Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes
Tender shrimp are cooked in a fragrant garlic butter sauce with burst cherry tomatoes, creating a flavorful and quick seafood dish. This seafood-inspired quick meals ready in about 15 minutes pairs 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 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 shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Step 2: Add 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and cook for 2 minutes on each side until pink and opaque.
- Step 3: Push the shrimp to the side, add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet, sauté for 2 minutes until garlic is fragrant and tomatoes start to soften.
- Step 4: Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, letting the sauce thicken slightly and coat the shrimp.
- Step 5: Remove from heat, sprinkle 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley over the dish, and serve immediately.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes take to make?
Total time is about 15 minutes (5 min prep + 10 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 Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes?
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 shrimp, peeled and deveined from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes?
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 Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes 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 Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes?
Seafood quick meals 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.
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