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    Home > Recipes > Seafood

    Lemony Garlic Shrimp

    Published: Jul 13, 2020 · Modified: Mar 16, 2023 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 4 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp in a cast iron skillet
    Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp in a cast iron skillet
    cooking garlic shrimp in a cast iron skillet
    skillet shrimp
    Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp
    Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp

    Bright, fresh Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp may be the fastest main dish you can make for dinner tonight. Prepare fresh lemon juice, parsley, and garlic and the shrimp cooks in less than 10 minutes. Great on its own or over pasta, rice, or another grain.

    My six-year-olds, Molly and Clara, just started understanding the idea of a blog. I think it was a light bulb moment for them when they realized the reason I’m always in the kitchen is actually serving a larger purpose than just keeping them fed. Though, let’s be real, keeping them fed is no small feat. Lately, whenever I make something they like, they tell me “put this on the blog mom!”.

    Not only is Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp fast, delicious, and super easy, it’s beautiful too. There’s something so satisfying about serving a beautiful dish to my family. Even better if it has a small handful of ingredients and takes less time to cook than the time for Molly and Clara to set the table.

    ingredients for lemony garlic butter shrimp - garlic, lemons, parsley, paprika

    Ingredients for Garlic Butter Shrimp

    • Shrimp - Be sure to grab peeled and deveined shrimp if you want to save time. I love having frozen shrimp on-hand for meals like this. Just defrost the frozen shrimp by soaking it in warm water. 
    • Garlic - If you love garlic, feel free to add even more than the recipe lists. The garlic is added to the pan along with the shrimp so that it infuses the shrimp with flavor as it cooks. 
    • Smoked Paprika - Typically what we have in our pantry is labeled as “paprika” which is a sweeter variety. Smoked paprika has a smokier, less sweet flavor and I just love the subtle Spanish-inspired flavor it adds. No need to run out and grab it just for this recipe - any paprika works just fine.
    • Olive Oil - Extra Virgin Olive Oil adds a rich texture and flavor to this dish. Toss it, garlic, and smoked paprika with the shrimp before cooking - it will serve as a quick marinade. 
    • Kosher Salt - I test all of my recipes with Kosher salt, but if you’re using table salt, reduce by half. If you’re using salted butter in this recipe, reduce the amount of salt by half. Remember that you can always taste the shrimp and sauce at the end of cooking and add more salt if you’d like.
    • Unsalted Butter, Chopped Parsley, Lemon Juice - These ingredients are added to the dish near the end of cooking so they retain their fresh flavor. Don’t skip the fresh parsley and fresh lemon juice - they really make this dish taste bright and restaurant-quality.
    raw shrimp in skillet
    skillet with shrimp and kitchen tongs

    How to Make Lemony Garlic Shrimp

    1. Marinate shrimp - Combine shrimp, olive oil, garlic, paprika, and salt. Do this before you get the other ingredients ready and put the shrimp in the fridge. This serves as a quick marinade and will begin to infuse the shrimp with flavor even before cooking.
    2. Prep fresh ingredients - As I’ve said, the fresh ingredients are key here. Combine melted butter with parsley, and lemon juice. You’ll want these ready to go - once you start cooking, this dish cooks fast!
    3. Sear shrimp - Add shrimp (including marinade) to a skillet or wok. Cook on one side, without stirring, until golden brown, 3-4 minutes.
    4. Flip and add fresh ingredients - Flip all of the shrimp over and add the butter, parsley, and lemon juice. 
    5. Finish cooking - Cook shrimp, stirring occasionally, until it finishes cooking. This just takes a minute or two, depending on how big the shrimp are. When they are opaque, they’re done cooking!
    Skillet with Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp

    What to Serve with Shrimp

    When I make this easy, weeknight meal, I love to serve it with a green vegetable, over pasta or a grain. 

    Serve shrimp with:

    • Asparagus
    • Broccoli
    • Green Beans
    • Spaghetti, Anghel Hair, or Fettuccine
    • Rice (white or brown)
    • Quinoa
    • Couscous

    More Shrimp Recipes

    • 30 Minute Shrimp Teriyaki Noodle Bowls
    • Sheet Pan Jerk Shrimp with Coconut Rice
    • Sweet and Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa
    • Honey Lime Shrimp
    • Vietnamese Shrimp Noodle Bowls
    • Roasted Shrimp with Feta

    Favorite Tools

    • Skillet or Wok
    • Mixing Bowl
    garlic shrimp in a cast iron skillet
    Print Recipe
    4.88 from 8 votes

    Lemony Garlic Shrimp Recipe

    Bright, fresh Lemon Garlic Shrimp may be the fastest thing you can make for dinner. Take just a few minutes to prep fresh lemon juice, parsley, and garlic and the shrimp cooks in less than 10 minutes. Great on its own or over pasta, rice, or another grain.
    Want to adjust the servings in this recipe? Just click on the number next to “servings” to scale up or down.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time6 mins
    Total Time16 mins
    Course: Main Dish
    Keyword: easy dinner, shrimp recipe
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 260kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $11.00

    Equipment

    • Skillet or Wok
    • Mixing Bowl

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (sub regular paprika)
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
    • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (flat or curly leaf)
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

    Instructions

    • In a mixing bowl, stir together shrimp, olive oil, garlic, paprika, and salt.
    • Combine melted butter, parsley, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
    • Heat a large skillet or wok (use one that is large enough that it can hold all of the shrimp in a single layer) over medium-high heat.
    • Pour shrimp (including the olive oil) into the heated skillet. Spread the shrimp out into a single layer. Let shrimp cook on one side, without stirring, until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Use a spatula to flip all of the shrimp to the other side. Pour the butter-parsley-lemon juice mixture over the shrimp and let it simmer for 1 minute.
    • Stir everything together and continue cooking until shrimp is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more (depending on the size of the shrimp).

    Notes

    Skillet or Wok - Any type of skillet you have will work here. A cast iron skillet is great for getting a golden crust. Just make sure that the skillet is large enough to hold all of the shrimp in a single layer so that it cooks evenly. This is also great cooked in a wok because the high sides help the shrimp to cook evenly and quickly. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 309mg | Sodium: 1175mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 681IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 3mg

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrew

      July 24, 2020 at 9:33 am

      5 stars
      This looks so easy and delicious! We're big fans of both garlic & shrimp, so... I'm going to give it a try this weekend, thanks!

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        July 24, 2020 at 10:02 am

        Us too! Hope you enjoy it Andrew!

        Reply
    2. Becky

      August 05, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious and so quick. We all loved it

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        August 07, 2020 at 8:55 am

        Thanks so much for your note! Glad you guys liked it. (Love you mom!)

        Reply

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