Chicken Scampi
This colorful and creamy Chicken Scampi is a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner with restaurant-level flair. Juicy chicken tenderloins are lightly coated and seared until golden, then tossed with tender angel hair pasta in a rich garlic butter sauce made with white wine, cream, and Parmesan. Sautéed bell peppers and red onion add vibrant color and a touch of sweetness, making it a comforting, all-in-one dish that's perfect for family dinners or casual entertaining.
Servings: 4
Calories: 778kcal
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds 650g chicken tenderloins
- ½ cup 60g all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Pasta & Sauce:
- 8 ounces 225g angel hair pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 red onion sliced into half-moons
- ½ red bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ green bell pepper thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- ½ cup 120ml dry white wine (e.g. Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, or Sauvignon Blanc)
- ½ cup 120ml whipping cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes optional
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain and set aside.
Prepare the Chicken
- In a shallow dish, mix the flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Dredge the chicken tenderloins in the flour mixture until evenly coated.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet, cover to keep warm, and set aside.
Make the Sauce
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sliced red onion and bell peppers, and sauté for 2–3 minutes until just softened.
- Stir in crushed garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Pour in white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let simmer for 4 minutes to reduce.
- Add reserved pasta water and whipping cream. Once simmering, stir in Parmesan cheese, season with additional salt if needed, and add red chili flakes if using.
Combine and Serve
- Toss cooked pasta into the sauce until evenly coated. Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the pasta.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Use ¼ cup chicken broth + ¼ cup white grape juice or apple juice as a substitute for wine.
For a low-carb option, serve with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
Shrimp makes a great protein alternative to chicken.
Dry white wine gives the best flavor; small single-serve bottles are convenient and minimize waste.