Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

Scampi refers to meat or seafood that is grilled or sautéed in oil or butter and garlic. Olive Garden’s Chicken Scampi is a flavorful and satisfying dish that combines tender chicken with a rich and tangy scampi sauce. The dish is typically served over a bed of pasta, creating a complete and delicious meal.

Olive Garden’s Chicken Scampi is a popular menu item that showcases the flavors of Italian cuisine. The dish starts with juicy and tender chicken breasts that are sautéed to perfection. The chicken is cooked in a skillet with a combination of olive oil and various vegetables like sliced green peppers and red onions. This adds a delightful crunch and a hint of sweetness to the dish.

What truly sets the Chicken Scampi apart is the flavorful scampi sauce. The sauce is made with a base of butter and crushed garlic, which infuses the dish with a rich and aromatic flavor. Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and black pepper are added to the sauce to give it a savory and slightly spicy kick. The sauce is then enhanced with white wine and chicken broth, which add depth and complexity to the dish.

To complete the Chicken Scampi, the sautéed chicken and vegetables are combined with the scampi sauce. The dish is cooked until everything is heated through and well-coated in the flavorful sauce. The addition of roasted garlic cloves adds a touch of sweetness and mellowness to the overall flavor profile.

Chicken Scampi is typically served over a bed of cooked angel hair pasta, which provides a light and delicate base for the flavorful chicken and scampi sauce. The combination of the tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and savory scampi sauce creates a truly satisfying and mouthwatering dish.

Whether enjoyed at the Olive Garden restaurant or recreated at home, Chicken Scampi is a delicious and versatile dish that is sure to please your taste buds. Its combination of flavors and textures makes it a popular choice for those craving a taste of Italian-inspired cuisine.

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS:

FOR WHITE SAUCE

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ¾ cup milk

FOR SCAMPI SAUCE 

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons crushed garlic
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• Black pepper, to taste
• ¾ cup white wine
• 1 cup chicken broth

OTHER

• 2 sliced chicken breasts
• Olive oil
• 1 green pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 10 cloves roasted garlic
• ½ package cooked angel hair pasta

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. To create the white sauce, heat butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Cook for 2 minutes on medium heat, stirring constantly. Slowly add the milk and cook for 3–4 minutes. Set aside.
2. To create the scampi sauce, heat butter over low heat. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper, and black pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes on low heat. Add the wine and chicken broth and stir until combined.
3. Add ¼ cup of the white sauce to the scampi sauce and cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Sauté the chicken in a large skillet with a little olive oil. Add the peppers and onions. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until the chicken is done.
5. Add the sauce and sauté until everything is warmed. Add the roasted garlic cloves.
6. Serve over hot pasta.

NOTE:

• To roast garlic, preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the top off a whole garlic bulb, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in aluminum foil, and bake for 30-40 minutes until the cloves are soft and golden. Allow the garlic to cool, then squeeze out the cloves from their skins.