Pan-Seared Gulf Shrimp with Garlic Butter and Cajun Spices

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Succulent Gulf shrimp pan-seared in a rich garlic butter sauce seasoned with smoky Cajun spices, perfect for a quick seafood dinner. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 16 minutes, pairs Gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined, unsalted butter, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 6 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 180 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb Gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tbsp unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat 1 lb Gulf shrimp dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss the shrimp with this spice blend until evenly coated.
Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted and foaming. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to brown the garlic.
Step 3: Add the spiced shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes per side until the shrimp turn pink and opaque with slightly crisp edges.
Step 4: Remove the skillet from heat and drizzle 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice over the shrimp. Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and toss gently to combine before serving.