Charred Half Shell Oysters with Garlic Herb Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-02 · Updated 2026-05-02

Fresh Gulf oysters grilled in their half shells and topped with a fragrant garlic herb butter for a smoky, savory appetizer. This quick recipe, ready in about 17 minutes, pairs fresh Gulf oysters in half shells, unsalted butter, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 150 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 fresh Gulf oysters in half shells
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). In a small bowl, combine 4 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp smoked paprika until smooth and well blended.
2. Step 2: Arrange 12 fresh Gulf oysters in their half shells on a grill-safe pan or directly on the grill grates. Spoon about 1 tsp of the garlic herb butter mixture over each oyster.
3. Step 3: Grill oysters for 5-7 minutes with lid closed, until the butter is melted, bubbling, and oysters are just cooked through with slightly charred edges. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.