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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe Easy 15-Minute Dinner Idea

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A quick and easy garlic butter shrimp recipe that comes together in under 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests with a flavorful, buttery garlic sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
  2. Peel and mince garlic finely. Chop parsley and set aside.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Warm until shimmering but not smoking.
  4. Add shrimp in a single layer without overcrowding. Cook for about 2 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden. Flip and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes.
  5. Lower heat to medium. Push shrimp to one side of the skillet. Add butter and minced garlic to the empty side. Stir garlic quickly to avoid burning. As butter melts, mix gently to coat shrimp.
  6. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over shrimp. Add salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and stir once more to combine.
  7. Serve immediately over rice, pasta, or with crusty bread.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure proper searing. Pat shrimp dry before cooking to avoid steaming. Use fresh garlic for best flavor and add it last to prevent burning. Adjust salt and lemon juice to taste before serving. Shrimp cook quickly; remove from heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque to avoid rubberiness. For dairy-free, substitute butter with vegan margarine or olive oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp, quick shrimp recipe, easy dinner, 15-minute meal, seafood, weeknight dinner, shrimp with garlic, buttery shrimp