Chicken Scampi
Chicken Scampi is the ultimate chicken dinner meal that features crisp and tender breaded chicken, the perfect creamy, garlicky sauce, along with bell peppers and spaghetti for a truly satisfying meal. It’s not only easy to make but is quick too! Plus, this is the perfect copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s Chicken Scampi!
We’re all looking for the perfect chicken dinner, and Chicken Scampi is a classic that you’re going to keep coming back to. With perfectly cooked chicken, a homemade creamy garlic-based sauce, bell peppers for veggies, and spaghetti to top it all off, this truly is a deliciously satisfying meal that’s perfect for weeknights.
It’s an easy recipe that includes simple step by step instructions and even first-time cooks can try their hand at it. You also only need some pantry staple ingredients to make it, so if you’re trying to figure out what to cook for dinner, this is the perfect chicken recipe! Try it tonight and I’m sure you’re going to add it to your monthly rotation! Oh, and you might also like my General Tso’s Chicken Recipe.
🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
All you need are some simple ingredients to make the tastiest pasta dish you’ve ever had. Let’s look at what the main ingredients for this recipe are.
You can scroll down to the recipe card for further details and instructions.
Chicken: Part of the charm of this recipe is the juicy chicken tenders that takes it to the next level. To make it, you’ll need some chicken tender meat for the perfect chicken pieces that will turn out soft yet juicy every single time.
Heavy cream: We’ll also need some heavy cream to give this dish that classic creaminess it is known for that’ll perfectly coat the spaghetti and make every bite absolutely delicious.
Garlic: You’ll need fresh garlic that we’ll saute along with onions and bell peppers for that perfect base for our creamy garlicky sauce.
Parmesan cheese: We’ll also be adding some parmesan cheese to the pasta dish as it’ll really elevate the flavor of your creamy sauce by adding a bold, tangy, nutty flavor to it that’ll brighten everything in the dish together.
🔪 HOW TO MAKE
Making this delicious Chicken Scampi is incredibly easy, thanks to my simple step by step recipe.
The full instructions are in the recipe card below, but let’s look at the main steps to making this delicious chicken meal.
Step 1:
Let’s start by cooking the chicken tenders first. Add the seasonings to the chicken tenders to coat it evenly. Then, in another bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper, and dredge the chicken tenders in it.
Step 2:
Cook the chicken in a pan with cooking oil on medium heat. Cook both sides for 2 to 3 minutes. Set it aside once done.
Step 3:
Add olive oil and butter to another large pan, and then saute onions until they turn translucent. Then add garlic, bell peppers, and black pepper to it and saute it all as well.
Step 4:
Pour the chicken broth into the pan and add heavy cream to it. Stir them well together and add parmesan to the pan as well. Then add the cooked spaghetti and mix properly to help coat all the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Step 5:
To serve, add pasta to the plate and place the cooked chicken on top. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top, and your Chicken Scampi is ready to be served.
💭 COOKING TIPS
- I didn’t use much salt since the Parmesan cheese, and the broth had salt.
- You can use one type of bell pepper. I have used three to make the dish look colorful.
- It’s best to use low-sodium broth or stock to control the seasoning.
- The sauce is delicious and on the mild side with not many spices, and that is to balance the robust flavors in the chicken.
📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS
If you’re looking to switch up the flavors of your Chicken Scampi, there are plenty of delicious variations you can try. Here are some ideas:
Spicier: If you want a spicier version, try adding a little cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Veggies: Traditionally, bell peppers are the only veggies added to the Chicken Scampi but you can truly experiment and add whichever veggies you love most such as mushrooms, zucchini, or even broccoli.
Seafood: If you want to make a seafood version of Chicken Scampi, try adding some shrimp or scallops to the dish.
Cheese: You can also switch up the cheese and use something like mozzarella or gouda for a different flavor.
Herbs: For an extra boost of flavor, try adding some fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or oregano.
💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Chicken scampi is an Italian-American dish made with chicken tenders, spaghetti, garlic, onions, bell peppers, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. It is a creamy pasta dish that is full of flavor and is also incredibly easy to make.
The scampi sauce is made of a combination of olive oil, butter, garlic, onions, bell peppers, chicken broth, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. This creamy sauce is packed with flavor and is the perfect accompaniment to cooked chicken tenders. The Parmesan cheese adds a salty and nutty flavor to the dish, while the heavy cream helps to thicken it up. The garlic and onions add a subtle sweetness to the sauce.
Yes, you can definitely use other types of pasta for chicken scampi. Any kind of long pasta such as linguine, fettuccine or even penne would work well in this dish. Just make sure to cook the pasta according to package instructions before adding it to the sauce.
Yes, you can make chicken scampi ahead of time. Just cook the chicken and prepare the sauce as instructed in the recipe. Then store both separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, just reheat both components and assemble them as instructed.
🍲 MORE PASTA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
🌡️ STORING AND REHEATING
Fridge: You can store any leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container. For best results, store the chicken and spaghetti separately and combine them before serving.
Freezer: The sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months, and so can the chicken, but the chicken will lose its crispiness. If you want to freeze it, though, freeze all components separately and add cooked spaghetti to it before serving.
Reheat: To reheat the chicken scampi, microwave it or heat it in a skillet. If using a skillet, heat the sauce over medium-high heat and add a little cream to adjust the consistency. Then add cooked spaghetti to it and the chicken before serving.
Chicken Scampi
Ingredients
Chicken seasoning
- 360 grams chicken tenders
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon white pepper powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
Flour seasoning
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For frying the chicken tenders
- 3 tablespoon cooking oil
Other ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium onion cut into slices
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- ½ red bell pepper
- ½ yellow bell pepper
- ½ green bell pepper
- ½ cup chicken stock or broth
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- Cooked spaghetti enough for four people
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the chicken tenders and the seasoning for it and mix well. Keep aside.
- In a different bowl, mix well the flour, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat the cooking oil in a large pan, dredge the chicken tenders in the seasoned flour and place it in the hot oil. Cook on both sides on medium heat until cooked. Will take around two to three minutes on each side.
- In a clean large pan, add the olive oil and butter, when hot, add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
- Now, add the bell pepper and season with black pepper. Stir for a few seconds.
- Pour the chicken broth or stock, and mix well on medium heat, then add the heavy cream and stir for a few seconds. Add the parmesan and mix well.
- It’s time to add the cooked spaghetti, ensure to mix properly to coat all the pasta with the sauce.
- To serve, on a plate first add the pasta and then place the cooked chicken on top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
- I didn’t use much salt since the Parmesan cheese, and the broth had salt.
- You can use one type of bell pepper. I have used three to make the dish look colorful.
- It’s best to use low-sodium broth or stock to control the seasoning.
- The sauce is delicious and on the mild side with not many spices, and that is to balance the robust flavors in the chicken.
I tried the chicken scampi. It was delicious, even my picky boyfriend liked it.
Oh, thank you so much for your comment, I appreciate it 🥰