If you’ve ever wished that your favorite shrimp scampi and cozy lasagna could get married and have delicious little pasta babies… congratulations, today’s your lucky day. This Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna is creamy, cheesy, and just fancy enough to make you feel like a kitchen rockstar—without requiring a culinary degree or six hours of your life.
It’s the kind of dish that works for date night, family gatherings, or those evenings when you want to eat something indulgent while watching your favorite show in yoga pants. The garlic butter, the lemony shrimp, the gooey cheese… oh my.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna
- Flavor magic – Buttery garlic sauce, tangy lemon, tender shrimp, and three cheeses in one bite.
- Easy elegance – It sounds like something from a fancy restaurant menu but comes together in about an hour.
- Crowd pleaser – Even the “I only eat red sauce” lasagna lovers will be asking for seconds.
- Make-ahead friendly – Assemble it earlier in the day, then just bake before dinner.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each component plays a delicious role:
- Butter – The heart and soul of the garlic butter sauce.
- Garlic – The aroma that makes your kitchen smell like heaven.
- Large Shrimp – Sweet, tender, and the star of the show.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – Just enough heat to keep things interesting.
- Heavy Cream – For that velvety, luxurious sauce.
- Chicken Broth – A savory background note that deepens flavor.
- Lemon Zest & Juice – Brightness to cut through the richness.
- Lasagna Noodles – The comforting backbone of the dish.
- Ricotta, Mozzarella & Parmesan – A cheesy trifecta for gooey, melty goodness.
- Fresh Parsley – A fresh pop of color and flavor.
Find all ingredient quantities and nutrition information in the recipe card.
How To Make Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna
Step 1 – Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 375°F so it’s ready to go once you’ve built your lasagna tower of deliciousness.
Step 2 – Cook the Noodles
Boil the lasagna noodles in salted water until tender. Drain and lay them out so they don’t stick together (because wrestling noodles apart is no one’s idea of fun).
Step 3 – Cook the Shrimp
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high. Add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Set aside.
Step 4 – Sauté the Garlic
In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant—don’t let it burn!
Step 5 – Make the Garlic Butter Sauce
Pour in chicken broth and let it simmer. Add heavy cream and let it bubble gently for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Step 6 – Add Lemon Zest and Juice
Stir in lemon zest and juice for a fresh, zesty lift. Taste and tweak seasoning.
Step 7 – Coat the Shrimp
Return shrimp to the sauce, stir, and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Step 8 – Assemble the Lasagna
In a 9×13-inch dish, start with sauce, then noodles, ricotta, shrimp sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Repeat until you’ve used everything, finishing with noodles, sauce, and mozzarella on top.
Step 9 – Bake
Cover with foil and bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly. Remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes until golden.
Step 10 – Garnish & Serve
Let it rest 5 minutes, sprinkle with parsley, and serve warm.
Tips for Perfect Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna
- Don’t overcook the shrimp – They’ll cook a bit more in the oven, so slightly underdone is fine before layering.
- Use fresh lemon – Bottled juice just won’t give the same bright, fresh flavor.
- Make it ahead – Assemble up to a day in advance, refrigerate, then bake when ready.
- Freezer-friendly – Assemble, wrap well, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before baking.
A Little Backstory from My Kitchen
I first made this when I had friends coming over and couldn’t decide between seafood pasta and cheesy baked lasagna. My compromise turned out to be a “why haven’t I been doing this for years?” kind of moment. It’s been a repeat request ever since—especially from my daughter, who calls it “fancy mac and cheese for grown-ups.”
FAQs About Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Absolutely—just thaw and pat dry before cooking so you don’t water down the sauce.
Can I substitute the ricotta?
Yes, cottage cheese works in a pinch, though it’ll have a slightly different texture.
How do I store leftovers?
Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
Can I make this without the lemon?
You can, but I promise the citrus keeps it from feeling too heavy.
Make Tonight a Little More Delicious
This Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna is the ultimate fusion of comfort and elegance. With every bite, you get the buttery garlic, the bright lemon, the tender shrimp, and all that melty cheese wrapped in tender pasta. Whether it’s for a dinner party or just because Tuesday deserves something special, this dish will leave plates clean and hearts full.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna, you might want to try a few other flavor-packed dishes that bring the same level of comfort and wow factor to your table:
- Dive into the rich and savory flavors of Creamy Garlic Shrimp Over Mashed Potatoes for another buttery, indulgent seafood treat.
- For a fresh, herb-forward twist, my Pesto Chicken Flatbread makes a perfect quick dinner or party appetizer.
- Warm up with a fragrant bowl of Thai Chicken Soup, brimming with bold spices and creamy coconut goodness.
- If you’re in the mood for Italian-inspired comfort, the Creamy White Chicken Lasagna is a cheesy, cozy alternative you’ll want on repeat.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi Lasagna combines the rich, buttery flavors of classic shrimp scampi with the cheesy, layered comfort of Italian lasagna. Perfect for special occasions or a cozy family dinner, it’s creamy, flavorful, and irresistibly indulgent.
Ingredients
4 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
9–12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
15 oz ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven: Set to 375°F (190°C).
Cook noodles: Boil lasagna noodles in salted water until tender. Drain and set aside.
Cook shrimp: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp 2–3 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Make sauce: Add chicken broth and simmer. Stir in heavy cream and cook 4–5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Add lemon: Stir in lemon zest and juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Combine shrimp with sauce: Return shrimp to skillet and coat in sauce.
Assemble lasagna: In a 9×13-inch dish, spread a thin layer of sauce, then layer noodles, ricotta, shrimp sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Repeat layers, ending with noodles, sauce, and mozzarella on top.
Bake: Cover with foil and bake 25–30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5–10 minutes until golden.
Serve: Rest for 5 minutes, garnish with parsley, and enjoy warm.
Notes
Don’t overcook the shrimp—they’ll finish cooking in the oven.
Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor.
Can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking.
Freezer-friendly: wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg