Quick Best Garlic Butter Shrimp
Succulent shrimp seared in a garlic butter sauce with lemon and herbs, ready in under 20 minutes for a weeknight dinner that's simply the best. This american-inspired seafood ready in about 25 minutes pairs peeled and deveined shrimp, butter, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 2, 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 lb peeled and deveined shrimp
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1/2 for garnish lemon slices
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp butter and 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter is melted and sizzling.
- Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Step 4: Stir in 1/4 cup fresh parsley, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute more.
- Step 5: Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with 1/2 lemon slices. Serve immediately with crusty bread.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Best Garlic Butter Shrimp 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 Quick Best Garlic Butter Shrimp?
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 peeled and deveined shrimp from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Best Garlic Butter Shrimp?
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 Quick Best Garlic Butter Shrimp 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.
What goes well with Quick Best Garlic Butter Shrimp?
American 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.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Great base recipe! I added a pinch of smoked paprika and it was even better.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 15-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
