Description
This Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. Succulent large shrimp are seasoned and sautéed with shallots, garlic, and a splash of white wine, then finished with fresh lemon zest, juice, herbs, and rich butter. Serve it over rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread for a delightful meal ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cooking Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 small shallot, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine (or low-sodium chicken broth)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
To Serve
- Cooked rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread
Instructions
- Season Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and place them in a bowl. Season evenly with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper to infuse flavor into the shrimp before cooking.
- Sauté Shallot: Heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens and becomes fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook them for about 1 minute on each side or until they turn pink and opaque, being careful not to overcook.
- Add Wine and Garlic: Pour the white wine (or low-sodium chicken broth as a substitute) into the skillet along with the minced garlic. Cook the mixture, allowing the wine to reduce by half while the shrimp finish cooking through, enhancing the sauce’s depth of flavor.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter for a silky finish. Zest the lemon directly over the skillet, then squeeze the juice from half of the lemon into the sauce. Add the chopped rosemary or thyme if using, and the parsley. Toss everything gently to combine. Serve immediately with lemon wedges alongside cooked rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread.
Notes
- To keep the shrimp tender, avoid overcooking them; they cook quickly, in about 2 minutes total.
- If you don’t have white wine, low-sodium chicken broth is an excellent substitute.
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley add a fresh, aromatic touch but can be omitted if unavailable.
- This dish pairs beautifully with various sides—try it over creamy grits or garlic buttered pasta for extra indulgence.
