Garlic Butter Shrimp
Garlic Butter Shrimp are juicy jumbo shrimp, tossed in a garlic butter wine sauce with lemon zest and parsley. Serve this delicious shrimp recipe as an appetizer or protein in a brunch or dinner entree.
For more brunch recipes, try my Waffle Crusted Fried Chicken with Honey Butter next.
Garlic butter shrimp are plump succulent pan-fried shrimp drenched in a rich, creamy wine sauce. It’s saucy, succulent, and so delicious! Whether you decide to enjoy the shrimp as is or make it a balanced meal with sides, one thing is certain: you will devour every mouthwatering morsel.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP RECIPE
- Delicious. Butter. Garlic. Shrimp. Need I say more? Each of these ingredients elevates a simple dish so when combined, they are absolutely mouthwatering. It’s a classic combination that works every time.
- Quick and Easy. This is the perfect solution to a busy weeknight because it takes less than 10 minutes to go from the skillet to the dinner table.
- Versatile. Serve this over rice or grits, put them in a burrito, or toss them in pasta; the possibilities are endless!
Is Shrimp Healthy?
Absolutely! While this dish is an indulgence, shrimp alone is gluten-free, keto-friendly, and low-carb. Shrimp is packed with vitamins and is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also low in calories.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp: Use medium to jumbo shrimp and make sure it is shelled and deveined. You can take the tails off if you want but I leave mine on because they provide extra flavor and are great for gripping.
- Seasoning: I use my full-flavored signature seasonings Bayou City All Purpose Seasoning and Bayou City Garlic Pepper, along with a pinch of salt.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Add a bit of spice to the dish.
- Butter: It’s hard to make this without butter. You can use unsalted to control the sodium.
- Onion: Dice it up.
- Garlic cloves: Mince fresh garlic because the stuff from a jar isn’t nearly as fresh or delicious.
- White wine: Wine enhances the other flavors so use a wine that you would drink with the dish. Sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio are great options.
- Lemon: Use fresh lemon juice and zest.
- Fresh Parsley: For a pop of color and flavor, add this to the finished dish.
How to Defrost Frozen Shrimp
I like to cook garlic butter shrimp with fresh shrimp but sometimes, frozen shrimp is easier to find. There are two methods I use to thaw frozen shrimp:
- Place frozen shrimp in the fridge overnight. By the next day, they are ready to cook.
- Submerge a sealed bag of frozen shrimp in a large bowl full of cool water. The shrimp will be completely thawed within 30 minutes.
How to Devein Shrimp
That thin black string running along the shrimp’s back is actually not a vein but the shrimp’s digestive tract. Remove it before cleaning and cooking the shrimp. Simply slip a knife underneath the string and the whole tract should remove quite easily. Once you have removed them all, rinse the shrimp thoroughly and pat dry with a paper towel.
How to Make Garlic Butter Shrimp
Season shrimp with Bayou City Seasonings and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter with olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine or broth, salt, and red pepper flakes, and bring to a simmer. Let the wine reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
Add shrimp and sauté until they just turn pink, 2 to 4 minutes depending upon their size. Remove from heat, stir in remaining butter, parsley, lemon juice and zest until butter is melted and well incorporated. Serve over pasta or with crusty bread.
Recipe Variations
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Without Wine: Instead of using white wine, you can use chicken stock for depth of flavor.
- Add Cheese: Stir in shredded parmesan cheese for cheesy garlic butter shrimp.
- Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp: Adding 1/4 cup of honey would make this a sweet, savory, sticky finger-lickin’ good dish.
- Add Vegetables: Throw some broccoli, kale, or spinach in the sauce to make this a one-pot meal.
Pro-Tips
- When purchasing fresh shrimp, sniff it. They should not have a smell.
- Use raw shrimp. Make sure you don’t use pre-cooked or you will end up with rubbery, overcooked shrimp.
- Watch the shrimp carefully! They cook within 3 to 4 minutes and can easily be overcooked.
- Because shrimp cook so fast, make sure you have all your ingredients measured and ready to use before you start cooking.
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Rice: Sop up that creamy, garlicky sauce with rice.
- Grits: Imagine garlic butter shrimp over a bed of creamy grits. It would be restaurant quality!
- Pasta: Use your favorite pasta to make garlic butter shrimp pasta.
- Cauliflower: Keep dinner low-carb with this rice replacement.
- Salad: Throw some shrimp on top of a bed of greens and enjoy it with a side of garlic bread.
- Burrito or Tacos: Imagine this saucy shrimp bundled in a soft tortilla or crunchy taco. This would be an amazing fusion!
Storing Leftovers
Garlic butter shrimp is best served immediately but if you have leftovers, they should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you want to reheat them, place the frozen shrimp in a pan with a tablespoon of butter on low-medium heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell when the shrimp are done?
Depending on the size, shrimp cooks between 2-4 minutes on each side. You will know it’s ready when the shrimp turns pink and opaque.
What is garlic butter sauce made of?
Garlic butter sauce contains melted butter, sauteed onions, fresh garlic, white wine, red pepper flakes, and a sprinkle of salt.
What goes good with garlic shrimp?
What doesn’t go with buttery garlic shrimp? It goes with a variety of dishes including pasta, rice, and crusty bread.
If you loved this Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe, let me know in the comments. For more delicious recipes, follow me on TikTok and Instagram!
More Seafood Recipes To Try!
- Southern Shrimp and Grits
- Crispy Homemade Fish Sticks
- Creole Crawfish Boudin Balls
- Fried Lobster Tail Corn Dog
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb Shrimp shelled and deveined
- 2 tsp Bayou City All Purpose
- 2 tsp Bayou City Garlic Pepper
- ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- Pinch of salt
- 4 tbsp Butter
- ¼ Onion diced
- 4 Garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup White wine or chicken broth
- ½ Lemon juice and zest
- ⅓ cup Parsley
Instructions
- Season shrimp with Bayou City Seasonings and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter with olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine or broth, salt and red pepper flakes and bring to a simmer. Let wine reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
- Add shrimp and sauté until they just turn pink, 2 to 4 minutes depending upon their size. Remove from heat, stir in remaining butter, parsley, lemon juice and zest until butter is melted and well incorporated. Serve over pasta or with crusty bread.
