Description
This Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful seafood dish featuring succulent shrimp cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce with hints of white wine, fresh herbs, and a zesty lemon finish. Perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner, it pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread.
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
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 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 the Shrimp: Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry using paper towels. Place them in a medium bowl and season evenly with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper to infuse the shrimp with a balanced savory and spicy flavor base.
- Sauté Shallots and Cook Shrimp: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Add the minced shallot and cook until softened and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Place the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the skillet and cook for 1 minute on each side until they turn pink and opaque, indicating they are perfectly cooked and tender.
- Add Wine and Garlic: Pour in the dry white wine (or low-sodium chicken broth for a milder flavor). Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook while stirring occasionally until the wine reduces by half and the shrimp are fully cooked through, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Finish with Butter and Herbs: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter until melted. Zest the lemon directly over the skillet and squeeze the juice from half of the lemon into the sauce. Add fresh rosemary or thyme if using, along with chopped fresh parsley. Toss gently to combine all flavors evenly.
- Serve: Serve the garlic butter shrimp immediately, garnished with lemon wedges on the side. Pair with your choice of cooked rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread to complete this vibrant and delicious meal.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic option, substitute the white wine with low-sodium chicken broth.
- Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as they can become tough and rubbery.
- Fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme add aromatic complexity but are optional.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful garlic butter sauce.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to taste for desired level of spiciness.
