This easy garlic butter shrimp is succulent shrimp tossed in an easy garlic and lemon sauce. The perfect quick dinner or appetizer!
If you love garlic, you’ll love these lemony, garlicky shrimp which are on the table in less than 10 minutes.
In my opinion, sometimes the most simple preparations of food can be the most delicious. You don’t need to add a whole lot to shrimp to turn them into a culinary delight. These garlic butter shrimp have just a few ingredients and can be on the table in minutes. They’re packed with flavor and perfect served as-is or over pasta.
How to make garlic butter shrimp
To make garlic butter shrimp, I recommend buying the biggest shrimp you can afford. Shrimp size is measured by the number of shrimp per pound. For this recipe I typically use extra jumbo shrimp, which are 16-20 shrimp per pound.
The shrimp get tossed in a pan with plenty of butter, minced garlic and salt and pepper. Be sure to use fresh minced garlic here, not the stuff that comes in a jar. It just doesn’t taste the same! I also add a sprinkling of Italian seasoning for good measure.
These garlic butter shrimp cook very quickly – all you need is about 2-3 minutes per side, depending on the size of your shrimp. As soon as the shrimp turn pink and opaque, they’re done. Be sure to watch carefully so that the shrimp don’t get overcooked!
The finishing touch as a sprinkling of fresh parsley, and you’re ready to eat! These garlic butter shrimp are great served over pasta or rice, and they even make a great appetizer.
Is it healthy to eat shrimp?
Shrimp contains a fair amount of cholesterol, but they’re very low in calories and full of nutrients. Shrimp are a great source of vitamin D and B, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. In this particular case, the shrimp are coated in butter, which is not the most healthful way to prepare shrimp, but everything in moderation, right?
I give a range of garlic amounts in this recipe. If you’re a garlic lover, go for the larger amount of garlic! My husband is sensitive to garlic, so I tend to go a little easier on it, but I know some people can’t get enough!
I always keep a bag of shrimp in the freezer so that I can whip up these garlic butter shrimp for an easy dinner.
Whenever I post photos of shrimp with the tails on, I always get a lot of questions and commentary about it. I tend to think that shrimp look nicer with the tails on, but if you’re just looking for a quick dinner and aren’t out to impress anyone, by all means remove the tails before cooking! It’s really a personal choice depending on the presentation that you’re going for.
More great shrimp recipes
Garlic Butter Shrimp Video
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 lb large shrimp I use 16-20 count size, peeled, deveined and tails removed if desired
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2-3 teaspoons minced garlic use more if you love garlic!
- the juice of one lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Place the butter in a large pan and melt over medium high heat. Add the shrimp and season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
- Stir in the lemon juice and parsley, then serve.
We made this tonight with brown rice and broccoli, along with crab cakes for an appetizer… spectacular! Thanks for a great recipe.
Made this tonight with grilled steak and tossed salad. Delicious!
What do you pair it with?
You can pair the shrimp with rice or buttered noodles and a veggie like broccoli or green beans.
This was a HUGE hit in my house and oh, so easy to make! I served it with brown rice and made a little extra sauce (butter, garlic, and lemon juice) so we could pour it on the rice. This is going into our regular rotation! Yummy!
I added shallots and some olive oil. Delicious!
I have made this many, many times. Always delish! We serve it with Lemon Butter Rice. Thanks for the easy..peasy recipe.