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Home Cast Iron Skillet Recipes

Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet Recipe

By: Olivia Updated: 7/16/22
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This go-to shrimp recipe for Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet makes an easy and quick meal or appetizer that looks fancy.

In just a few minutes, your shrimp will be perfectly cooked with garlic butter seasoning, making this a perfect dinner recipe for weeknight and entertaining.

overhead view of cooked shrimp in cast iron skillet

How do I prepare shrimp?

For a quicker meal, use shrimp that is peeled and deveined. It may cost a little more, but will save you a lot of prep time. If you use shrimp that needs to be cleaned first, you will have a few extra steps before cooking.

  1. Defrost the shrimp overnight in a bowl of cool water in the refrigerator.
  2. As an option, you can soak the shrimp in salt water for a short time to refresh them after being thawed.
  3. Wash the shrimp and discard any that look slimy or discolored.
  4. Pull off the legs and continue pulling back the shell, then remove the tail.
  5. Cut down the back of the shrimp and pull out the black vein. To remove the vein easily, slide a toothpick underneath to help lift the vein up and out.
  6. Allow the shrimp to soak in cold water until you are ready to use them.

What do I need to make garlic butter shrimp?

This garlic butter sauce brings this shrimp recipe to another level. So, you can use as much butter and garlic as you wish. Ingredients here and on the recipe card below:

  • Olive oil — I like using extra virgin olive oil but you can use a neutral oil of your choice.
  • Shrimp — raw, peeled, and deveined
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Garlic — I prefer freshly minced garlic over buying pre-minced.
  • Butter — I recommend unsalted grass-fed butter. You can swap for Ghee if you’re doing Whole30
  • Italian seasoning
  • Juice of 1 lemon — or more, to taste. Citrus always add more flavour to a seafood dish.
  • Fresh parsley — or herb of your choice. Cilantro and basil work as well.
  • Optional: add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. You can also add some ground onions. But for me only salt and pepper with the garlic butter sauce is already enough and very flavorful.

How do you make this shrimp recipe with raw shrimp?

  1. Thaw shrimp completely in the refrigerator before cooking.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil. Add the shrimp and season well.
  3. Cook until the shrimp is pink and opaque. Depending on the size of the shrimp, it should only take four to five minutes to cook fully. Optional, squeeze some lime juice or lemon juice at the end, before serving. If the shrimp start turning white, they are overcooked. Over cooked shrimp will be rubbery, so don’t let them cook too long.
close up image of cooked shrimp

Is shrimp good for weight loss?

Shrimp contains lots of lean healthy protein and very little fat and calories. It’s a great source of selenium and vitamin D as well. Because it’s packed with a variety of B vitamins, it’s a food that will keep you energized for hours.

Shrimp can help lower bad cholesterol and has no carbs. This means it’s great for a keto, Whole30 or other low carb diet, like my Garlic Shrimp and Veggies Meal Prep Bowls.

In addition to being healthy and delicious, shrimp recipes like this Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet are very quick and easy to make.

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shrimp being cooked in a skillet

What goes well with this shrimp recipe?

This perfectly seasoned garlic butter shrimp needs side dishes to create a complete meal and a light dinner. Try any of these with the shrimp:

  • Pasta
  • Roasted asparagus
  • Tacos (Think about delicious shrimp tacos)​
  • Salad (I love shrimp salad)
  • Tomato salad
  • Carrot Quinoa Salad
  • Rice or cauliflower rice
  • Fried rice or cauliflower fried rice
  • Sweet potatoes and green beans

How long can I store this meal?

This shrimp recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, or you can freeze the shrimp after cooking it and allowing it to cool.

It will last in the freezer for about three months. Be sure to use an airtight container so the shrimp doesn’t take on any odors from the fridge.

To reheat the meal, you can toss it in a pan over low heat. If it has been frozen, be sure to thaw it before reheating. Shrimp does not reheat well in the microwave.

Fresh or frozen shrimp? Which is better?

Both fresh or frozen shrimp is a great source of protein. However, wild frozen shrimp are preferred because they are frozen immediately upon catching.

The shelf life for frozen shrimp is also longer compared to fresh shrimp as you won’t know for sure how long fresh shrimp has been at the fish counter at the grocery store.

Wild caught shrimp also has a cleaner, shrimp-y flavor than farmed shrimp.

Frozen shrimp also costs less than fresh shrimp if you are on a budget. If you are purchasing fresh shrimp then check the shells and if they feel soft or slimy, skip them.

How do I quickly thaw shrimp?

If you’ve forgotten to thaw the shrimp overnight in the fridge, not to worry! You can quickly thaw it by placing frozen shrimp into a bowl or colander in the sink.

Then run cold water over it for 5 to 10 minutes, giving it a shake every so often so the water can thaw the shrimp evenly. It will take longer if your shrimp are larger. Small shrimp take much less time to thaw.

After the shrimp has thawed, you’ll have to pat them dry with a paper towel or the shrimp will steam instead of sear in the pan. This step is very important to get a nice colour on the shrimp.

Did you thaw too much shrimp? Store them in the fridge and try any of these 35 healthy shrimp dinner recipes the next day!

What pan should I use?

I like to use a cast-iron skillet but a non-stick pan will work as well. I find that cast -ron gives the shrimp a nicer sear.

More Easy Shrimp Recipes to Try:

  • Shrimp and Sausage Vegetable Skillet
  • Super Fresh Shrimp Tomato Salad
  • Cajun Shrimp
  • Shrimp Vegetable Skillet
  • Easy Coconut Shrimp

Did you make a recipe? Tag @primaverakitchen on Instagram so we can find you!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

3.62 from 83 votes

Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet

This go-to shrimp recipe for Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet makes an easy and quick meal that looks fancy. In just a few minutes, your shrimp will be perfectly cooked with garlic butter seasoning. 
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 lb shrimp raw, peeled and deveined
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 4 tbsp grass-fed butter melted — use Ghee if you're doing Whole30
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Juice of 1 lemon or more, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add shrimp, salt and pepper.
  • Cook until pink for about 3 minutes. Don’t forget to stir occasionally. Set aside.
    close up of cooked shrimp
  • Add garlic to the skillet, and cook and stir few times for about 1 minute. Add butter, Italian seasoning and lemon juice.
    overhead view of cast iron skillet containing melted butter, garlic, lemon juice and spices.
  • Stir in shrimp and gently toss everything to combine. Cook for another minute.
    overhead view of a cast iron skillet containing shrimp
  • Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Tips

  • Click HERE to watch the web story. 
  • Buy peeled and deveined shrimp to save time on prepping.
  • Pat dry the shrimp before you add them to the skillet so they sear instead of steam.
  • If using frozen shrimp, make sure they are fully thawed before you start cooking with them.
  • To store: Put leftover shrimp into an airtight glass container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • To reheat: Rewarm leftover shrimp in the microwave or on the stovetop. 
  • To freeze: Freeze cooked shrimp in a freezer-safe bag once the shrimps have reached room temperature. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 Calories: 234kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 28g (56%) Fat: 18g (28%) Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 5g Cholesterol: 203mg (68%) Sodium: 554mg (24%) Potassium: 12mg Sugar: 1g (1%)

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.

© Author: Olivia Ribas

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  1. Charles says

    Posted on 9/15/19 at 9:05 pm

    In the instructions, you say to remove the tail, but in the photos the shrimp tails are still intact … Is it bettet to cook the shrimp with the tails?

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 9/23/19 at 8:41 pm

      I prefer to cook with the tails because it’s more photogenic.

      Reply
  2. Gabi says

    Posted on 10/6/19 at 2:31 am

    Each and every dish was too much tasty, I made all of them at home. Everyone like them.

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 10/8/19 at 11:22 pm

      Awesome!!

      Reply
  3. Barbara says

    Posted on 9/23/21 at 7:55 am

    I fixed this for my son and I ,absolutely delish ! ❤️

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 10/3/21 at 2:25 pm

      Wow I’m so happy you liked it!

      Reply
  4. Lessley says

    Posted on 4/8/22 at 6:20 pm

    can you use Frozen Shrimp for This

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 4/21/22 at 11:01 pm

      Yes just thaw shrimp in cold water before cooking.

      Reply
  5. Mike Rivenburgh says

    Posted on 5/14/22 at 8:21 pm

    Get rid of the adds or play them all up front but stop interrupting the damn. Ideo

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 6/5/22 at 10:58 pm

      I’m sorry you feel this way. I hope you understand that I’m only able to provide free content/recipes on this site because of the ads. But I’ll talk to my ad network to see what we can do to give you a better experience on my site. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Sentinel says

        Posted on 7/14/22 at 7:35 pm

        Don’t entertain entitled people. Instead of thanking you for putting up with free content, they complain aboud ads, ridiculous.

        Reply
        • Olivia says

          Posted on 7/16/22 at 2:46 pm

          Thanks for your support, Sentinel. I appreciate it.

          Reply
        • Mickey says

          Posted on 9/13/22 at 7:27 pm

          I concur!! 🙄

          Reply
  6. Henry Gray says

    Posted on 5/19/22 at 9:05 pm

    Very very good

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 6/5/22 at 10:36 pm

      Happy you liked it!

      Reply
  7. Kerry says

    Posted on 7/23/22 at 9:37 pm

    Best way to cook shrimp. Ingredients are readily available. Love the tartness of the lemon. Yum!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 8/6/22 at 8:25 am

      Awesome. I’m really happy to hear that 😉

      Reply
  8. Antoinette S. says

    Posted on 7/31/22 at 8:50 pm

    Delicious… and so quick and easy to prepare!

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 8/5/22 at 3:09 pm

      Indeed it is 😉

      Reply
  9. Ira says

    Posted on 9/20/22 at 6:40 pm

    This was pretty good. Unfortunately I overcooked my shrimp. But the flavor was still great.

    Reply
  10. Joann says

    Posted on 10/19/22 at 12:43 pm

    Tasty and super easy to mae

    Reply
    • Olivia says

      Posted on 10/23/22 at 10:57 am

      Thanks!

      Reply

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