Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta copycat made with a creamy garlic white wine sauce with lemon, bell peppers and onions.
We love Olive Garden pasta dishes including Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno (Copycat) and chicken dishes like Olive Garden Chicken Piccata (Copycat) served with their classic salad topped with Olive Garden Italian Salad Dressing (Copycat).
Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta (Copycat)
Creamy chicken pastas are sure fire winners in our house. This creamy garlicky, lemony, white wine sauce with Parmesan cheese is basically heaven on earth. This sauce would taste delicious with shrimp or pork or even beef medallions as well.
What is in chicken scampi?
Chicken scampi, similar to the shrimp scampi is a dish classically made with garlic, butter and white wine. This chicken scampi has heavy cream and parmesan cheese added to the sauce to create a rich, creamy main dish.
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Best Pasta For Scampi Pasta:
For an authentic copycat I stuck with angel hair pasta, but I tend to find angel hair pasta is simply too thin, cooks too quickly and won’t hold up to other vegetables and chicken well, breaking too easily.
For creamy pasta recipes I tend to stick to spaghetti or thin spaghetti which is still relatively thin while staying strong enough to not break apart in tossing the creamy sauce with the noodles.
The base of the creamy sauce is just a roux. The mixture of butter and flour is used to thicken sauces.
How to make a creamy roux sauce:
- To start the roux use even parts butter and flour melted and whisked together.
- Cook the flour just long enough for it to start to turn a creamy beige color (20-30 seconds) to ensure no raw flour taste.
- Add room temperature or warm liquids, SLOWLY.
- Whisk quickly while adding the liquids and maintain a creamy texture. Too much at once can break the sauce.
- Reduce on a medium low or medium heat.
- Finish with cream, don’t boil the cream down.
Also remember, when you’re cooking with lemon and Parmesan cheese they are best added at the end of the cooking time. They are fresh and bright flavors. You can also finish the recipe with more lemon juice or lemon wedges in addition to the remaining parmesan cheese.
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Can you meal prep this chicken scampi?
The problem with meal prepping pastas with creamy sauces is that the pasta will continue to soak up the sauce once it is cooled.
Sometimes if I am really craving a dish I will keep the sauce separate. Then just before serving add a splash of milk or water and stir with a fork before warming up the sauce just to make it a little thinner.
To make the dish easier to eat during lunch I will usually chop the chicken before putting it in containers. This makes it easier to eat with just a fork at work/school.
Looking for more Copycat Italian Recipes?
- Cheesecake Factory Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic
- Cheesecake Factory Chicken Bellagio
- Cheesecake Factory Pasta Da Vinci
- Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madeira
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1/2 red bell pepper sliced thinly
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper sliced thinly
- 1/2 green bell pepper sliced thinly
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons flour divided
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 pound angel hair pasta
- 1 pound chicken breast tenderloins
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream warm to the touch
- 1/2 medium lemon juiced
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shaved, divided
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter to a cast iron skillet on medium high heat and cook the bell peppers and onions for 2-3 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Remove the vegetables and add in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Once melted add in two tablespoons of flour and garlic.
- Whisk well until the flour has had a chance to "cook" for about 20 seconds.
- Add in the red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, wine and chicken broth, then let reduce on medium heat for 18-20 minutes.
- While the sauce is reducing cook the pasta one minute shy of the instructions, do not rinse.
- In a second pan add 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium high heat.
- Coat the chicken tenderloins in the salt and pepper before tossing in the remaining flour.
- Add in the chicken, cooking for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Remove the chicken from the heat while the sauce finishes reducing.
- When the sauce is reduced by half add in the heavy cream and whisk well until you have a nice thick sauce.
- Add in the lemon juice and half the parmesan cheese and whisk.
- Toss with the pasta, bell peppers and onions.
- Top with the chicken and Parmesan and serve.
Nutrition
If I may add a few suggestions first the chicken served at Olive Garden specifically for chicken scampi and the chicken carbonara are not fired or coated in flour. They are simply cooked in olive oil in the skillet. I’d you wish for a authentic copy cat done fry your tenderloin Sear it instead. Lastly the tenderness and juice almost melt in your mouth if the tenderloin is because it’s tender rises. Simply put it it between some clear wrap or bag or even a zip lock bag for freeze ability for a quick make later. Simply beat it till it about an 1 1/4 thick before cooking and you have an authentic copy cat!! Also I would sauté the veggies in butter separately but that just a preference ?
Thank you for your suggestions, Kalena! Very much appreciated.
I didn’t rinse the pasta as the recipe said to do but then my pasta wouldn’t separate. It ended up being one giant sticky ball of noodles :/
YUM! I cooked this for my fiancée and me and we both loved it! Chicken scampi is her favorite at Olive Garden, so I made it for Mother’s Day here. Sure I’m a day early, but I have to work until 11:00 tomorrow, so why not? We both agree this is DELICIIUS!
Wouldn’t the wine and lemon be too acidic to use in a cast iron pan? Cast Iron reacts to acid and strips the coating
Hi Jordin,
I have cooked with wine and lemon juice in my cast iron skillet for years and never had issues with my flavors or my skillet. Is this an issue you experienced with the recipe? Perhaps I’ve just gotten lucky all along?
Wow! We really enjoyed this a lot! Same as some other comments I will make more sauce.
I made this tonight with left over turkey from Christmas. It was hit. The sauce was delicious. For my plate I added sliced thin sundried tomatoes. Super yummy!
Perfect addition, Jessica. Thanks for the 5 stars.
I’ve made this twice already. My husband asked me to marry him again after he ate it the first time. I get this at OG alot and I must say the taste is on point with theirs of not better.
Yay!! That’s fantastic, Kiki.
This pasta was amazing! Made it EXACTLY as directed. I have been dying for Olive Garden. This really hit the spot! Next time I am either doing less pasta or more sauce, so that I have even MORE to coat the chicken – this sauce was GREAT!!
I’m glad it hit the spot and helped satisfy the craving. Thanks so much for the 5 stars, Amanda.
I don’t have heavy cream. Is there a substitute I could possibly use?
It’s fairly easy to make your own. Mix 2/3 cups of whole milk with 1/3 cup melted butter. That will yield 1 cup of heavy cream. Hope this helps!
This looks delicious! Do you have a Olive Garden chicken shrimp carbonara copycat recipe?
I don’t but I’ll add it to my research list. Thanks for the suggestion.
I made this exactly as directed. Turned out fantastic with enough for several leftover lunches! Thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely be making it again.
Thanks for coming back to let me know, Maureen.
I gave this recipe a try tonight and it was a hit! Super flavorful! Next time I’ll add more chicken or cut it up smaller because we were all searching for more by the time we got to the bottom of the serving dish. Great for a family dinner for my visiting relatives
Delicious meal followed the recipe as written I reduce the amount of Angel hair to 8oz Loved the sauce Will make this dish again
I have made this recipe AT LEAST 15 times and it is always a hit. So so yummy and I highly recommend!!!
Wow, that’s awesome!! I’m glad you love it so much, Lauren.
Turned out beautifully with the recipe as is!!! Second time I tried with white grape juice and the taste changed quite a bit, is it safe to serve the recipe with white wine to toddler? Also would love to know your suggestion for vegetarians, planning to make it for my friend who doesn’t eat meat..
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The white wine cooks down so it’s safe for kids but you can always substitute with white grape juice if you’d like.
Can you please research again about alcohol cooking out. I read it actually does not cook out.
I am interested to know where you read that? The longer you cook the more the alcohol burns out. Especially with as little as one cup.
The alcohol reduces so its safe to cook with wine for kids, do it quite often. Also for veg alternative you could always do large mushrooms and chunky vegies like zucchinni etc.
Thank you for a great recipe! I’m really glad I went with this one – I had come across another copycat recipe that called for 3 cups of heavy cream! Yikes! I cannot believe how close this one tasted to Olive Garden’s version…now I don’t need to spend $16 on it, haha! Made the recipe as written other than using several different color peppers. The only critique my husband had is that next time I should add a touch more garlic, other than that he really enjoyed this version of his favorite dish!
Yay!! I’m glad you decided to give it a try, Jo. Thanks for the 5 stars.
Tell him make it himself next time?
Hi I tried this recipe using a white wine vinegar as a substitute for the white wine and somehow messed the sauce up a lot because all I could taste was the vinegar. Is white wine vinegar not okay as a substitute? Thank you and thanks for this recipe, the chicken turned out amazing at least lol?
You’re better off using grape juice as a substitution.
Made this tonight … was tasty but I altered recipe to accommodate gluten free, dairy free needs. I didn’t rinse my pasta but should have as quinoa spaghetti needs to be rinsed or is too gluey (is that a real word?). I reduced the sauce a bit too much … need to change my timing a bit so that I have a bit more sauce for the pasta. I can’t use heavy cream but used a pea milk substitute with no problem. My daughter found the dish needed salt at the table so I think the Parmesan missing from her serving probably accounted for that. I should have made the full 6 servings as written b/c we did enjoy the meal. I think that with the change in timing and the rinsing of the gluten free pasta next time I make it will raise the rating to 5 stars. And for the purists amongst you, the alterations were in ingredients for specific dietary needs only but everything else was as the recipe was written
Can I substitute a rose wine for white or what do you suggest to use for the same taste?
I’ve never tested it before. You can always use white grape juice as a substitute too.
This was excellent. I used an orange pepper instead of green. I only did 8 ounces of pasta and it worked out perfect.
would you be able to make a crock pot recipe for this?
I haven’t tested it using one yet but I’ll add it to my list. Thanks for the suggestion.
This was outstanding! My husband literally licked his plate! ?
Woohoo!
My granddaughter and I made this for 12. It was great. Only suggestion would be to reduce the amount of pasta to get more sauce per serving.
Would definitely make it again.
What can I use as substitutes for the white wine?
White grape juice would be a great substitute. I hope you enjoy it!
Absolutely a-mazing! Just like Olive Garden only you can control how much butter/oil is in it. Wouldn’t change a thing about this recipe A+.
Thanks, Amanda! I appreciate the 5 star rating.
Thank you! I love this recipe! I’ve made this twice now, it’s definitely a keeper 🙂
Yay!! Thanks so much for the 5 stars Alysa.
OH MY GOODNESS. Thank you so much for this recipe. I have been trying forever to make a recipe like Olive Garden Chicken Scampi. Your recipe IS better than the Olive Garden version. Wonderful.
Thanks so much for the 5 stars.
Chicken scampi was an absolute hit in my house! All my family loved it! It was very easy to prepare also. Thank you for sharing! ????
You’re welcome!
Can cooking wine be used
Yes 🙂
Yes, but cooking wine has added salt. Just make sure you reduce the salt in the recipe to your taste.
Made this tonight and got raves from the family!
Fantastic! So glad you all enjoyed it!
This is now my families new favorite diner that I make! I have tried other recipes but this one by far is the best!
So happy to hear that! Glad to make the family favorite list!! 🙂
Fantastic to hear! Families can be the harshest of judges so to pass their test means a lot 🙂
I made this tonight. It was delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Malissa. Thanks for the 5 star rating.
This recipe was actually better than the Olive Garden version!!!! My husband and I had fun making it together. I chopped the veggies, and he did the rest. Candlelight dinner with Italian music in the background. Wonderful evening.
I love this!! Thank you for coming back to let me know, Shannon.
I so want to try this recipe! It’s my fav at Olive Garden! I just dont know which white wine to use. Any suggestions?
So glad it’s one of your favorites. I usually tell people to cook with the same wines you like because you already love the flavor. If you don’t have a favorite, try a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.
I tried it with an Oak Leaf pinot grigio from Walmart and it was great! Thanks for the suggestion though. I’ll try it next time I make some.
This is the best Olive Garden copycat recipe that I have found for Chicken Scampi! My husband is a lover of that dish and I’m so happy to have found such a wonderful tasting version of the original! I will make this one again and again! My only changes will be to use 8 oz. of pasta instead of 16 oz. and to cut the red pepper flakes down to 1/4 t to reduce the heat a bit. Thank you Chef Sabrina!
You’re welcome. I’m so glad you guys enjoyed the recipe.
This was beyond delicious. My husband loved it and so did our dinner guest. I added some mushrooms and asparagus that I needed to use up, too. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
I just had chicken scampi at The OG a few nights ago. This recipe just saved me 18 bucks (per entree) on future scampi craving nights. I used pinot grigio and a very small amount of parm, and it was DELISH. Hubs, who had eaten half my entree at OG, couldn’t stop raving. A definite keeper/make again; so spot on it was hard to tell a difference. THANK you!
Yay!! I’m so glad you both loved it.
Well I tried to make this tonight and it was a disaster!!! Maybe I didn’t let the wine reduce enough?? It tasted nothing like Olive Garden!!! I was so disappointed ??
I’m so sorry that happened. If you’d like, you can email me at contact @ dinnerthendessert .com and we can troubleshoot as to what might have happened.
There is no cheese in the chicken scampi at Olive Garden. This is the only thing I order when we are there and I am allergic to cheese…so I know for a fact tgat thee is no cheese unless you have the server add it when the food is brought to the table.
Feel free to leave it out then. Thanks for the feedback.
I can actually try something different when I go to Olive Garden from now on…this is amazing!!!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I made this tonight because it is my husband’s favorite dish from olive garden. It is amazing yall!! Personally I like it better than the restaurant thank you so much for this recipe!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
This is my favorite dish at the Olive Garden. I’ve tried many copycat recipes for this in the past but none really measured up.
This is the holy grail recipe. Dare I say, it’s even better than the real deal. My family devoured this like it was their last meal.
You outdid yourself with this recipe, madam. Kudos to you, and thank you so much!
Thank you so much, Emily!! So glad you all enjoyed it!
I was very skeptical while making this dish. It is my favorite dish at Olive Garden. I’ll be damned if this isn’t spot on!! Love it!
What a great compliment! Thank you so much, Gina!
Getting ready to make this, what white wine do you recommend to cook it in?
Any white wine will do but if you don’t have any on hand, I would suggest getting either a Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or Unoaked Chardonnay. Enjoy!
I followed the recipe and it came out delicious! I may never go back to Olive Garden.
Haha Kisha, but when you’re there, you’re family! How can you be so presumptuous to assume you can be family at home?! ???
So glad you liked the recipe!
This needs to happen at my house very soon!!
I love copycat recipes and this one looks FANTASTIC!
Thanks Des!
About how long to cook to reduce sauce and what temperature. Please help. Thank you
You’ll need to reduce the sauce over medium heat for 18-20 minutes. Enjoy!
What a great looking pasta dish! I would devour this quickly!
Thanks Jacque!
Oh wow! I can’t wait to try this!! It looks faaaantastic!!
Thank you Katerina!
OMG! How creamy is this pasta! This is exactly what I need right now!
Enjoy!!
This looks even better than the original!
Thanks Melanie!
Tried making it tonight. My sauce looks more like turkey gravy. Please help! Is it suppose to look like that???
It’s a creamier sauce so I’m not sure if that’s what you’re referring to. Did you substitute any ingredients or amounts?
I love copycat recipes. Chicken scampi is so good!
Thanks Michelle!