The Most Scrumptious Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe Ever

Olive Garden chicken scampi brings Italian-inspired culinary magic right into your kitchen, converting ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience.

Restaurant-quality meals don’t require complicated techniques or professional training.

Home cooks can easily replicate this beloved dish with simple pantry staples and fundamental cooking skills.

Rich, garlicky flavors dance alongside tender chicken and perfectly al dente pasta, creating a symphony of taste that feels simultaneously familiar and exciting.

Mediterranean-style seasonings infuse each bite with warmth and depth, transporting you to a cozy Italian trattoria.

Subtle yet sophisticated, this recipe balances delicate herbs with robust protein in a way that feels both comforting and elegant.

Wannabe home chefs will find themselves mastering restaurant-level cuisine with surprising ease.

Chicken Scampi Inspired by Olive Garden Favorites

• Savor Tender Chicken Perfection: Pan-frying chicken tenders creates a golden, crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy and flavorful, ensuring each bite is packed with delicious texture and taste.
• Craft a Restaurant-Quality Sauce: The creamy, herb-infused sauce brings restaurant-style magic to your home kitchen, blending chicken broth, cream, and Italian seasonings for a luxurious coating that transforms simple ingredients into an impressive meal.
• Quick and Easy Gourmet Dinner: This recipe delivers a restaurant-worthy dish in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something special without spending hours in the kitchen, and impressive enough to serve to guests.

Ingredients for Savory Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• Chicken Tenders: Tender meat cuts perfect for pan-frying, best when fresh and evenly sized for consistent cooking.
• Chicken Broth: Rich liquid base that adds depth of flavor and helps create a smooth sauce.

• Angel Hair Pasta: Delicate, thin pasta that absorbs sauce beautifully and cooks quickly.
• Bell Peppers: Colorful vegetable that adds sweetness and crunch to the dish.
• Red Onion: Provides sharp flavor and aromatic base for the sauce.

• Flour: Light coating for chicken that helps create a golden crispy exterior.
• Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning: Classic herb blend that enhances overall dish flavor.
• Butter: Adds rich, creamy texture and helps create a smooth sauce.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides deep, savory undertones.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a silky, luxurious sauce with rich mouthfeel.
• Parmesan Cheese: Salty, nutty cheese that adds final flavor punch.
• Fresh Basil, Fresh Parsley: Bright herbs that provide fresh garnish and additional flavor.
• Olive Oil: Cooking fat for sautéing and adding subtle flavor.

Cooking Instructions for Chicken Scampi With Flair

Step 1: Prepare The Chicken Coating

Mix flour, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning in a shallow dish. Create an even coating for the chicken tenders by thoroughly dredging each piece in the seasoned flour mixture.

Step 2: Cook The Chicken

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place coated chicken tenders into the hot pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken and set aside, keeping warm.

Step 3: Boil The Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add angel hair pasta and cook according to package instructions until perfectly al dente. Drain pasta, reserving one cup of pasta water for later use.

Step 4: Sauté Vegetables

In the same skillet, add fresh olive oil. Toss in sliced bell peppers and red onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables become slightly tender and start to caramelize.

Step 5: Create The Sauce

Add butter and minced garlic to the vegetable mixture. Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the pan bottom.

Step 6: Finish The Sauce

Introduce heavy cream, additional salt, and Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and add cooked pasta, coating thoroughly with the creamy sauce.

Step 7: Combine And Garnish

Place cooked chicken on top of the sauced pasta. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese. Scatter chopped fresh basil and parsley over the dish for a vibrant finish.

Step 8: Serve And Enjoy

Transfer to serving plates immediately. Serve hot and savor the restaurant-quality meal you’ve created right in your own kitchen!

Tips That Nail the Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Texture

• Maximize Chicken Tenderness: Pound chicken tenders to an even thickness before coating to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry edges.
• Control Flour Coating: Use a light, even flour dredge to create a delicate golden crust without heavy breading.
• Perfect Pasta Texture: Cook angel hair pasta just until al dente, as it continues to cook slightly when mixed with hot sauce.
• Balance Sauce Consistency: Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce thickness and prevent it from becoming too dry or thick.
• Elevate Flavor Depth: Toast garlic briefly to release its aromatic oils without burning, creating a more complex and rich flavor profile.

Storing Chicken Scampi So It Tastes Like Day One

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Olive Garden Chicken Scampi in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the dish will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezing: Transfer the cooled pasta and chicken to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing the sauce separately to maintain optimal texture.
• Reheating: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even heating. Microwave as a last resort, covering the dish and stirring halfway through to distribute heat evenly.

What Goes Well With Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio complement the light, garlicky scampi sauce perfectly, cutting through the richness with their bright, zesty flavors.
• Crusty Bread Companion: Serve warm, garlic-rubbed Italian bread alongside the dish to soak up the delicious creamy sauce and add a delightful textural contrast.
• Fresh Herb Salad Sidekick: Prepare a light mixed green salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the rich chicken scampi, bringing a refreshing and tangy element to the meal.
• Cool Cucumber Starter: Begin with a simple cucumber salad dressed in light vinegar and herbs to cleanse the palate and prepare guests for the flavorful main course.

New Takes on the Chicken Scampi Recipe

• Seafood Fusion: Swap chicken for shrimp or a mix of seafood like scallops and mussels for a maritime-inspired version that brings ocean flavors to the classic dish.
• Vegetarian Harvest: Replace chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or roasted cauliflower florets, keeping the creamy sauce and herbs for a hearty plant-based alternative.
• Spicy Mediterranean: Introduce red pepper flakes, add kalamata olives, and sprinkle feta cheese to transform the recipe into a zesty Mediterranean-style scampi with bold, tangy notes.
• Gluten-Free Comfort: Use gluten-free pasta and replace wheat flour with almond or rice flour for coating chicken, ensuring those with dietary restrictions can still enjoy this delicious meal.

Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe

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4.9 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Olive Garden Chicken Scampi brings Italian coastal flavors to your dinner table with tender chicken and linguine swimming in a garlic-white wine sauce. Creamy pasta and succulent chicken create a restaurant-quality meal you can easily enjoy at home without leaving your kitchen.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 2 pounds (lbs) chicken tenders
• 5 cloves garlic

Starches and Flour:

• 1 pound (lb) angel hair pasta
• 1 cup flour

Vegetables and Seasonings:

• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ⅔ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Garnish:

• Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil
• Fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Whisk together flour, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning in a shallow dish, creating a uniform coating mixture for the chicken tenders.
2. Thoroughly dredge each chicken tender in the seasoned flour, ensuring an even, light layer by gently shaking off excess flour.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature, preparing for an even golden sear on the chicken.
4. Carefully place chicken tenders into the hot skillet, cooking each side for 2-3 minutes until a rich golden brown develops and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
5. Remove chicken from skillet, transfer to a plate, and loosely tent with foil to retain warmth and moisture.
6. Simultaneously, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook angel hair pasta until perfectly al dente.
7. Drain pasta, reserving one cup of starchy cooking liquid, and set aside.
8. Wipe the previous skillet clean, then return to medium heat with fresh oil.
9. Sauté sliced bell peppers and red onion until they become slightly softened and translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
10. Introduce butter and minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously to prevent burning and develop rich aromatics.
11. Deglaze the pan by pouring in chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
12. Incorporate cream, salt, and Italian seasoning, bringing the sauce to a gentle simmer while stirring consistently.
13. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete and even coating, allowing the noodles to absorb the creamy liquid.
14. If sauce appears too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
15. Arrange cooked chicken atop the sauced pasta, creating an appealing presentation.
16. Finish the dish by generously sprinkling grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil and parsley for a burst of color and flavor.

Notes

• Perfectly pan-fry chicken by ensuring medium-high heat and avoiding overcrowding the skillet for golden-brown, crispy exterior.
• Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency, preventing dry or overly thick sauce.
• Sauté vegetables briefly to maintain crispness and vibrant colors, enhancing overall dish texture and visual appeal.
• Layer flavors strategically by building sauce in the same skillet used for chicken, capturing delicious browned bits.
• Choose angel hair pasta for delicate, light texture that beautifully absorbs creamy scampi sauce.
• Garnish generously with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese to elevate presentation and add bright, final flavor notes.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 750
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg