Garlic Butter Shrimp

This Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe is an easy main dish made with fresh garlic, butter, & lemon. Tender and juicy garlic shrimp that’s great for serving with pasta, rice, or on salads. Ready in 15 minutes!

 

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Here at The Busy Baker we love a good, easy and fast protein option for busy weeknights and work-from-home lunches. This Garlic Butter Shrimp is one of our go-to recipes because it’s quick and easy to make and it’s absolutely delicious! We love serving it with salads, in wraps, over pasta, or alongside mashed potatoes and steamed veggies for dinner. If you’re looking for an easy go-to shrimp recipe, THIS is it!

Garlic butter shrimp is a easy main dish where shrimp are cooked in a flavourful mixture of garlic-infused butter. It’s a simple yet delicious easy weeknight dinner that highlights the shrimp, combined with the richness of butter and the aromatic flavour of garlic.

There are SO many reasons we make this Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe over and over again! Here’s a few:

1. It’s EASY to make. There’s nothing like a simple, one-pan shrimp recipe with minimal steps and basic ingredients. This Garlic Butter Shrimp is all that and more.
2. It’s SO flavourful. Talk about a flavour punch – the sauce is SO velvety and flavourful thanks to a little trick!
3. It’s on the table FAST. In 15 minutes, you can have this amazing shrimp ready to go. Whip up a quick salad and some rice or potatoes and you’ve got an easy and delicious dinner.
4. It’s great for MEAL PREP. We love doubling this recipe in a big skillet and saving half for another dinner later in the week. The shrimp can be reheated in the sauce and served as leftovers over pasta for a delicious and decadent meal.
5. It’s easy to CUSTOMIZE. Want to add more veggies? Throw in some chopped kale or asparagus, or even broccoli. Like spicy foods? Add in some chopped red chiles. Avoiding dairy? Make it with dairy free butter.
6. It calls for SIMPLE ingredients. Some pantry staples added to the shrimp and fresh lemon make this Garlic Butter Shrimp the perfect weeknight dinner.

Here’s a short list of our favourite dishes to serve with this Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe!

• Best Mashed Potatoes – These mashed potatoes are perfect for sopping up all that delicious sauce!
• Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes – These crispy potatoes pair perfectly with this creamy dish.
• Healthy Cornbread – This healthy buttermilk cornbread is the perfect side to soak up all that velvety sauce.
• Air Fryer Green Beans – This fresh and flavourful green bean recipe is a great side dish!
• Roasted Vegetables – These roasted veggies go with everything and they’re a great accompaniment to this chicken dish.
• Rice or Cauliflower Rice – Use a pantry staple or the low carb option to turn this dish into a quick dinner.
• Pasta – Pasta tastes amazing when tossed in the buttery sauce!
• Best Ever Rosemary Focaccia Bread – This focaccia is perfect to dip in the velvety sauce and makes this dish a stellar appetizer.

Here’s how to take your garlic shrimp to the next level!

Pick large shrimp (16-20 count per lb) as they stay moist while cooking and are easier to handle. Fresh shrimp are ideal, but frozen shrimp can work well too. Remove shrimp from the freezer and thaw overnight in the refrigerator or under cold running water for faster thawing.

For the best flavour, texture, and presentation, use peeled and deveined shrimp. Leave the tails on for a nicer presentation. Be sure to pat your shrimp dry with some paper towels before cooking. Dry shrimp get a better sear and develop a nice crispy crust.

Use pressed or finely minced garlic for the best flavour. Use high-quality unsalted butter for a richer taste and better control over the salt level. Add fresh lemon juice and a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) for heat.

Plating doesn’t need to be a hassle. Garnish with fresh parsley and a few lemon wedges or slices. Serve over pasta, rice, or alongside a nice crusty bread to soak up all that velvety, delicious sauce.

If you want to make the BEST shrimp, here are some common issues you might encounter and how to fix and prevent them!

Make sure you don’t overcook your shrimp. The shrimp should be light pink, opaque, and reach an internal temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit (57 degrees Celsius).

Make sure you let both the pan and the oil heat up before adding in the shrimp.

Feel free to add more garlic, some cajun seasoning or some Old Bay Seasoning (affiliate link).

You’ll only need this basic kitchen equipment to make this garlic shrimp recipe (paid links):

• large skillet
• Garlic Press
• large knife
• Silicone Spatula
• wooden spoon

Here’s a list of the basic ingredients you’ll need to make Garlic Butter Shrimp (paid links):

• olive oil
• fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
• garlic
• butter
• fresh lemon
• fresh parsley

This Garlic Butter Shrimp is one of our easy recipes that can easily be customised to your family’s tastes and preferences. Here are some of our favourite twists:

1. Spicy – Add a few pinches of cayenne pepper and/or red pepper flakes as the shrimp cook.
2. Coconut Lime – Cook the shrimp in coconut butter and add a few tablespoons of coconut milk and the zest and juice of a lime to create a pan sauce after the shrimp are cooked.
3. Mango Lime – Add 3 tablespoons of mango chutney over the shrimp when they’re almost cooked and let it caramelize for a little bit. Turn the heat off and add the zest and juice of a lime.
4. Veggies– Add veggies like asparagus, broccoli, or red bell pepper to this dish.