Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Herbed Rice Pilaf
Succulent shrimp sautéed in lemon-garlic butter served atop a fragrant herbed rice pilaf for a bright and satisfying seafood dinner. This mediterranean-inspired seafood ready in about 35 minutes pairs uncooked long grain white rice, chicken broth, butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups chicken broth to a boil. Add 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Step 2: While rice cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp, seasoning with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
- Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 3 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp lemon zest to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant and shrimp are coated with the lemon-garlic butter.
- Step 4: Remove shrimp from heat and stir 2 tbsp butter and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley into the cooked rice. Adjust seasoning with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Step 5: Serve the lemon-garlic shrimp over the herbed rice pilaf immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Herbed Rice Pilaf take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (10 min prep + 25 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 Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Herbed Rice Pilaf?
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 chicken broth from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Herbed Rice Pilaf?
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 Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Herbed Rice Pilaf for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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.
What goes well with Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Herbed Rice Pilaf?
Mediterranean seafood like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
