Korean Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti 🍤: Spicy Garlic Butter Goodness

A Korean-Italian fusion that brings gochujang heat to classic shrimp scampi. This 25-minute pasta dish features plump shrimp in a spicy garlic butter sauce tossed with spaghetti — easy enough for weeknights, impressive enough for guests.

Quick Overview

Korean shrimp scampi spaghetti combines Italian scampi technique (garlic, butter, lemon) with Korean gochujang for a sweet-spicy kick. Shrimp cook quickly in a glossy sauce that clings to every strand. It’s a flavor-packed dinner ready in 25 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Image: A steaming plate of Korean shrimp scampi spaghetti with shrimp, spaghetti, and a glossy red sauce, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds
https://homereciprs.com/images/korean-shrimp-scampi-spaghetti-bowl.webp

What Is Korean Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti?

A hybrid pasta dish where shrimp are sautéed with garlic, butter, gochujang, and aromatics, then tossed with spaghetti. The sauce is thick, glossy, and coats the pasta beautifully. It borrows from both Italian scampi (garlic butter) and Korean spicy seafood dishes (gochujang base). The result is a balanced sweet-spicy-savory profile that’s deeply satisfying.

Ingredients You’ll Need

– 12 oz spaghetti
– 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
– 4 tbsp butter
– 4 garlic cloves, minced
– 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
– 1/4 cup chicken broth or white wine
– 1 lemon (zest + juice)
– 2 tbsp soy sauce
– 1 tbsp honey or sugar
– 2 green onions, sliced
– 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
– Salt & pepper to taste
– Optional: 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 tsp chili flakes

Image: Spaghetti, raw shrimp, butter, minced garlic, gochujang, broth, lemon, soy sauce, honey, green onions, sesame seeds on a marble surface
https://homereciprs.com/images/korean-shrimp-scampi-spaghetti-ingredients.webp

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook pasta: Boil spaghetti in salted water according to package. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
2. Sauté shrimp: While pasta cooks, melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shrimp; season with salt & pepper. Cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and slightly caramelized. Remove and set aside.
3. Build sauce: In the same skillet, add remaining 2 tbsp butter. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in gochujang, chicken broth, lemon juice & zest, soy sauce, and honey. Simmer 2 minutes.
4. Combine: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet, tossing to coat in sauce. If too thick, add reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time. Return shrimp to pan; heat through.
5. Serve: Divide into bowls. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Total time: 25 minutes. Serves: 3–4.

Image: Tossing spaghetti in the gochujang butter sauce in a skillet, shrimp visible, steam rising, garnishes sprinkled
https://homereciprs.com/images/korean-shrimp-scampi-spaghetti-cooking.webp

Pro Tips

– Don’t overcook shrimp — they become rubbery. Cook just until pink.
– Adjust gochujang to taste; some brands are spicier than others.
– Add a splash of kimchi juice for extra tang if you like.
– For richer sauce, substitute half the butter with olive oil.

Pair With

Serve with a crisp white wine (Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc) and a simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette.

Related Guides

More Korean-Italian mashups: Carbonara Buldak Ramen and Kimchi Carbonara Pasta.

Author Bio

Daniel Kim is a fusion pasta specialist with 9 years of experience blending Asian flavors into Italian classics. Author of *Noodle Lab* and former chef at Seoul Kitchen NYC. Certified pasta maker. Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniel-kim-pasta/daniel-kim-pasta