Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Fresh Basil

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-01 · Updated 2026-05-01

Juicy shrimp sautéed with garlic, red chili flakes, and fresh basil for a quick and flavorful seafood dish. This international-inspired seafood ready in about 12 minutes pairs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 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
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
• 1/4 cup, roughly chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 1 lb large shrimp and season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp red chili flakes, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
3. Step 3: Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes without stirring until the edges turn pink and slightly crispy.
4. Step 4: Flip the shrimp and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fully opaque and cooked through.
5. Step 5: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil leaves and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.