Description
This Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp One-Pot Recipe is a flavorful and quick seafood dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. Succulent shrimp are sautéed in a rich garlic butter sauce and finished with a bright splash of lemon and fresh parsley. The recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and can be served over pasta or rice for a complete meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Protein
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or frozen)
Sauce Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Optional
- Cooked pasta or rice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Thaw and pat dry the shrimp if frozen. Mince the garlic cloves and chop fresh parsley for garnish.
- Melt Butter: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter until it becomes foamy and turns a light golden brown, signaling the perfect stage for garlic flavor infusion.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and stir continuously for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, careful not to burn it.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the shrimp in a single layer, seasoning them with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until the shrimp turn pink, then flip and cook another 2-3 minutes until fully opaque and cooked through.
- Add Broth and Lemon: Pour in the chicken broth and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well, scraping up any flavorful browned bits from the skillet bottom.
- Simmer Sauce: Allow the mixture to simmer gently for a few minutes until the broth slightly thickens and flavors meld. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine with Pasta or Rice: If using, add cooked pasta or rice to the skillet. Toss gently to coat in the garlic butter lemon sauce ensuring everything is evenly mixed.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat, garnish the shrimp with chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges for squeezing over.
Notes
- You can use frozen shrimp, but be sure to thaw and dry them well to avoid excess water in the skillet.
- Low-sodium chicken broth allows you to control the saltiness more precisely.
- For a richer flavor, brown the butter slightly before adding garlic to get a nutty, deeper taste.
- This dish pairs beautifully with linguine, spaghetti, or steamed rice for a satisfying meal.
- Fresh lemon juice brightens the sauce; avoid bottled lemon juice for best taste.
- Ensure not to overcook shrimp to maintain tender texture.
