Half-Hour Garlic Butter Shrimp with Spinach
A quick sautéed shrimp dish in garlic butter sauce served with fresh spinach for a light yet flavorful dinner. This quick meals (low carb) ready in about 25 minutes pairs large shrimp, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. 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 oz, peeled and deveined large shrimp
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 5 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 oz peeled and deveined large shrimp and cook for 2 minutes on each side until pink and opaque, then transfer shrimp to a plate.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter along with 4 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add 5 cups fresh spinach to the skillet with the garlic butter, stirring for 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts and reduces in volume.
- Step 4: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the spinach, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and drizzle 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice. Toss everything together for 1 minute to combine and heat through before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Half-Hour Garlic Butter Shrimp with Spinach take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (10 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Half-Hour Garlic Butter Shrimp with Spinach?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep large shrimp from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Half-Hour Garlic Butter Shrimp with Spinach?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Half-Hour Garlic Butter Shrimp with Spinach for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Half-Hour Garlic Butter Shrimp with Spinach low carb?
Yes — this recipe is tagged low carb based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
My husband loved the garlic butter sauce. Quick and delicious.
- ★★★★★
This was perfect for date night! The garlic butter sauce was divine.
- ★★★★☆
Tasted great, but the spinach was a bit soggy.
