Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice
Tender shrimp cooked in garlic butter served over fluffy cilantro lime rice, perfect for a quick and flavorful dinner. This latin american-inspired seafood ready in about 30 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 320 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 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 1 cup long grain white rice under cold water until water runs clear; combine rice with 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed.
- Step 2: While rice cooks, heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and shimmering; add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined large shrimp to the skillet in a single layer, season with 1/2 tsp black pepper and 1/2 tsp salt, and cook for about 2 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
- Step 4: Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lime juice to the shrimp.
- Step 5: Once rice is done, fluff with a fork and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and 2 tbsp fresh lime juice; serve shrimp over the cilantro lime rice immediately.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 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 Cilantro Lime Rice?
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 Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice?
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 Cilantro Lime Rice 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 Cilantro Lime Rice?
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 shrimp recipe was a hit at my dinner party! The cilantro lime rice was perfect with the garlic butter shrimp.
- ★★★★★
So easy and so tasty. I'll definitely make this again. The lime in the rice is a game-changer.
- ★★★★★
My husband and kids can't get enough of this recipe. The garlic butter shrimp is perfectly cooked and the rice is refreshing.
