks rapidly and creates elegant strands for the dish.
• Flour: Provides crispy golden coating for chicken, selecting all-purpose flour ensures smooth breading.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, creamy foundation for scampi sauce, allowing precise salt control.
• Yellow Onion: Adds subtle sweetness and depth to sauce, selecting firm and fragrant onions enhances flavor.
• Garlic: Delivers bold, aromatic punch to sauce, choosing fresh cloves maximizes taste.

• White Wine: Introduces complex, bright notes to sauce, selecting dry varieties like Pinot Grigio works best.
• Chicken Stock: Provides savory liquid base, low-sodium options allow better seasoning control.
• Lemon Juice: Adds zesty brightness and balances richness, fresh lemons offer most vibrant flavor.

• Red Bell Pepper: Brings sweet, crisp texture and vibrant color, selecting ripe peppers ensures maximum flavor.
• Yellow Bell Pepper: Offers mild, sunny sweetness and visual appeal.
• Green Bell Pepper: Contributes fresh, slightly bitter undertones.
• Red Onion: Provides sharp, colorful crunch to vegetable mix.

• Parmesan Cheese: Optional creamy, salty topping that elevates dish's complexity.

What You’ll Need for Chicken Scampi

• Large Pot: Perfect for boiling pasta and preparing water.
• Frying Pan: Essential for cooking golden chicken tenderloins.
• Medium Saucepan: Ideal for crafting the delicious scampi sauce.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping onions and garlic.
• Chef's Knife: Sharp tool for precise ingredient preparation.
• Whisk: Great for smoothly blending sauce ingredients.
• Wooden Spoon: Helpful for stirring and mixing pasta and sauce.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.
• Colander: Useful for draining cooked pasta.
• Tongs: Convenient for handling and flipping chicken.

Mouthwatering Chicken Scampi Recipe

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• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Delightful olive garden-inspired chicken scampi brings classic Italian-American flavors to home kitchens. Succulent chicken, garlic-infused sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta combine for a restaurant-quality meal you can easily recreate.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 12 chicken tenderloins (1.75 lbs or 794 g)
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter
• 0.25 lb (113 g) unsalted butter (one stick)
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 0.5 cup yellow onion, diced
• 0.5 cup flour
• 2 tbsps garlic, minced
• 2 tbsps lemon juice (approximately 1 large lemon)
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 12 oz (340 g) angel hair pasta
• 0.5 red bell pepper, cut into strips
• 0.5 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
• 0.5 green bell pepper, cut into strips
• 0.5 medium red onion, sliced
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
• 0.125 tsp red pepper flakes

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Instructions

1. Pasta Preparation: Bring salted water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving one cup of starchy liquid before draining.
2. Chicken Transformation: Coat chicken tenderloins in seasoned flour and sear in a skillet with vegetable oil until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 5-7 minutes per side. Set aside on a separate plate.
3. Sauce Crafting: In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté onions with garlic until translucent. Deglaze with white wine, then add chicken stock, lemon juice, dried parsley, and red pepper flakes. Simmer to develop intense flavors, whisking in additional butter to create a silky, emulsified sauce.
4. Vegetable Medley: In the original pasta pot, sauté bell peppers and onions until slightly caramelized. Reintroduce cooked pasta and pour the scampi sauce, tossing thoroughly to ensure complete coating.
5. Final Touches: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, using reserved pasta water to perfect sauce consistency. Plate the pasta, topping with golden chicken tenderloins and optional freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of decadence.

Notes

• Pasta Water Magic: Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water to help thicken and emulsify sauce, creating a smooth, silky texture that perfectly coats noodles.
• Flour Coating Trick: Dust chicken lightly with seasoned flour for a crispy, golden exterior that seals in moisture and adds delightful texture.
• Wine Reduction Technique: Allow white wine to reduce and concentrate flavors, creating a deeper, more complex sauce base that elevates the entire dish.
• Sauce Balancing Pro: Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency, ensuring a glossy, perfect coating that clings beautifully to pasta strands.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 610
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 540 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 62 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg