Garlicky Shrimp Pizza

If you mix classic shrimp scampi flavors with a piping hot pizza, you get something totally crave-worthy. This one’s got a buttery, garlicky sauce soaking into every bite, juicy shrimp on top, and cheese that melts all over. It’s basically comfort food overload.

I came up with this one when I just couldn’t pick between a seafood dinner and greasy pizza. Now everyone begs for it at family hangouts, and even my picky nephew (who’s not big on seafood) goes back for seconds every time.

Tasty Ingredients

• Parmigiano Reggiano: Sprinkles a rich, nutty kick onto everything and ties the flavors together
• Mozzarella cheese: Melts super smooth for those stringy, gooey bites, try to snag low-moisture kind
• Pizza dough: Grab a store-bought ball for speed or make your own if you wanna get fancy
• Lemon juice: Wakes things up and keeps it from getting too heavy
• Shrimp: Pick medium or big ones, just peel, clean, and you’re set
• Red pepper flakes: Lend a subtle tingle that makes the shrimp even sweeter
• Garlic: Fresh is best here, makes everything bold and super garlicky
• Butter: This is what makes the sauce so rich and lets those flavors soak right into the crust

Simple Step-by-Step

Add Cheese And Bake

Throw plenty of mozzarella across the top and then shower with grated Parmigiano. Toss the pizza in a hot 500°F oven. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and the crust’s got a golden edge—usually about 8 to 10 minutes, but ovens can vary.

Assemble The Pizza

Lift and stretch the dough onto your favorite pan or stone, thick or thin as you like. Scoop on all that buttery shrimp goodness, sauce and all. Let it spread to every edge for max flavor.

Finish Your Scampi Mix

Drizzle in some lemon juice over your shrimp and sauce, give it a quick stir to mix everything up. Take it straight off the heat so the shrimp stays soft, not tough. The sauce will look shiny and a little cloudy, that’s perfect.

Cook Your Shrimp

Lay shrimp right into your pan of garlic butter in a single layer. Let 'em cook till just pink and curled up a bit—about a minute each side. Don’t go overboard since they cook more in the oven. They only need to look faintly opaque.

Whip Up The Sauce

Melt some butter in a big skillet, medium heat, till it’s frothy. Toss in minced garlic and the pepper flakes if you like a little heat—stir for about half a minute until your kitchen smells awesome. Don’t let the garlic brown!

If you love garlic, this one’s for you. I went overboard with garlic once—added double by accident—and honestly, the whole family said it tasted even better. Now I don’t skimp—six big cloves go in, and I let them bubble in butter till my whole place smells like Little Italy.

Make Ahead Tips

You can get things prepped early if you need to save time. Just cook up the shrimp scampi part the night before and stash it in your fridge. When you’re ready, gently heat to melt the butter, then spread it on the dough. The flavors actually get even deeper this way.

Awesome Pairings

This cheesy, buttery pizza loves a fresh salad with tangy dressing on the side—it cuts through all the richness. If you’re pouring a drink, go with a snappy white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, or keep it easy with a crisp, light beer.

Switch It Up

You can throw on extra toppings if you’re feeling creative. Sliced cherry tomatoes or fresh spinach give bursts of color and more veggies. Scatter torn basil or oregano on top after baking for a hit of freshness. Love heat? Pile on extra red pepper or thin jalapeño slices. Swap the shrimp for crab meat if you want—it’s awesome too.

This cheesy seafood pie always wows everyone—and if you’re crazy for garlic, shrimp, or just melty cheese, trust me, you need to try it.

Foire aux questions sur la recette

→ Could I use shrimp that’s already cooked?

Sure thing! Just drop pre-cooked shrimp into the butter and garlic for less than a minute, just enough for them to soak up the flavor and heat up. This keeps them juicy instead of rubbery after baking.

→ Is store dough okay to use?

Go for store-bought dough if you want something quick—totally fine! But if you have time, homemade crust makes it extra tasty. For seafood pizza, thinner crust is better so everything balances well.

→ How do I turn up the heat?

Add more red pepper flakes to the garlic butter, or slice some jalapeños and add them before it bakes. You could also finish with a spiced drizzle, like chili oil or hot honey.

→ Can any pieces be made in advance?

Yep! You can cook the garlic shrimp mix the day before, stash it in the fridge, and let it come up to room temp before putting it on the pizza. Dough can chill ahead of time, too.

→ What’s good alongside this dish?

Keep sides crisp and fresh. A lemony arugula salad, some roasted veggies, or classic Caesar salad are all great. Feeling extra hungry? Garlic breadsticks hit the spot next to it.

→ Can I swap out the cheeses?

Absolutely. Mozzarella gives a great melt and parmesan adds flavor, but fontina, provolone, or crumbled feta work too. Just make sure your main cheese is the melt-y kind so you still get those cheesy stretches.