One of our favorite types of seafood to enjoy has to be shrimp scampi! This is one of the most moreish types of seafood that is available, and once you have tried it, you will want to be eating it as often as possible.
Part of the beauty of shrimp scampi is how versatile it is and how many different meals and settings it can work in, whether it is part of a dinner party, or just a quick snack to enjoy!
If you have never tried shrimp scampi before it is both light and tasty, and it goes well with lots of other flavors which is not a quality shared by many other types of seafood.
However, if you have had shrimp scampi before, you probably know that if you have too much of it, especially if you are not having it with any other types of food, that it can be quite overwhelming if you have too much of it in one sitting.
This is why we recommend that whenever you are serving shrimp scampi at a party, having it for a meal, or even just having it as a snack, that you always serve it alongside a side.
By serving shrimp scampi with a side, you will not just be bulking up your meal, but you will also be able to improve the flavor of the shrimp scampi by serving it with something that has a complimentary flavor.
On top of this, you can use this side to balance the nutritional value of the shrimp scampi with something that shrimp scampi does not offer.
So, this has probably got you wondering, what goes best when served as a side with shrimp scampi?
Luckily, as previously mentioned, shrimp scampi goes well with plenty of different dishes and meals, so there is not too much restriction for what tastes amazing when served with shrimp scampi.
However, there are plenty of dishes which are amazing with shrimp scampi, and taste the best when combined with this seafood.
Because of this, we have gathered our top choices here so you know what will be the best of the best.
So, if you are a fan of shrimp scampi, but you are unsure what will taste best when served with it, keep reading to get some of our favorite side suggestions!
Why You Should Serve Sides With Shrimp Scampi
You might have wondered, why is it worth serving sides with shrimp scampi, especially because it is so delicious.
While improving the flavor and nutritional value of the shrimp scampi is one thing, the main reason we suggest serving a side with shrimp scampi is that if you eat too much shrimp scampi, without anything else, it can cause stomach and digestion issues.
This is the same for a lot of foods, that no matter how healthy something is, if you are eating it in excess, it can be harmful and its nutritional value can be degraded.
However, in spite of the health issues, you should also want to serve shrimp scampi with a side because of how much it can improve the taste.
If you are just eating the same thing as shrimp scampi, then you can be in need of a palate cleanser to make it so you do not get bored or overwhelmed by the flavor.
This is the goal of these dishes as they will ensure that you are not getting bored with your shrimp scampi, and are instead having the best possible meal experience!
Our Favorite Sides To Serve With Shrimp Scampi
While you may not be a fan of all of the suggestions here, we have found a wide variety of different options so you will have something that works well with shrimp scampi in every setting, whether it is a whole meal, or just as a snack.
Because of this variety, you should be able to find something to pair with the shrimp scampi that you enjoy!
If you have never made a fresh caprese salad, you are missing out!
This is one of the most refreshing and satisfying pasta salad recipes to make with its super fresh flavors as well as interesting ingredients to make it all work.
This refreshing but filling quality of the caprese salad is why it works so well with shrimp scampi.
You will recognize in a lot of our suggestions we will be choosing some refreshing recipes that will partially act as a palate cleanser as experiencing every bite of the strong shrimp scampi will be impactful instead of getting boring.
The juiciness of the shrimp scampi and its depth of flavor partners perfectly with the crunchy and fresh nature of the caprese salad.
You will also be relieved to hear that a caprese salad is quite easy to make and does not require much practice at all, and best of all, it is easy to customize, so you can change it to match and compliment the other dishes you are serving as well!
If you have never tried a broccolini before, you are missing out, but luckily, this recipe is one of the best with the intensity of the garlic countered by the lemon flavor making this a side you will want to serve whenever you are cooking.
And best of all, the complex flavors of this veggie side perfectly complement the unique seafood flavors of the shrimp scampi, this is why it is one of our favorite sides to serve with it.
And while the name of this side may seem intimidating, it is worth noting that this recipe is both quick and easy to get ready, so this is the perfect side to make if you are working against the clock!
It also does not need too many ingredients either, mainly just needing you to add lemon juice, oil, salt, and garlic to your veggies, because while broccoli works best, you can prepare a lot of veggies this way and still get great results!
While polenta is originally from Italy, it is now served worldwide, and it is a great side dish to serve with plenty of different foods, and one of our favorites is serving it with shrimp scampi!
As mentioned, this is one of the most versatile side dishes available, and its creamy texture complements plenty of different dishes, so while you may originally want to make it with shrimp scampi, you will soon want to make this with every meal so you can taste it with whatever you make.
It is also quite a filling side, so you do not have to worry about it being insubstantial!
Part of the reason why polenta has become so globally popular is because you do not actually need that many ingredients to prepare it properly.
All you need to make it are butter, cream cheese, ground cornmeal, and salt. Once you know how to make this, it will be a staple that you will just want to keep making!
If you did not know, shrimp scampi also pairs well with bread and you can make this bread even more exciting by instead opting for a bruschetta.
Our favorite type of bruschetta to serve with shrimp scampi is tomato since the bold flavor of the tomato pairs wonderfully with the juiciness of the shrimp scampi and makes them two incredibly complimentary dishes.
Bruschetta is also a super simple dish to prepare that does not take much effort.
For a standard tomato bruschetta, we recommend using ripe tomatoes with garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, and seasoning. This will get some amazing results that are more than the sum of their parts.
As you might know already, seafood can taste great when combined with other seafood.
You might think that the similar flavor profiles might overlap a little too much, but instead, the unique flavors tend to instead complement each other and you can get some great results if you experiment with this.
We love making a lobster bisque to pair with shrimp scampi as the different texture and flavors combine perfectly to be some of the best combinations of seafood available!
While making a lobster bisque is not the hardest side dish to make to go with shrimp scampi, you should keep in mind that you might need to get quite a few new ingredients to make it yourself!
This is another seafood combination with the shrimp scampi that can get some amazing results.
By adding bacon to the scallops, you get an amazing flavor combination, and once you have tried these scallops, you will just want to keep making them as many times as possible.
They are also not that difficult to prepare either, so prepare for this crowd pleaser to be something you will always be making!
While making a risotto can be a lot of effort, we think it is worth it for how amazing it tastes once it is combined with some juicy and salty shrimp scampi!
This is a much more casual way to enjoy your shrimp scampi, but if you want it as a snack or a lunch that will fill you up, we recommend this combo, but also try serving it with some veggies to make it more refreshing!
Takeaway
Hopefully this list has given you some great suggestions that will work with how you want to serve your shrimp scampi.
All of these dishes will not just serve as a palate cleanser, but will also improve the taste of the shrimp scampi, by complementing it.
If you are overwhelmed by the amount of choice on the list, we recommend looking at what will require you to learn the most new skills, and what will use the most ingredients you already own, and to choose accordingly!
Are you a fan of eating shrimp scampi, however, you do not know what pairs best with it? If so, this list will give you all the suggestions for sides you need!
Hi, I’m Aubrey, and I have been a chef for close to 8 years. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, as long as I can remember. I loved my play kitchen when I was a kid, and would offer my parents my own (albeit gross) cookie recipes to taste!
Here at ButterandSaltGatherings, I want to offer a wide range of ingredients, flavors, meals and recipes so that you can start living each day to the fullest, and enjoy only the best food.
