Sizzling Garlic Butter Shrimp is a quick and delicious seafood dish made with tender shrimp cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce. The shrimp are lightly seasoned, seared until golden, and finished with fresh garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and tastes wonderful served with crusty bread, rice, or pasta.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp: Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Season with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat the pan: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Sear the shrimp: Once the pan is hot, add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for about 1–2 minutes per side, until they turn pink and develop a light golden color. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the garlic butter: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining butter and minced garlic. Cook for about 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Build the sauce: Add the red pepper flakes if using, followed by the lemon juice. Stir to combine and scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Return the shrimp: Add the cooked shrimp back to the skillet and toss gently in the garlic butter sauce. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, just until heated through.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Tips for Perfect Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Pat the shrimp dry before seasoning so they sear instead of releasing too much water.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Shrimp cook very quickly, so take them off the heat as soon as they are opaque and cooked through.
- Fresh garlic gives the best flavor.
- Add extra red pepper flakes if you enjoy a spicy seafood dish.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Shrimp
Serve these sizzling shrimp over steamed white rice, buttery pasta, mashed potatoes, or creamy polenta. Crusty bread is also excellent for soaking up the garlicky butter sauce.
For a lighter meal, serve them with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables.
SEO Title: Sizzling Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe – Easy Seafood Dinner
Meta Description: Make sizzling garlic butter shrimp with tender shrimp, fresh garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs. A quick and flavorful seafood dinner ready in minutes.