Quick Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce
Tender shrimp cooked quickly in a fragrant garlic and lemon butter sauce, perfect for a fast, flavorful dinner. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 11 minutes, pairs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 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 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves, finely minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted and bubbling. Add 4 finely minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined large shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring until the edges turn pink and start to crisp.
- Step 3: Flip the shrimp and cook for an additional 2 minutes until opaque and cooked through. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley to coat the shrimp in the lemon butter sauce.
- Step 4: Serve immediately with crusty bread or over rice to soak up the sauce.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 11 minutes (5 min prep + 6 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 Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce?
Refrigerate in a covered airtight container for up to 3–4 days (FDA FoodKeeper guideline for cooked fish). Store any fresh salsa or citrus-based garnish in a separate container — it keeps for up to 2 days. Freeze cooked fish (without fresh garnishes) for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently at 275°F until just warmed through to preserve texture.
Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce?
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 Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce 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 Quick Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce?
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.
