Easy 10-Minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

This easy garlic butter shrimp recipe comes together in about 10 minutes for a simple weeknight protein! Serve it with broccoli and pasta for a quick dinner or prep it over the weekend for easy lunches throughout the week!

 

Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

• If you’re short on time and want a differet protein than your usual ground beef or chicken, this garlic butter shrimp is an easy choice! It’s super versitile and can be served with air fryer veggies or a simple pasta dish.
• It’s the perfect summer dinner or a great way to enjoy those fresh summer flavors all year round. If you’ve got fresh parsley growing in the garden you’ll want to pin this recipe for later! And if you find yourself craving fresh citrus in the winter, this garlic butter shrimp is the perfect way to make those lemons shine!

Ingredients for Garlic Shrimp

• Butter & Olive Oil: When I cook shrimp, I prefer to use a combination of butter and olive oil. This allows you to cook the shrimp over medium high heat because olive oil has a higher smoke point than butter. But you still get all that delicious flavor from the butter.
• Jumbo Shrimp: I find that jumbo shrimp works best for this recipe but you can use whatever size you like. Look for shrimp that is peeled and deveined. You can choose whether you want tail-on or tail-off.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is the star of the show here. Try a garlic press if you don’t love to mince garlic.
• Lemon Zest + Juice: Lemon zest and lemon juice are going to add SO much flavor to this shrimp. Don’t skip these ingredients!
• Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley adds a fresh, bright element to the garlic butter shrimp. You can also use fresh cilantro in place of the parsley for a different flavor.

How to Make Garlic Butter Shrimp

Pat shrimp dry with paper towel. Saute them in a mixture of butter and olive oil in a large cast iron pan. Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat and add garlic and lemon zest. Add remaining butter and let it melt into the sauce.

Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons fresh parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper and enjoy!

Fresh vs. Frozen Shrimp

Fresh or frozen shrimp will work for this recipe!

• To thaw frozen shrimp, place it in the fridge overnight.
• Or place frozen shrimp in a sealed plastic bag and submerge in a bowl of cold water in the sink. You can use a small saucer or plate to help keep shrimp submerged. Switch out the water every 30 minutes until the shrimp is thawed.
• Or just cook the shrimp right from frozen! You’ll just need to add a couple extra minutes of cooking time.

How to Know When Shrimp is Done

• Shrimp needs to cook for just 2-3 minutes on each side.
• You’ll know the shrimp is cooked through when it turns pink and opaque. This is one of the easiest ways to know the shrimp is done.
• You will also notice that the shrimp curls into the shape of the letter “C” when it’s cooked. If you notice your shrimp is curling up tightly and forming the shape of the letter “O” it may be overcooked.
• Fully cooked shrimp will feel firm but tender, with a little bit of bounce back when it’s pressed.

Is it better to fry shrimp in butter or olive oil?

It’s best to fry them in a combination of both! Butter adds a delicious creaminess along with tons of flavor, while the olive oil increases the smoke point of the butter so you can cook it over higher heat to get a delicious crust on the outside.

Make Garlic Butter Shrimp Ahead of Time

While garlic butter shrimp is best enjoyed straight from the pan, you can also prep it ahead of time and reheat it! It will stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days so it’s perfect for meal prep. You can also prep the ingredients ahead of time so when it’s time to cook, it will take hardly any time at all!

Storing Leftover Shrimp

Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Reheating Shrimp

My favorite way to reheat shrimp is the same way it was originally cooked! Saute the leftover shrimp in a splash of olive oil in a large cast iron pan and cook it over medium heat for a couple minutes or until warmed through.

Try these seafood recipes next!

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