Quick Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
Juicy shrimp cooked quickly in a bright and buttery garlic lemon sauce for an effortless seafood dinner. This american-inspired seafood ready in about 11 minutes pairs large 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 210 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
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 1 lb large peeled and deveined shrimp. Season shrimp with 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted and foaming. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add seasoned shrimp to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes without stirring until pink on one side.
- Step 4: Flip shrimp and cook for 1-2 more minutes until opaque and cooked through. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped parsley.
- Step 5: Serve immediately with pan sauce spooned over the shrimp.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic 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 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 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 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 Lemon Butter Sauce?
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.
