Hey there fellow food lovers! I know that feeling when you’re craving some delicious shrimp scampi but realize you’re out of white wine. Don’t worry – I’ve got your back! After testing countless variations in my kitchen, I’m excited to share these amazing substitutes that’ll make your shrimp scampi just as tasty.
Why Do We Even Use White Wine in Shrimp Scampi?
Before diving into the substitutes let’s understand why white wine is traditionally used
- Adds bright acidity to balance the rich butter
- Provides fruity and aromatic notes
- Helps thin the sauce to perfectly coat the shrimp
- Brings out complex flavors through alcohol content
Best Substitutes for White Wine in Shrimp Scampi
1. Chicken or Vegetable Broth
This is my top pick! Here’s why
- Matches wine’s body and saltiness
- Creates a well-balanced sauce
- Use same amount as wine
- Pro tip: Choose low-sodium versions like Swanson’s
2. Clam Juice
Perfect for seafood lovers:
- Adds amazing ocean-like flavor
- Natural salts mimic wine’s effect
- Use 1:1 ratio to replace wine
- Recommended: Crown Prince brand
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Great for adding tanginess:
- Provides bright acidity
- Start with 1-2 teaspoons
- Adds subtle apple sweetness
- Mix with broth for best results
4. Lemon Juice
Simple but effective:
- Brings citrusy brightness
- Use 2-3 tablespoons per 1/4 cup wine
- Best combined with broth
- Fresh juice works better than bottled
5. Seafood Stock
For ultimate ocean flavor:
- Enhances natural shrimp taste
- Use 1:1 ratio
- Consider adding lemon juice
- Look for low-sodium versions
6. Water + Extras
When you’re really in a pinch:
- Use same amount as wine
- Add extra garlic and herbs
- Consider lemon juice
- Works surprisingly well!
7. Fruit Juices
For a creative twist:
- Try apple or white grape juice
- Use 1/4 cup per 1/4 cup wine
- Mix with broth
- Adds natural sweetness
Pro Tips for Making Wine-Free Shrimp Scampi
- Sauce Enhancement
- Save some pasta water to thicken sauce
- Add butter at the end for richness
- Use fresh herbs when possible
- Cooking Tips
- Don’t overcook the shrimp (they should just turn pink)
- Sauté garlic gently to avoid burning
- Let sauce reduce slightly to concentrate flavors
- Flavor Boosters
- Add red pepper flakes for heat
- Finish with fresh parsley
- Grate some Parmesan on top
- Squeeze fresh lemon just before serving
My Simple No-Wine Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Your chosen wine substitute
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh parsley
- Optional: red pepper flakes
Instructions:
- Heat butter and oil in large pan
- Cook shrimp until just pink (about 2-3 mins per side)
- Add garlic, cook 1 minute
- Add your wine substitute and seasonings
- Simmer briefly
- Garnish and serve!
Common Questions I Get Asked
Q: Will my scampi taste different without wine?
A: Slightly, but with the right substitute, it’ll still be delicious!
Q: Can I mix substitutes?
A: Yes! I often combine broth with lemon juice for best results.
Q: What’s the quickest substitute?
A: Water with extra seasoning works in a pinch!
There ya have it! Now you can make awesome shrimp scampi even when there’s no wine in sight. Remember, cooking is about experimenting and finding what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to mix and match these substitutes until you find your perfect combo!
I’d love to hear which substitute becomes your favorite – drop me a comment below! Happy cooking!
Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine
- ▢ 1 lb linguine pasta.
- ▢ ¼ cup butter.
- ▢ ¼ cup olive oil.
- ▢ 2 Tablespoons minced garlic.
- ▢ Salt and pepper to taste.
- ▢ ¼ – ⅓ cup lemon juice.
- ▢ ¾ cup water/chicken broth/ shrimp stock. See notes *
- ▢ ½ cup fresh parsley chopped.
- ▢ Lemon zest optional.**
- ▢ Red chili flakes optional.
- ▢ 2 lb large shrimps peeled and divined.
- Cook pasta according to package directions reserve half a cup of the cooking water, see notes for that.***
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil then add shrimps until most of the shrimp turns pink. About 2 minutes.
- Add garlic and sauté with shrimp for another minute until all the shrimp turn pink.
- Reduce heat add salt, pepper, lemon juice, shrimp stock, parsley and the reserved half cup of pasta cooking water( if you chose to).
- Stir everything well and cook for two minutes.
- Add cooked pasta to the pot, mix then turn off the heat.
- Serve garnished with more parsley and red pepper flakes if desired.
❤️ Why You’ll Love It
Garlicky Buttery Shrimp Scamp is the best and most welcomed shrimp recipe around my dinner table. This is a kid- friendly version , a no wine shrimp scampi recipe that you can safely give to your kids or eat if you follow a no alcohol diet. Substituting alcohol is some recipes is not hard at all. Take for example this rich tiramisu recipe without alcohol, turned out great and did not affect its deliciousness.
This Shrimp with pasta kind of light, easy, quick, one pan, 30 minutes, kid friendly, and a no brainer recipe. No wonder I love it, it is my kind of recipes.
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
Now, lets head over to the step by step part of the recipe and check for yourself how easy it is.
- First off, I need to tell you a quick trick. The trick is to cook the shrimps just long enough that they turn pink and not until they get the texture of tires . So we need to work quick and that adds to the beauty of this dish.
- Well start by heating a generous amount of butter and olive oil in a pan then add shrimp and cook until most not all of them turn pink.
- Add another heavy dose of garlic and stir for about a minute.
- Reduce heat and add parsley, lemon juice, zest ( if you chose to), salt and pepper.
- Add the shrimp stock/water or chicken broth and mix well.
- Stir in cooked pasta, turn heat off and mix pasta well with the rest of ingredients.
Another tip is, if you care for more sauce, add half a cup of the cooked pasta water to the pan. The starch in the water will thicken the sauce a bit allowing it to adhere to the pasta more. Ive tried it both ways and honestly did not feel much of a difference but some people say it does . For us it was great anyways.
Scampi by itself is a tiny, lobster-like crustacean that has been swapped with shrimps here in the United States. The sauce is a simple garlic, white wine and butter sauce. Very flavorful and goes very well with pasta or can be mopped with bread or rice.
Well, you can use chicken broth or water as a substitute for white wine. Here though, I have used shrimp stock. So what is shrimp stock is exactly? Simple, do not throw away your shrimp shells. Simmer shrimp shells in water or microwave for a couple of minutes, strain and discard the shells. The shrimp shells are wonderful flavor enhancers and should not be discarded.
