Copycat Restaurant Chicken Scampi Recipe for Garlic Lovers

Copycat Olive Garden chicken scampi recipe fans know exactly why this restaurant favorite has earned such a devoted following over the years.

Rich, savory, and absolutely satisfying, it's one of those meals that feels special enough for celebrations yet comforting enough for a regular weeknight dinner.

You can recreate that beloved dining experience right in your own kitchen without spending a fortune or waiting for a table.

The flavors come together beautifully in less time than you'd expect, making it perfect when you want something impressive without the stress.

It's also a crowd-pleaser that works equally well for date nights or feeding the whole household.

Restaurant favorites at home always taste better when made with care and attention to detail.

Give it a shot tonight and see why so many home cooks have made it part of their regular rotation.

Best Reasons to Love Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• Restaurant Quality At Home: When you recreate this dish, you get that same rich, garlicky sauce that makes Olive Garden so popular, without leaving your house or spending extra money eating out.
• Looks Impressive On The Table: Plating this with pasta and fresh parsley makes your dinner feel fancy, so when you serve it to family or guests, they see real effort even though the technique is straightforward.
• Works For Different Skill Levels: The steps are manageable whether you cook often or rarely, since pounding chicken and building a pan sauce are techniques that get easier each time you practice them.
• Cream And Wine Sauce Tastes Rich: The combination of butter, white wine, and heavy cream creates a sauce that coats your pasta beautifully, and the lemon juice keeps it from feeling too heavy when you eat it.

Which Ingredients Are Essential for Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• 1.5 pounds Chicken Breast: Pound to an even 1/2-inch thickness; this cooks evenly and absorbs the sauce beautifully.

• 4 tablespoons Butter: Creates a rich, silky foundation for your sauce.
• 4 cloves Garlic: Minced and cooked briefly to release its aromatic flavor.
• 1 cup White Wine: Adds brightness and depth to balance the cream.
• 1 cup Chicken Broth: Rounds out the sauce and keeps it from being too heavy.
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream: Brings richness and smoothness to tie everything together.
• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice: Cuts through the richness with a fresh, tangy note.
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil: Used for searing the chicken until it reaches 165°F internally.
• 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, 1/4 teaspoon Salt, 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper: Season the chicken and sauce with Italian herbs, a gentle heat, and salt and pepper to taste.

• 1 pound Linguine Pasta: Cook according to package directions, usually 8-10 minutes, until tender.
• 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley: Sprinkled on top for color and a fresh herbaceous note.
• 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, umami finish to each bite.

Which Tools Help with Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• Meat Mallet: You’ll need this to pound your chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook uniformly throughout.
• Large Skillet: Pick a 12-inch skillet for searing your chicken and making the sauce without overcrowding the pan.
• Meat Thermometer: Use this to check that your chicken reaches 165°F internally for food safety.
• Large Pot: A 6-8 quart pot gives your linguine plenty of room to cook evenly in boiling water.
• Wooden Spoon or Silicone Spatula: These tools help you scrape up the flavorful browned bits from the skillet and stir your sauce gently.
• Plate: Keep one nearby for transferring your cooked chicken so it stays warm while you build the sauce.
• Colander: You need this to drain your pasta quickly after cooking.
• Shallow Bowls: Serve your chicken scampi in these so the creamy sauce coats everything nicely.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: These ensure you add the right amounts of wine, broth, cream, and lemon juice to your sauce.
• Grater: Use this to finish your dish with fresh Parmesan cheese over each serving.

Quick Preparation Process For Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

Simple Ways To Improve Chicken Scampi

• Even Thickness Matters: Pound your chicken to 1/2-inch thickness so each piece cooks at the same rate and stays tender throughout.
• Don’t Skip The Golden Crust: Let your chicken brown properly for 5-6 minutes per side; those browned bits stuck to the pan are pure flavor for your sauce.
• Deglaze Right After Cooking: Pour the wine into the hot skillet immediately after removing the chicken so you can scrape up all those flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
• Timing Is Everything With Cream: Add your heavy cream and lemon juice after the broth has simmered, then stir gently so the sauce stays smooth and doesn’t break.
• Finish Just Before Serving: Return the chicken to the pan for only 2-3 minutes at the end since it’s already cooked through, and this keeps it from drying out on your plate.

Popular Variations for Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• Lighter Cream Version: Swap the heavy cream for half-and-half or a mix of chicken broth and Greek yogurt to reduce richness while keeping your sauce creamy and smooth.
• Garlic Bread Pasta Swap: Replace the linguine with fettuccine or use garlic-buttered angel hair pasta for a different texture that soaks up your sauce nicely.
• Gluten-Free Adjustment: Use gluten-free linguine or rice noodles instead of regular pasta, cooking them according to package directions so your meal works for your dietary needs.
• Shrimp Version: Replace the chicken with 1 pound of large shrimp, cooking them for just 2-3 minutes per side instead of 5-6 minutes since shrimp cooks faster and becomes tough if overdone.

Serving Olive Garden Chicken Scampi With Comfort Sides

• Serve Over Linguine: Your chicken scampi tastes best when spooned generously over a bed of tender linguine that soaks up all that buttery, garlicky sauce.
• Pair With Garlic Bread: Crusty garlic bread sits perfectly alongside this dish, giving you something to use for wiping up every last bit of that creamy lemon sauce on your plate.
• Add A Fresh Green Salad: A simple salad with lemon vinaigrette cuts through the richness of the cream sauce and gives your meal a lighter balance that feels satisfying.
• Finish With Crispy Parsley And Cheese: Fresh parsley and grated Parmesan aren’t just toppings; they add a bright, sharp contrast that keeps each bite interesting from start to finish.

Helpful Storage Tips For Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

• Store cooked chicken scampi in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to three days, and the sauce keeps just as well alongside it for easy reheating.
• When you reheat the dish, do so gently over medium-low heat with a splash of broth or cream to restore the sauce’s silky texture without breaking it.
• Keep your cooked linguine separate from the sauce and chicken if you plan to store leftovers, since pasta absorbs liquid and becomes mushy over time.
• Freeze the chicken and sauce together in a freezer-safe container for up to two months, though it’s best to freeze the pasta separately if you have extra and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before warming through.

FAQs

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 30-33 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This copycat olive garden chicken scampi brings restaurant-quality flavors right to your dinner table with tender chicken, garlic butter sauce, and a splash of white wine that you can have ready in about thirty minutes. Serving it over pasta makes for a satisfying meal that tastes like you spent hours cooking when really it comes together quickly and easily.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein and Pasta:

• 1.5 pounds chicken breast
• 1 pound linguine pasta

Cooking Liquids and Fats:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Seasonings and Aromatics:

• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Flatten your 1.5 pounds of chicken breast to an even 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet, then sprinkle both sides with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes until the surface shimmers.
3. Place your chicken in the hot skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, then move it to a clean plate.
4. Reduce heat to medium and add 4 tablespoons butter to the same skillet, letting it melt completely.
5. Mince 4 cloves garlic and add them to your butter along with 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Pour 1 cup white wine into the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits stuck to the bottom, then let it simmer for 2 minutes.
7. Add 1 cup chicken broth to your skillet and bring everything to a gentle simmer for 3 minutes to let the flavors combine.
8. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup lemon juice, mixing gently until your sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
9. Return your cooked chicken to the skillet and let it warm through in the sauce for 2-3 minutes.
10. While your chicken simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook 1 pound linguine for 8-10 minutes according to the package directions, then drain it well.
11. Divide your cooked pasta among serving bowls and top each portion with your chicken and sauce.
12. Finish each bowl with 1 tablespoon fresh parsley and 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

• Pound your chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook at the same rate and stay tender rather than drying out on the edges.
• Don’t skip deglazing the pan with wine after cooking the chicken, as those browned bits add deep flavor to your sauce that you can’t get any other way.
• Stir the cream and lemon juice gently to keep the sauce smooth and prevent it from breaking or becoming grainy.
• If your sauce seems too thick, thin it with a splash of pasta water or chicken broth to reach the consistency that works best for coating your linguine.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-28 minutes
• Category: Sautéed Chicken
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 663 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 407 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 46 g
• Cholesterol: 124 mg