Description
This Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. Succulent shrimp are sautéed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a hint of white wine, fresh herbs, and lemon zest, creating a delicious, restaurant-quality dish that pairs beautifully 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
Sauce and Aromatics
- 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
Serving Suggestions
- Cooked rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread, for serving
Instructions
- Season Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to ensure they sear well and place them in a bowl. Season evenly with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper, then toss gently to coat all the shrimp.
- Sauté Shallot and Shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted and hot, add the minced shallot and cook until it softens and becomes translucent, about 1-2 minutes. Arrange the 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 cooked through.
- Add Wine and Garlic: Pour in the dry white wine (or low-sodium chicken broth) and add the minced garlic to the skillet. Allow the mixture to simmer and the wine to reduce by half, which should take about 2-3 minutes. This step intensifies the flavor and helps create a slightly thickened sauce.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter until melted and the sauce is glossy. Zest the lemon directly over the skillet, then squeeze juice from half of the lemon into the sauce. Add the chopped fresh rosemary or thyme if using, along with the chopped parsley. Toss everything together to combine flavors thoroughly. Serve the garlic butter shrimp immediately with lemon wedges and your choice of cooked rice, pasta, grits, or toasted bread.
Notes
- Patting the shrimp dry before seasoning ensures a better sear and prevents steaming.
- The white wine can be substituted with low-sodium chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version.
- Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme add an aromatic depth but are optional.
- Serve immediately to retain the best texture and flavor.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to control the dish’s spiciness.
