If you love the creamy, garlic-infused goodness of Olive Garden's pasta dishes, you're in for a treat with this Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi recipe! This easy-to-make dish brings that same comforting, indulgent dish right to your dinner table. It's the perfect meal to for a cozy dinner or impressing guests. After you make this, this recipe will surely become one of your favorite Olive Garden copycat recipes!
What Makes This Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi So Special?
This copycat recipe captures all the best flavors from Olive Garden's signature dish. It has well-seasoned, flavorful, and tender chicken breasts that are pan-fried to golden perfection. Then, the chicken breasts are served over a bed of pasta. This dish is both satisfying and decadent. What's even better is that it's incredibly easy to recreate at home because you can access the ingredients easily and it's a weeknight dinner the entire family will love. Not only does it save you a trip to the restaurant, you can enjoy this dish for a fraction of the price.
Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi is the perfect harmony of creamy, garlicky and tangy. The richness of the sauce pairs beautifully with the chicken and pasta, creating a comforting meal that's perfect for any occasion. Plus, you can also customize the dish to suit your taste. The ways you can prep this dish to your liking are endless. Add extra garlic, a little more lemon, or even a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, it's entirely up to you!
This copycat recipe is a major time-saver too. In just 30 minutes, you can whip up a dish that's just as delicious as the restaurant version. This recipe is guaranteed to satisfy your tastebuds, whether you're cooking for one or feeding a family.
Aside from this recipe, my take on The Cheesecake Factory Four Cheese Pasta, Chicken Marsala Copycat Recipe, and Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi Copycat Recipe are also great dinner ideas!
Ingredients for this copycat olive garden chicken scampi recipe
Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the detailed ingredient measurements.
Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the detailed ingredient measurements.
- Chicken Breasts: Tender and juicy chicken breasts form the base of this dish. They’re seared in a large skillet to golden perfection before being coated in the creamy sauce.
- Olive Oil: This will be used for sautéing the chicken to achieve a perfectly crisp exterior.
- Salt and Pepper: These are some of the seasonings you'll need to render flavor to the chicken.
- Italian Seasoning: This blend of herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme, give the dish a delightful, aromatic finish.
- Flour: You can use all-purpose flour to dredge the chicken breasts.
- Garlic: This is a key component to the pasta dish and the scampi sauce. Garlic gives this recipe its bold, savory flavor, so don’t skimp on it.
- Heavy Cream: This is the key to that rich, creamy texture. It helps create a velvety sauce that coats the chicken and pasta beautifully.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and depth to the sauce, balancing out the garlic and cream. Go for unsalted so you can control the amount of salt that goes in to the dish.
- Red Onion: Chopped red onions brings beautiful aroma to the pasta dish.
- Bell Peppers: Aside from adding visual appeal to the Chicken Scampi, using traffic light bell peppers adds that subtle yet distinct pepper flavor to the dish.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parmesan brings a touch of nuttiness and enhances the overall flavor of the sauce.
- Pasta: Traditionally, spaghetti or angel hair works best, but feel free to use your favorite type of pasta.
- Dry White Wine: A splash of cooking white wine adds more flavor, brightness, and balances out the creaminess of the dish.
How to make this copycat olive garden chicken scampi recipe
Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full step-by-step instructions.
Prepare the Chicken: In a deep, wide dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning together. Whisk everything to combine.
Next, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then cook the chicken for about 6-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Cook the pasta: While the chicken breasts are frying, fill a separate pot with water. Allow water to reach a rolling boil, then season it, before adding the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions.
Make the sauce: In the same pan where the chicken was fried, melt the butter and sauté minced garlic and red onions. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, just until the onions have sweat a bit. Then, add the chopped bell peppers and cook until they've softened a little. Season with salt and pepper at this point to layer the flavors.
Next, pour in the heavy cream and allow it to simmer a little before adding in the pasta. Stir everything together and let it simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Once ready, add the pasta in and toss it to coat the sauce.
Top with cooked chicken breasts: Once pasta is ready, take the cooked chicken breasts, slice them into smaller pieces and place them on the bed of pasta. Give your Chicken Scampi a light toss to coat the chicken with the sauce, or leave it as it to let your family and friends mix them up on their own once you serve it.
Serve and enjoy: Plate the pasta and chicken, then drizzle some of the sauce on top. You can also garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or red pepper flakes if desired. Serve and enjoy it while it's hot! Your family will love this restaurant quality meal!
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE PERFECT COPYCAT CHICKEN SCAMPI
- Undercook the pasta. When cooking the pasta, undercook it by about 3 minutes. This is because you will continue cooking it in the sauce later.
- Searing the Chicken: For the best flavor, make sure your pan is hot before adding the chicken. This will ensure a crispy, golden crust on the outside while keeping the inside juicy and tender.
- Adjust the Sauce: If you prefer a richer sauce, you can add a little extra butter or cream. For tang, squeeze a splash of lemon juice.
- Pasta Choice: Spaghetti or angel hair pasta works perfectly for this dish. However, any pasta you have on hand will do. Penne or fettuccine are great alternatives too. Really, any cooked pasta will work for this recipe (it's a great dish to use up leftover pasta).
- Add Veggies: Want to make your Chicken Scampi heartier? Add some spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms to the sauce for extra flavor and color.
WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
You don't need to wait to dine-in at Olive Garden when you can whip up this indulgent dish on your own at home. This indulgent copycat recipe is rich, satisfying, and flavorful, everything you love about Chicken Scampi, but made easy. This recipe is guaranteed to impress no matter who you will serve it to, whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or you just want to treat yourself to something special. Plus, it’s incredibly customizable, so you can make it your own with just a few simple tweaks.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ
Yes! Chicken thighs (whether boneless or bone-in) will work perfectly in this recipe, offering even more flavor and tenderness.
You can, but note that the sauce won’t be as rich. If you want a lighter version, half-and-half is a great option.
Angel hair or spaghetti are the most common, but feel free to use whatever pasta you prefer.
You could use Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, or Sauvignon Blanc as a white wine for this dish. If you want to learn more check out this food and wine pairing guide!
While it's best served fresh, you can prep the sauce and chicken ahead of time and reheat when you're ready to serve. This might affect the texture of the sauce a little though.
Yes! You can substitute the chicken with grilled tofu or add roasted vegetables for a delicious vegetarian alternative.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, simply let the cream simmer for a few extra minutes.
Absolutely! Seafood like shrimp or scallops can be a great addition or even a substitute for the chicken.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. When reheating, set the heat on low in the stove. Add the pasta in with a splash of cream or milk.
You can keep any leftover Chicken Scampi for a maximum of 3 days. I don't recommend freezing this because the sauce's texture changes drastically when being thawed.
You can serve this over rice or with garlic bread or breadsticks on the side to go with the sauce. You can also serve it with this refreshing homemade raspberry lemonade for a bright drink pairing!
Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe
Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 & 1/2 lb chicken tenders or chicken breast sliced thinly
- 1/2 cup flour for dredging
- 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
- 12 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
For the Scampi Sauce:
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth as a substitute
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 red bell pepper sliced thinly
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper sliced thinly
- 1/2 green bell pepper sliced thinly
- 1 red onion sliced thinly
For Serving:
- 1 lb angel hair pasta or linguine cooked according to package instructions
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Make sure you salt it well then cook the angel hair pasta according to the package instructions.1 lb angel hair pasta or linguine
- Reserve one cup of pasta water once the pasta is cooked then drain the pasta and set it aside.
Prepare the Chicken:
- In a shallow plate or bowl, mix the flour, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 12 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.1/4 cup vegetable oil
- Dredge the chicken tenders in the flour mixture then place then on the hot pan and cook for about 3 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165F and the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside for later.1 & 1/2 lb chicken tenders
Make the Scampi Sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt butter with the olive oil over medium heat.4 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp olive oil
- Add the onions, and bell peppers and cook for a few minutes or until they are tender crisp. Add in the garlic and cook for another minutes.4 cloves garlic, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 yellow bell pepper, 1/2 green bell pepper, 1 red onion
- Add in the wine and deglaze the pan, allowing to reduce slightly before adding the heavy cream1/2 cup white wine
- Add the heavy cream and and about 1/2 of the pasta water, stirring to combine. Once the sauce starts to simmer, add in the parmesan cheese, salt (to taste), and a sprinkle of chili flakes if you would like a little kick. Give it a good stir then add in the pasta and toss to coat.1/2 cup heavy cream, 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- If you want the sauce to be slightly thinner add a little bit of the pasta water at a time and mix
- Add the cooked chicken back to the pan with the pasta, garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan, if desired.Fresh parsley
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