Crunchy Creamy Sweet

menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
×
You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Recipes / Dinner

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Published: Feb 23, 2020 · Modified: Oct 10, 2022 by Anna 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Jump to Recipe Print Pin Recipe Comment

This Garlic Butter Shrimp with lemon is one of the easiest and fastest seafood dinners you can make. Juicy shrimp simmered in buttery garlic sauce is delicious served with pasta or rice and steamed vegetables.

Close up photo of garlic butter shrimp on a plate with asparagus.

Why You'll Love This Dish

When you need a quick and easy dinner, shrimp is the way to go. It cooks really fast and is very versatile. This recipe calls for a quick sear of the shrimp in a skillet and then simmering it in garlicky butter. It's bursting with flavor!

A splash of fresh lemon juice brightens the dish. It's perfect at any time of the year, but especially during Spring. I serve it with asparagus that was quickly steamed in the microwave. You can also serve it with steamed broccoli, as it pairs very well with the same flavors.

What You Will Need:

Butter, garlic cloves, lemon and raw shrimp on a plate, set on a gray board.
  • shrimp: medium or jumbo, shelled and deveined. Use fresh or frozen shrimp. See below how to thaw frozen shrimp to use in a dish.
  • butter: the star of the sauce in this dish; I used unsalted butter.
  • garlic: Use fresh cloves for the best flavor, but in a pinch, jarred minced garlic works too. I used 4 cloves to keep it moderate but as they say, measure garlic with your heart so if you like it, add more cloves!
  • lemon: brightens the dish;
  • chicken stock or white wine: for deglazing the pan so every bit of flavor is in the sauce.

How to make garlic butter shrimp?

  • Start by cleaning the shrimp. Remove the shell and the vein. Rinse the shrimp and pat it with a paper towel. Place on a plate and season with salt and pepper.
  • Melt butter in a pan.
  • Add shrimp and cook until pink. Remove and place on a plate.
Saute shrimp in skillet.
  • Add more butter to a pan, and saute garlic until fragrant and golden brown.
  • Add chicken stock and lemon juice and deglaze the pan.
  • Place shrimp back in the pan. Simmer for 1 minute.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Would you like to save this recipe?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Making of garlic butter sauce.

How to thaw frozen shrimp?

  • Place frozen shrimp in a colander and run under cold tap water. It will help thaw the ice.
  • Separate the shrimp so they all thaw evenly.
  • Place shrimp on a plate and into the fridge to thaw completely. You can store them in the fridge overnight.
Cooked shrimp in garlic butter sauce with lemon in a skillet.

What to serve with garlic butter shrimp?

You can serve it with fluffy rice or pasta, like fettuccine or even penne. I always steam broccoli or asparagus to serve on the side.

Recipe FAQs:

Can I bake this dish in the oven?

Absolutely! Arrange shrimp in a baking dish. Make the garlic sauce in a pan, then pour over the shrimp. Bake for 15 minutes in 375 degrees F oven.

Should I remove the tails from shrimp before cooking?

This is a matter of preference. I always remove the tails because the digestive tract (the black vein) goes all the way to the end of the tail and you can miss a bit of it if you don't remove it carefully.

How to store leftovers?

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3 days. I never keep seafood for longer than that.
To reheat the dish, place it in a pan and add a splash of stock and a little butter.

Shrimp in garlic butter and asparagus on plate with brown rim.

More seafood recipes:

  • Square image of shrimp in creamy Tuscan sauce in stainless steel pan.
    15-Minute Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
  • Fried rice with shrimp in a skillet.
    Easy Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Salmon and golden potatoes.
    Dijon Salmon and Potatoes
  • Raw salmon with teriyaki sauce.
    Baked Teriyaki Salmon

If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

Garlic butter shrimp on a plate with asparagus.

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Author: Anna
This Garlic Butter Shrimp with lemon is one of the easiest and fastest seafood dinners you can make. Juicy shrimp simmered in buttery garlic sauce is delicious served with pasta or rice and steamed vegetables.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 246 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb medium shrimp shells removed, deveined
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup vegetable stock or white wine
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • chopped parsley

Instructions
 

  • Remove shells and devein the shrimp. Rinse well and pat dry with paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.
    1 lb medium shrimp
  • In a large skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter.
    5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Add shrimp and cook until pink. Remove onto a plate and set aside.
    ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Add garlic to pan and saute until fragrant and golden brown.
    4 garlic cloves
  • Add stock or wine and deglaze the pan (that means scraping any cooked-on bits from the bottom of the pan, with a wooden spatula).
    ¼ cup vegetable stock or white wine
  • Add lemon juice and shrimp. Simmer for 1 minute.
    2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Serve with chopped parsley, rice or pasta and steamed vegetable.
    chopped parsley

Notes

  • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 323mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 469IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

More Dinner Recipes

  • Pasta with taco beef, corn and beans with cheese topping in a deep pot.
    Cheesy Taco Pasta
  • Square image of chicken Gloria in a baking dish.
    Chicken Gloria
  • Square image of chicken and rice in an orange pot.
    Easy One Pot Chicken and Rice
  • Square image of chicken Florentine dish in a white skillet.
    Chicken Florentine

Comments

    5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Krissy Allori says

    February 23, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    5 stars
    These shrimp are amazing! Super quick and easy and delicious.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      February 24, 2020 at 10:40 pm

      Thank you, Krissy!

      Reply
  2. Eden says

    February 23, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    5 stars
    This garlic butter shrimp was SO good!! We all loved it and can't wait to make it again!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      February 24, 2020 at 10:40 pm

      I am so glad! Thanks, Eden!

      Reply
  3. wilhelmina says

    February 23, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    5 stars
    This shrimp the best! Love, love, love how easy and delicious it is!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      February 24, 2020 at 10:40 pm

      Right? So easy! Thanks so much, Wilhelmina!

      Reply
Profile photo of the author of Crunchy Creamy Sweet website.

Hi! I'm Anna!

Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family-approved!

read more...

Easy Dinners

  • Square image of chicken in teriyaki sauce, rice and broccoli in a white bowl.
    Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
  • Asian chicken on rice.
    Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
  • Square image of creamy garlic chicken in a skillet.
    Creamy Garlic Chicken
  • Lemon garlic chicken in a skillet.
    Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
  • Chicken in mushroom garlic sauce in pan.
    Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
  • Beef noodle casserole in a baking dish.
    Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

Popular Recipes

  • Cooked shrimp on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Shrimp
  • Square image of four Russet potatoes on a rack in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
  • Noodles with peanut sauce and green onions in a white bowl with chopsticks.
    Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
  • Square image of chicken nuggets with parsley on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
  • Pasta salad with tomatoes and bacon in a glass serving bowl.
    BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Square image of KFC coleslaw in a white bowl with red plaid napkin.
    KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

Featured in

Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.