Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with Spicy Lime Butter Sauce
Succulent shrimp sautéed in garlic-infused butter with a zesty lime and chili kick, perfect for a quick and flavorful seafood dinner. This latin american-inspired seafood ready in about 12 minutes pairs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, unsalted butter, thinly sliced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 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.
Ingredients
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4, thinly sliced garlic cloves
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 1 lb large peeled and deveined shrimp and season with 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. In a large skillet, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat until foaming.
- Step 2: Add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp red chili flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant and lightly golden but not burnt.
- Step 3: Increase heat to medium-high and add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer, cooking for 2 minutes on one side until pink and opaque at edges.
- Step 4: Flip shrimp and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fully opaque and curled, then remove skillet from heat.
- Step 5: Stir in 3 tbsp fresh lime juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves, tossing to coat the shrimp evenly in the spicy lime butter sauce. Serve immediately with steamed rice or crusty bread.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with Spicy Lime Butter Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 12 minutes (5 min prep + 7 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 Shrimp with Spicy Lime Butter Sauce?
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 unsalted butter from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with Spicy Lime 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 Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with Spicy Lime 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 Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with Spicy Lime Butter Sauce?
Latin 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
- ★★★★★
This recipe saved my date night! The garlic and lime balance was spot-on, and the shrimp cooked up so tender.
- ★★★★★
The spicy lime butter sauce was perfection! My family devoured these shrimp in minutes—perfect for weeknight dinners.
- ★★★★☆
Great dish overall, but the shrimp took longer to sear than the recipe suggested. Otherwise, a 5-star dinner.
