Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Spicy Garlic Shrimp has bold flavors and only takes 10 minutes from start to finish! This is the best shrimp dish I’ve ever had, hands down!
A great shrimp recipe always feels like a splurge, am I right? And this Spicy Garlic Shrimp is the best! Using just a pound of large shrimp, some butter, lemon, and a generous sprinkle of seasonings, this no-mess, no-stress meal is far more delicious than anything you’ll order at a restaurant!
The Best Shrimp Recipe for All the Reasons!
Spicy Garlic Shrimp is one of my all-time favorite recipes for several reasons!
One, because it’s scrumptious! Truly. The lemony garlic butter enhances the flavor of this shrimp PERFECTLY.
Two, because of the WOW factor. I mean, who isn’t impressed when shrimp is on the menu?
Three, it’s versatile. Serve it with parmesan rice. Pasta. Zoodles. Spaghetti squash. It can be keto or gluten-free, and it’s naturally low in calories.
And four, it’s just so EASY. I always have a bag of shrimp in the freezer, so… Five minutes to prep. Five minutes to cook. One skillet. This recipe is a win!
Other Recipes to Serve with Lemon Garlic Shrimp
- Cheesy Zucchini Rice brings veggies and carbs together deliciously! It’s the perfect side dish for Spicy Garlic Shrimp.
- This Easy Fried Rice is my go-to accompaniment for lemon garlic shrimp – the kids love it!
- If you want to get a little fancy with little effort, try this Lemon Asparagus Pasta or these Parmesan Truffle Roasted Potatoes!
Ingredients
Shrimp: You have several options when it comes to buying shrimp. Always start with “wild caught”. Fresh or frozen is up to you. Make sure it’s thawed before cooking. Buying “peeled and deveined” saves a ton of work. Finally, large or extra-large shrimp are suitable for this recipe.
Oil: A good quality olive oil makes this dish shine.
Seasoning: Use some fresh-grated lemon zest, finely minced garlic, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, depending on your spice preference.
Finish: Top the shrimp with lemon juice and sprinkle with parsley or cilantro before serving.
How to Make Spicy Garlic Shrimp
STEP ONE: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Season the shrimp with a dash of salt & pepper, then toss it into the hot skillet and cook for 3 minutes until the shrimp are pink and opaque.
STEP TWO: Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Cook for another minute or two.
STEP THREE: Just before removing, add lemon juice and garnish with parsley, then serve!
Tips for Success
- Don’t overcook the shrimp. Shrimp cooks so fast that leaving it in the skillet for a few minutes is tempting. Doing so will result in tough, rubbery shrimp.
- Prep ahead! Collect all of the ingredients before cooking. This recipe sautés quickly – don’t take your focus away from it to search, chop, or measure something else!
- Have the rest of the meal “ready to go” when you start the shrimp. If pasta is being served, time it so the pasta is drained just before the shrimp goes in the skillet.
- This shrimp is all on its own, but if you like to dip, mix up some Yum Yum Sauce. It’s the perfect pairing for seafood!
How Many Calories Are in Shrimp?
Shrimp are SUPER low in calories, making them a fantastic low-calorie, high-protein food! Even this Spicy Garlic Shrimp recipe, with the oil added, is only 147 calories a serving! (And that’s a nice-sized portion of shrimp!)
Is Spicy Garlic Shrimp the same as Shrimp Scampi?
Spicy Garlic Shrimp is a simple shrimp dish with a few delicious seasonings. Shrimp Scampi involves butter and a white wine sauce and is usually served over linguine. They’re both fantastic!
*This post was originally posted on 05/31/2016.
Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes or until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Stir in the garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat. Add the lemon juice and parsley and toss to coat before serving warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Easy Shrimp Recipes!
Coconut Shrimp – Crispy, golden, and just a little sweet, this coconut shrimp is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast. Perfect for parties or whenever you want something fun and crowd-pleasing on the table.
Shrimp Boil – Everything you love about a classic shrimp boil in one easy pot – shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes all soaking up bold, buttery seasoning. It’s a full meal that feels like a celebration.
Shrimp Salad – Light, creamy, and loaded with tender shrimp, this shrimp salad comes together in minutes and works great as a sandwich filling, a lettuce wrap, or served straight from the bowl.
Shrimp Scampi – Buttery, garlicky, and ready in under 20 minutes, this shrimp scampi tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant. Serve it over pasta for an easy dinner the whole family will love.
Shrimp Ceviche Recipe – Fresh, citrusy, and packed with crisp vegetables, this shrimp ceviche is the perfect make-ahead appetizer for summer gatherings. Serve it with tortilla chips and watch it disappear.
We made this tonight with twice the shrimp and followed the recipe exactly, doubling everything as we went. Served with rice and roasted asparagus. This meal is easy to make, quick, tasty and healthy. We really enjoyed it and will make it again. It does, I think, depend on having nice, fresh shrimp. Thanks for the recipe.
This recipe is incredible! So quick and easy- one of my favorites of all time! Will be keeping for later use! Without fail such a yummy dinner that will NOT disappoint!
Definitely the best ever
I grew up on and now live on a barrier island off the coast of Georgia. Have been cooking shrimp since I was 10. I would suggest cooking your shrimp for about ONE MINUTE before adding other ingredients, or add all at the same time. Unless you have the really big jumbo shrimp, a total cooking time of 3 minutes is sufficient. Otherwise you end up with tasteless shrimp rubber. Yes, cooking shrimp too long destroys the delicate flavor as well as making them tough. Try cooking all ingredients at once for 3 minutes and see if you can’t tell a wonderful flavor difference. You’ll NEVER go back to over cooking shrimp again once you’ve had them cooked correctly. The recipe sounds lovely and yummy.
Thanks for the tips!
I really love seafood boils so that’s why I’m ordering seafood with lobster tails and king crabs and shrimps with potatoes and corn
Yum!
hey Sara awesome shrimp recipe thanks for sharing this delicious shrimp recipe
I’d like to make pasta with the shrimp. Do you recommend a certain sauce for the noodles?
Hi Kelsy! As simple as it is, I really like this One Pot Alfredo Pasta with the shrimp. The creamy sauce balances out the spicy shrimp.
https://realhousemoms.com/one-pot-alfredo-pasta/
Otherwise, you could add an extra tablespoon of olive oil and lemon juice once the shrimp is done cooking and then add the cooked & drained pasta to the skillet and stir it all together. Hope this helps!
What is the recipe for the dipping sauce in the video for the spicy shrimp.
Hi Josi! The dip is our Yum Yum Sauce and it is gooo-oood with this shrimp!
https://realhousemoms.com/yum-yum-sauce/
What’s the recipe for the dip for the shrimp?
Great recipe for all shrimp lovers.
Hi Casper! The dip is our Yum Yum Sauce and it’s super good this shrimp! https://realhousemoms.com/yum-yum-sauce/
please tell me the sauce recipe
The dip is our Yum Yum Sauce and it’s super good this shrimp! https://realhousemoms.com/yum-yum-sauce/
Red pepper and shrimp
I am now making this spicy garlic shrimp again. This time I am changing one thing, I am doubling
the amount of shrimp. First time everyone was begging for more shrimp. It was so good and quick and easy.
So glad everyone enjoyed this recipe Dana!
I tried to make shrimp scampi, I bought a bag of frozen cooked shrimp, the shrimp was very tough and had a very fishy taste, why would that be ?
Hi Diane! If you’re making a recipe where the shrimp needs to be cooked in the sauce (like scampi) you’ll want to buy raw shrimp (frozen or thawed). Cooking pre-cooked shrimp more will make it tough and rubbery because it becomes over cooked. As far as the overly fishy taste, that I don’t have an answer to. It could be that bag of shrimp or the brand or…? I don’t think it’s anything you did with the recipe. It would be because of the shrimp itself.
Can y’all cook them for me
If you clean!
It will be because it’s shrimp it’s gone be tough and tinder
A lovely recipe. Thank you and have a good day!