Juicy Pan-Seared Skillet Shrimp in a Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce is a quick recipe perfect for any meal or as an appetizer. It's rich, buttery, and fresh with a pop of citrus and herbs.
Why this Pan Seared Shrimp Recipe is Amazing: This one pan recipe takes less than 10 minutes to cook - FAST or what?!
The pan seared citrus shrimp is mildly-spiced so kids and adults will love it. The sauteed little bites are hard to resist on their own or served over pasta.
You will want to sop up every last drop of the gourmet sauce of the succulent shrimp with a slice of homemade ciabatta. This pairs well with a Simple Spinach Salad for a light and healthy low-carb meal or for a hearty pairing serve with Sheet Pan Tomato Basil Gnocchi. Ok, now we cook!
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Ingredients
This skillet-cooked recipe calls for medium-sized shrimp. I suggest buying it already shelled and deveined. But if you only have some in the shell that is ok, just remove the veins and shells it yourself. In a pound, you will get about 41-50 shrimps.
To flavor up the shrimp, a homemade 4 spice blend will be used. Then to finish it all off to make the amazing sauce, you will need butter, garlic, fresh lemon juice, and fresh parsley. Simple enough, right?
Here are important notes for some ingredients:
- Medium-Sized Shrimp - peeled & deveined (tail-off or on is ok)
- Salted Butter - the star of the sauce & is the perfect paring with any shellfish
- Garlic - real cloves, minced/chopped; do not substitute with garlic powder
- Spices - salt, pepper, paprika, & red pepper flakes for heat
- Lemon - fresh fruit for the juice
- Fresh Parsley - optional herb that adds color & flavor
See the recipe card for full list, quantities, & any substitutions/variations.
How to Cook Shrimp in a Skillet
This recipe goes fast. Therefore, I suggest gathering all your equipment and ingredients before you start cooking. This is known as mise en place.
Like my recipe for One-Pot Pasta al Limone, this Italian recipe is done on the stove. There are just a few steps - so simple, even a beginner can make it and impress!
Begin by combining all the spices in a small bowl. This will be the seasoning blend for the shrimp. Make sure to not let the shrimp be at room temperature for longer than an hour when cleaning and drying it.
Place the shrimp on a plate lined with a paper towel. Pat them down so both sides are dry.
Sprinkle each side liberally with the seasoning blend.
In a medium-sized skillet, heat the butter to melt over medium heat. Once melted and before it is browning, add the garlic. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Keep the garlic moving so it doesn't burn.
Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Using a pair of tongs, flip each one over and cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side.
The shrimp should just turn pink when they are ready. They will start to curl. Add the lemon juice and remove it from the skillet to a platter.
Look at the gorgeous shrimp with the paprika spice blend and pieces of freshly cooked garlic. All of it is drenched in a lovely lemon butter sauce.
Serving & Storing
Sprinkle on chopped fresh parsley. Hint: the optional fresh parsley really adds so much. The bright grassy herb adds freshness and color. Serve on a platter or plate individual for meals.
These are best enjoyed immediately - shrimp don't make great leftovers. However if you have extra, store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend eating them cold on a salad or at room temperature (reheating shrimp makes them rubbery & tough).
What to Serve with Garlic Shrimp : These are great for an appetizer at a party or date night at home. Also serve for lunch or dinner with Orzo Pasta Salad, mashed potatoes, polenta, rice with broth, or air-fryer green beans.
Other Suggestions for Enjoying Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Shrimp:
- Pile in a brioche bun or add to wrap for a hearty sandwich.
- Keep it keto-friendly and top a salad, zoodles, or cauliflower rice.
- Make quick cooking angel hair pasta (make sure you know how much pasta to make per person) to toss with the saucy shrimps.
- Top toasted slices of Dutch Oven No Knead Bread for a crostini appetizer.
Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes
Here's my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, fun stories, recipe history, and more.
- #1 Tip - do NOT overcook the shrimp, once they start curling , they are done!
- Make sure the pan is hot and cooking at medium-high otherwise a too low of a temperature will "steam or simmer" the shrimp making them soggy, chewy, & tough.
- Don't substitute the fresh garlic for dried or powder. Try shallots if you are allergic to garlic.
- Use ghee to make this paleo-friendly.
- If you love this low-carb & gluten-free shrimp recipe, try my recipe for Sheetpan Shrimp.
- Add a splash of cream at the end if you want more sauce for serving over a starch.
FAQ
On average there are about 41-50 medium shrimp per pound. When buying large shrimp it will be less per pound, averaging 32-40.
This recipe is best with medium shrimp but if you have large shrimp it works too. Just cook 1 minute longer on each side when using larger-sized shrimp or prawns.
The shrimp needs to be pan-seared directly on the flesh. This recipe does not work with the shell still intact. However, you can use peeled, deveined, & tail-on shrimp.
You may prefer the tail to be still on when making this for an appetizer. It then makes it easy to grab and eat with your fingers. It does not change how long to cook the shrimp. Cook as the recipe suggests.
RECIPE NOTE: this recipe was originally published September 2022. It has been updated to include calorie and nutritional information, substitutions, additional photos, side dishes, ingredient notes, concise steps, serving suggestions, and tips for republishing in 2025.
Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Skillet Shrimp
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium-sized shrimp (41-50 each) peeled & deveined
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- juice of ½ lemon about 1 tablespoon
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced parsley Optional
Instructions
- Combine the spices in a small bowl.
- Place the shrimp on a plate lined with a paper towel. Pat them down so both sides are dry. Sprinkle each side liberally with the seasoning blend.
- On medium heat, warm your skillet. Add the butter to melt. Once melted and before it is browning, add the garlic. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Keep the garlic moving so it cooks but doesn't burn.
- Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Add the lemon juice and remove it from the skillet to a platter. Sprinkle on chopped fresh parsley.
- Enjoy.
Nutrition
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Rachel says
So good.
Aldrich Elizabeth says
This motivates me to keep learning. This gave me clarity on the topic. The way you explained the topic was very clear.