Garlic Butter Shrimp 🧄🧈🍤 Quick, Bold, and Irresistibly Buttery With Garlic Punch and a Touch of Heat

This is weeknight gold — plump shrimp seared fast in a pool of sizzling garlic butter, kissed with lemon and spice. It’s rich but clean, fast but indulgent, and endlessly versatile: serve it over pasta, rice, toast, or just eat it straight from the pan.

Ready in 15 minutes. Tastes like you planned it all day.

Ingredients (Serves 2–4)

For the shrimp

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt and black pepper
• ½ tsp smoked paprika or cayenne (optional)
• 1 tbsp olive oil or neutral oil

Garlic butter sauce

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

To serve

• Cooked pasta, rice, or crusty bread
• Extra lemon wedges

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Shrimp

Pat shrimp dry and season with salt, pepper, and paprika or cayenne if using.

Step 2: Sear

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add shrimp in a single layer. Sear 1–2 minutes per side until just opaque and lightly browned. Remove and set aside.

Step 3: Make Garlic Butter

Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, stir in garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant (don’t brown it). Add lemon juice and zest. Stir to combine.

Step 4: Finish

Return shrimp to the skillet and toss in the garlic butter sauce. Cook 1 minute more until hot and coated. Finish with parsley and chili flakes if desired. Serve immediately.

Flavor Variations

• Add white wine (¼ cup) with the lemon juice for depth
• Finish with a swirl of chili crisp or Calabrian chili paste
• Use brown butter for a nutty flavor boost
• Toss with cooked linguine and Parmesan for a full meal
• Add a splash of cream for a richer sauce

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the shrimp — they’re done when pink and curled
• Fresh garlic > jarred — it’s the centerpiece of the dish
• Keep the butter from browning by lowering heat when adding garlic
• Want a silky finish? Add a cold pat of butter just before serving
• Serve over warm rice or toasted sourdough to catch every drop

Final Thoughts

Garlic Butter Shrimp is the fast, flavor-packed dish that never misses — rich, punchy, and totally versatile. One pan, a few minutes, and you’ve got golden garlic bliss on the plate.

Sear it. Swirl it. Serve it hot. 🧄🧈🍤🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.

🧄 Garlic Butter Recipes Collection

Explore them all → Rich, golden, and versatile — garlic butter is the flavor bomb your weeknight meals (and fancy dinners) need.

🔥 Garlic Butter Proteins (Main Dishes)

• Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fast, juicy shrimp with bold garlic butter flavor.
• Garlic Butter Chicken – Crispy thighs smothered in a buttery garlic glaze.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – Bite-sized skillet gold.
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites – Quick-seared steak cubes in sizzling garlic butter.
• Garlic Butter Tilapia – Mild fish with a rich, buttery finish.
• Garlic Butter Salmon – Buttery, flaky salmon perfect for weeknight dinner.

🍝 Garlic Butter Pastas & Noodles

• Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Seafood and carbs in harmony.
• Garlic Butter Pasta – Minimalist magic with max flavor.
• Garlic Butter Noodles – A simple classic that pairs with anything.
• Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese – Rich, decadent, and over-the-top good.
• Garlic Butter Parmesan Fettuccine – Creamy, cheesy, and craveable.
• Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake – Bubbly and golden with garlic and seafood.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Lasagna Rolls – Creamy, rolled seafood pasta baked in butter sauce.

🍚 Garlic Butter Sides, Bases & Sauces

• Garlic Butter Rice – Buttery rice with bold flavor and fluff.
• Garlic Butter Sauce – Base for seafood, pasta, and more.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Bold, spicy, and ready for dunking.
• Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes – Creamy with a garlicky punch.
• Garlic Butter Green Beans / Asparagus – Your favorite veg made crave-worthy.
• Garlic Bread with Homemade Garlic Butter Spread – Essential upgrade for any carb lover.

🌶️ Garlic Butter Fusion Recipes (Flavor Bombs)

• Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp – Spicy, buttery, and bold.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos – Crispy shells, buttery shrimp.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo – Creamy fusion of two comfort classics.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi – Bright lemon and rich butter make magic.
• Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles – Lazy, comforting, deeply satisfying.