Sautéed Garlic Cilantro Shrimp with Lime Butter Sauce
Tender shrimp quickly sautéed with garlic and finished with a bright lime butter sauce accented by fresh cilantro. This latin american-inspired seafood ready in about 18 minutes pairs large shrimp, unsalted butter, garlic cloves 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 peeled and deveined large shrimp
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp zest of lime
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter is melted and shimmering.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined large shrimp, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the skillet. Sauté shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 1 tsp lime zest, 2 tbsp unsalted butter, and 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro. Cook for an additional 1 minute until butter melts and sauce coats the shrimp.
- Step 4: Remove skillet from heat and serve shrimp immediately over rice or with crusty bread to soak up the lime butter sauce.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Garlic Cilantro Shrimp with Lime Butter Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 18 minutes (10 min prep + 8 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 Cilantro Shrimp with Lime 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 Sautéed Garlic Cilantro Shrimp with 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 Cilantro Shrimp with 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 Cilantro Shrimp with 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.
