Chicken Scampi (Olive Garden Copycat)
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This copycat recipe for Olive Garden Chicken Scampi is even better than the original! Bright, buttery, and creamy white wine sauce coats every piece of tender pasta and veggies, making the perfect base for juicy, seared chicken. And you don’t lose any bit of flavor since the chicken and sauce are cooked in the same pan!
Chicken Scampi
This Olive Garden chicken scampi recipe is everything you want in a restaurant-quality meal, but easily prepared from the comfort of your own kitchen!
Juicy, breaded chicken is pan-fried until crispy, then served over perfectly cooked pasta with bell peppers, onions, and a silky white wine cream sauce.
And if you’re trying to cut back on pasta, there are plenty more Olive Garden favorites to try.
From my Chicken Margherita recipe or a classic chicken parm to comforting chicken gnocchi soup, there’s something for everyone.
Did you know you can make scampi with shrimp too?
My version mimics the Red Lobster recipe, so there’s a little extra kick from the Old Bay seasoning — more New England than Italian, but just as delicious!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken – Tenderloins come from the breast meat and are sold by themselves, though you can simply cut boneless breasts into strips if needed.
- Veggies – All you need for chicken scampi like Olive Garden is a red onion and a few bell peppers in a variety of colors.
However, other vegetables like mushrooms or cherry tomatoes would be tasty too!
A good swap for the red onion would be shallots, which would also enhance the garlic flavor. - Angel Hair Pasta – These thin noodles cook quickly and won’t overwhelm the dish. Feel free to swap in thin spaghetti, linguine, or fettucini.
- Heavy Cream – Gives the sauce a rich, silky texture. For a lighter version, use half & half instead.
- White Wine – A classic ingredient that helps form the sauce and gives it that bright, buttery flavor!
Chardonnay is my top choice, but Sauvignon Blanc will work too.
Or, for an alcohol-free version of chicken scampi, substitute chicken broth instead. - Fresh Parsley and Parmesan Cheese – Use these as a garnish for extra flavor and an expert presentation.
Tips for Making Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
- Dredge the tenderloins before pan-frying.
Yes, it’s a little extra work, but the results are so worth it! A double dip in seasoned flour and milk adds just enough coating to get the outside browned and crispy.
That extra texture with the tender pasta and velvety sauce makes for one outstanding chicken scampi!
- Follow the package instructions when making the pasta.
Angel hair cooks fast, so pay close attention to the cooking time listed on the box.
While al dente is preferred — that means there’s still a hint of bite to the noodle — you can add a minute or two if you prefer your noodles more tender.
Reserve some of that pasta water too! You can store it in the refrigerator, then use it to get leftover Olive Garden chicken scampi back to the perfect consistency.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Chicken Scampi
If you plan on eating leftovers within a day, you can store everything in the same airtight container. Otherwise, keep the pasta separate from the meat and sauce.
Warm leftover chicken scampi in a skillet on the stove, adding splashes of chicken broth (or that reserved pasta water I mentioned) to help loosen the sauce.
You can also cook just enough angel hair pasta for the meal, then make a fresh batch for leftovers!
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Large Skillet – To ensure there’s enough room to sear the chicken, a wide skillet works best.
- Large Pot and Strainer for the pasta
- Shallow Bowls for dredging
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe FAQ
According to their menu, the dish features “chicken sauteed with fresh bell peppers and red onions in a creamy scampi sauce. Served over angel hair pasta.”
So, exactly the same as our copycat Olive Garden chicken scampi recipe!
Please don’t! Cooking wine is cheap, often bitter, and loaded with preservatives, sweeteners, and salt.
Simply put — it will ruin the flavor of the dish and may cause your sauce to break.
Instead, grab a bottle of real wine. It doesn’t have to be expensive either! A good rule is to cook with something you enjoy drinking on its own.
Scampi is another name for langoustine, which is a large prawn. However, the term can also refer to the preparation method!
The popular Italian-American dish, shrimp scampi, features shellfish served in a sauce made from garlic butter, white wine, and parmesan cheese.
Variations have been made with chicken, lobster, and scallops, so scampi usually refers to any dish featuring a buttery garlic white wine sauce.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Olive Garden Copycat Recipes
Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 small green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small orange bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 pound angel hair pasta, prepared according to package instructions
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and black pepper. Pour the milk into another bowl.
- Dredge each chicken tenderloin into the flour, then dip into the milk, then dredge back into the flour mixture.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken tenderloins and cook for about 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked though. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the white wine and deglaze the pan. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the sliced bell peppers, red onion, and minced garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender, remove from the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer and add the vegetables and cooked pasta into the cream. How to simmer and reduce slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Serve the chicken over the angel hair pasta in the sauce, garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published November 2023
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Goodness, this is my favorite recipe at Olive Garden but it is so expensive and you do not get a good sized portion. I had no idea it was so EASY to make at home AND it was even better than I have ever had at Olive Garden!
So easy to make, and it turned out absolutely delicious! Donna and Chad’s recipes from The Slow Roasted Italian never disappoint! 5 stars.
Hi Ariel!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
I wonder why The Olive Garden calls this Scampi….Scampi is shrimp, did I miss something? Does sound good tho.
Donna’s recipes never fail me, and this one was a hit! I added some sautéed mushrooms for extra flavor, and it was fantastic. 5 stars.
Hi Lily!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn