Garlic Butter Shrimp
Plump shrimp seared in a skillet with plenty of garlic, butter, lemon and parsley. Serve it with crusty bread, rice or pasta in under 20 minutes.
By Tasty Nest Recipes Editorial TeamPublished
18 min total 4 servingsEasy
Photo: goodiesfirst · CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo; your results may look different.
About this recipe
When you need dinner in a hurry, shrimp is your friend. It cooks in minutes, takes on flavour quickly and turns a simple pan sauce into something that feels special.
Here the shrimp gets a quick sear in a hot pan before a generous amount of garlic and butter go in. A squeeze of lemon and a handful of parsley at the end keep it fresh and bright.
Serve it as a main course with rice or pasta, or put the skillet in the middle of the table with toothpicks and bread for an easy appetizer.
Equipment you'll need
- Large (12-inch) skillet
Tips for success
- Shrimp is done when it turns pink and opaque and curls into a loose C shape. A tight O shape usually means it has overcooked.
- Garlic burns quickly in hot butter. Lower the heat before adding it and keep it moving in the pan.
- If using frozen shrimp, thaw it overnight in the fridge or in a colander under cold running water for about 10 minutes.
Substitutions and variations
- Add 1/4 cup of dry white wine with the lemon juice and simmer for 1 minute for a scampi-style sauce.
- Use olive oil in place of the butter for a lighter, dairy-free version.
- Scallops work well too; sear them for 2 minutes per side.
Storage and reheating
To store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
To reheat: Warm gently in a skillet over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, just until heated through. High heat will make the shrimp rubbery.
Recipe
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Plump shrimp seared in a skillet with plenty of garlic, butter, lemon and parsley. Serve it with crusty bread, rice or pasta in under 20 minutes.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 8 min
- Total
- 18 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
Tick off ingredients as you gather them.
Instructions
Step 1: Dry and season the shrimp
Pat the shrimp very dry with paper towels, then season with the salt and pepper.
Step 2: Sear the shrimp
Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter foams, add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until pink on the bottom. Flip and cook for 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate; they will finish cooking later.
Step 3: Make the garlic butter
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
Step 4: Finish the shrimp
Return the shrimp and any juices to the pan. Add the lemon juice and toss for 1 minute, until the shrimp are opaque all the way through and coated in sauce.
Step 5: Serve
Remove from the heat, sprinkle with parsley and serve right away with bread, rice or pasta to soak up the sauce.
Cuisine: American · Course: Main course
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300
- Protein
- 35 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
- Sugars
- 0 g
Approximate values estimated from typical nutrition data for the listed ingredients, excluding optional toppings and serving suggestions. Actual values vary with brands, portion sizes and substitutions. Not verified by a dietitian or laboratory analysis.
tastynestrecipes.com/recipes/garlic-butter-shrimp
Cook it with confidence
Guides for this recipe
Techniques, troubleshooting and leftover ideas to help you get the most from your garlic butter shrimp.
Seafood Guide · 3 min read
How to Tell When Fish Is Done
How to tell when fish is cooked: the safe internal temperature, what opaque and flaky really look like, and how to check salmon, white fish, shrimp and shellfish.
Keep cooking
