Romantic Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza: An Unforgettable Date Night Dinner for Two

Transform your ordinary pizza night into an extraordinary culinary experience with this exquisite Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza for Two. Featuring succulent shrimp bathed in a rich white wine garlic butter sauce atop a perfectly homemade pizza dough, this recipe is designed to create cherished memories. It’s the ideal romantic dinner for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, or simply a relaxed day off together.

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, carving out time for meaningful connection with your loved one is more important than ever. While many couples gravitate towards crowded, expensive restaurants for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or anniversaries, there’s an unparalleled charm in creating an intimate dining experience right at home. Imagine a cozy evening where you can truly connect, share laughter and secrets, and even cook a delicious meal together, making memories that last far longer than any restaurant bill.

This philosophy is at the heart of my Date Night At Home Menu series. The goal is to inspire you with delightful recipes tailored for two, covering everything from delectable main courses to irresistible desserts. Our aim is to prove that a romantic meal doesn’t have to be overly complicated or demand a professional chef’s skills. It’s about togetherness and the joy of a shared experience.

Redefining Date Night: Simple Pleasures, Gourmet Flavors

When the term “date night” is mentioned, people often conjure images of elaborate, gourmet dishes – perhaps steak tartare, a delicate salmon en croute, or an intricate shrimp ceviche. While these dishes can certainly be appealing in a high-end restaurant setting, they often aren’t what most home cooks are eager to tackle after a long day. Date night doesn’t automatically equate to fancy gourmet; sometimes, the most memorable meals are those that are comforting, familiar, yet elevated with a special twist.

Pizza, for instance, offers the perfect canvas for culinary creativity and is a beloved staple in many households. Who doesn’t love pizza night? We’re taking that beloved tradition and transforming it into a truly special date night with our Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza. This recipe merges the casual comfort of pizza with the sophisticated flavors of a classic seafood dish, creating a unique and utterly delicious experience.

For those unfamiliar, Shrimp Scampi traditionally features plump shrimp sautéed in a rich, aromatic white wine garlic butter sauce. It’s typically served over pasta or enjoyed on its own. However, we’re daring to break tradition by marrying these incredible flavors with the crispy, chewy crust of a homemade pizza. The result is a vibrant, flavorful pizza that’s both comforting and elegant.

To start your romantic meal, consider serving this pizza with an appetizer like Steamed Clams with Pan Roasted Tomatoes. The briny sweetness of the clams perfectly complements the rich flavors of the pizza, setting a luxurious tone for your evening.

The Skillet Pizza Advantage: Easy & Delicious

One of the greatest joys of making skillet pizzas is the sheer ease of preparation. Forget the struggles of rolling out dough on a tiny kitchen counter, or trying to achieve that perfectly round shape – a feat that often eludes even experienced home bakers. With a trusty cast iron skillet, the process becomes incredibly straightforward. You simply press and shape the dough directly into the pan, letting the skillet do all the heavy lifting to create a beautifully rustic crust.

For this recipe, I used my 10-inch cast iron pan, which yields a perfectly proportioned, flat pizza that’s just right for two. However, the versatility of skillet pizzas allows for various interpretations. If you prefer a deep-dish style pizza, similar to my popular BBQ Chicken Skillet Pizza, an 8-inch cast iron pan would be ideal. Alternatively, if you’re craving an even thinner, crispier crust, a 12-inch cast iron pan will deliver fantastic results. The cast iron skillet not only ensures even cooking but also creates that coveted crispy bottom crust that’s often hard to achieve in a standard oven.

Mastering Homemade Pizza Dough: Simpler Than You Think

The foundation of any truly exceptional pizza begins with the dough. While store-bought options are convenient, there’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own homemade pizza dough. Not only does it offer superior flavor and texture, but it’s also more rewarding. And the good news is, making pizza dough is far less daunting than many people imagine. The common misconception that yeast is temperamental or difficult to work with simply isn’t true!

The key to successful yeast activation is ensuring your water is at the right temperature – warm, but not too hot. Once you’ve mastered this simple step, it’s essentially a matter of mixing ingredients together, much like you would for a cake batter. If you’re fortunate enough to own a stand mixer, it will effortlessly handle the kneading process for you, saving you time and effort. But even without one, kneading dough by hand can be a wonderfully therapeutic and meditative experience, allowing you to connect with your food on a deeper level.

When I prepare dinner for two, my usual goal is to avoid leftovers. However, for homemade pizza dough, I make a delightful exception. Regardless of the quantity, the dough requires about an hour to rise. Given this waiting period, it makes perfect sense to prepare a larger batch. This recipe yields enough dough for two pizzas – one to enjoy immediately for your date night, and the other to refrigerate or freeze for a future meal.

Imagine the convenience of having ready-to-go dough for another delicious creation, like my Prosciutto Arugula Pizza, on a busy weeknight. Trust me, your future self will thank you when you’re staring into your freezer next month, wondering what to make for dinner. This little bit of foresight turns a simple cooking session into a strategic meal-prep win, ensuring that delicious homemade pizza is always within reach.

More Delicious Shrimp Recipes for Any Occasion

If you’re a fan of shrimp, exploring other creative and flavorful ways to enjoy this versatile seafood is a must. Here are some additional shrimp recipes that are perfect for expanding your culinary repertoire:

• Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Jalapeño Dipping Sauce: A delightful blend of crispy, sweet, and spicy.
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp: For an even healthier and quicker version of the classic.
• Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Shrimp Kabobs: Perfect for summer grilling and packed with sweet and savory flavors.
• Spicy Beer Shrimp: A zesty and warming appetizer or light main course.

Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza For Two

Yield:
4 slices

Prep Time:
1 hour 40 minutes

Cook Time:
20 minutes

Total Time:
2 hours

Ingredients

Pizza Dough (makes enough for 2 pizzas – can be refrigerated or frozen)

• 1 1/3 cup warm water (120F – 130F degrees)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 package (1/4 ounce) Red Star Active Dry Yeast
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Shrimp Scampi Topping

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter (add a pinch of salt if unsalted)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 pound (8 ounces) shrimp, peeled, deveined, and patted dry
• Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

For the Pizza Dough

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, vegetable oil, and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy.
2. After 5 minutes, add 1 cup of all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture. Using the paddle attachment on a stand mixer (or a regular hand mixer), beat the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined. The dough will have a wet and loose consistency at this stage.
3. Gradually incorporate the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour, beating until the dough becomes slightly sticky and elastic. If the dough remains overly sticky (this can sometimes happen due to humidity), you may add up to an additional 1/4 cup of flour, a tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
4. If using a stand mixer, switch to a dough hook attachment and knead for 4-6 minutes, or until the dough pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl. If kneading by hand, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 4-6 minutes until smooth and elastic.
5. Lightly oil a clean bowl and place the dough inside, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area until it has doubled in size, which typically takes about 60-90 minutes.
6. Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release the air. With floured hands, divide the dough into two equal pieces. You can now refrigerate or freeze one portion of the dough for future use. Proceed with the recipe using the remaining dough, or refrigerate it until you’re ready to make your pizza.

For the Shrimp Scampi Pizza

1. Preheat your oven to 450F (230C). Take one portion of the rested pizza dough and place it in the center of a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Gently stretch and press the dough outwards until it evenly covers the bottom of the pan, forming your pizza crust.
2. In a separate large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and the mixture is hot, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly until fragrant. Pour in the white wine (or chicken broth) and allow it to simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, which should take approximately 2-3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and salt, then remove from heat.
3. Generously brush about half of the prepared garlic butter sauce over the pizza crust in the cast iron skillet. Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Arrange the raw, peeled, deveined, and patted dry shrimp on top of the cheese. Drizzle the remaining garlic butter sauce over the shrimp.
4. Bake the pizza for 15-18 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before slicing and serving immediately.

Notes

This pizza dough recipe is designed to yield enough dough for two skillet pizzas. Since the rising time is a constant, preparing a double batch means you’ll have a ready-to-use dough portion in your freezer, perfect for spontaneous weeknight dinners. If you only wish to make one pizza and prefer not to have extra dough, simply halve all the ingredients listed for the pizza dough.

Did you make this recipe?

We’d love to hear from you! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo on Instagram using #HITKrecipes. Your feedback inspires us!