Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Chili and Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-29 · Updated 2026-07-29

Juicy shrimp sautéed in a fragrant garlic butter sauce with a hint of chili and bright lemon zest, perfect for a quick seafood dinner. This quick recipe, ready in about 11 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 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 shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and beginning to foam, about 1 minute. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
2. Step 2: Add 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp in a single layer, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes without stirring until the shrimp edges turn opaque and start to curl.
3. Step 3: Flip the shrimp and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fully pink and opaque. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately with the garlic butter sauce spooned over.