The Flash Fry Luscious Garlic Butter Shrimp with Lemon and Parsley

Luscious 18minute Garlic Butter Shrimp

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Preparation time:10 Mins

Cooking time:8 Mins

Servings:4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450 g) Large or Jumbo Shrimp (16/20 count), peeled and deveined
• ½ tsp Sea Salt
• ¼ tsp Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
• 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, divided
• 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 5-6 cloves Fresh Garlic, finely minced
• ½ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
• 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• ¼ cup Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp Dry White Wine (optional, for deglazing)

Instructions:

• Pat the cleaned shrimp rigorously dry using paper towels. This is crucial for achieving a proper sear. Season the dried shrimp lightly with the salt and pepper. Have all minced garlic, lemon juice, and chopped parsley ready (mise en place).
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Once shimmering, add 4 Tbsp of the unsalted butter and let it melt and foam. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic and chilli flakes and cook for 60-90 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic is highly fragrant but has not turned brown.
• Increase the heat back to medium-high. Add the seasoned shrimp to the pan in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid crowding). Cook for 1–2 minutes per side until the shrimp turns pink and opaque.
• If using wine, pour it into the hot pan (optional deglazing) and scrape up any browned bits. Let it bubble and reduce slightly (about 30 seconds).
• Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the remaining 2 Tbsp of cold butter. Swirl the pan quickly to emulsify the sauce, creating a glossy finish. Remove the pan from the heat immediately.
• Stir in the fresh lemon juice and the chopped parsley. Toss the shrimp to coat completely in the finished garlic butter sauce. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Nutrition Facts

Calories	918 kcal
Protein	18.7 g
Fat	42.8 g
Carbs	7.6 g
Fiber	1.3 g
Sodium	761 mg

Recipe Info

Category	Main Course
Cuisine	Mediterranean

The 15-Minute Coastal Escape: Why This Recipe Wins

This recipe is the ultimate weeknight hero, transforming simple ingredients into a dish that tastes far more indulgent than the minimal effort required. At its heart, this is the definitive garlic butter shrimp preparation—a truly remarkable supper that is ready in under 20 minutes, cementing its place among the best garlic shrimp recipes out there. It’s speedy, straightforward, and relies on the foundational brilliance of quick Mediterranean cooking techniques to deliver maximum flavor. You’ll find that achieving a perfectly succulent texture and a rich, highly aromatic sauce is much easier than you might think.

Mastering the Holy Trinity: Butter, Garlic, and Brightness

The profound satisfaction derived from this dish hinges on just three core components. We rely on good quality unsalted butter (6 Tbsp) for richness, a generous heap of freshly minced garlic (5-6 cloves) for depth, and an indispensable finishing squeeze of fresh lemon juice (2 Tbsp) for brightness and balance. This combination creates the lush shrimp with garlic butter sauce that defines the recipe. We also incorporate 2 Tbds of extra virgin olive oil during the cooking process, a critical step that elevates the smoke point, allowing us to build flavor without burning the primary fat source.

From Pan to Plate: The Secret to Instant Supper Success

The entire process, from chopping your fresh flat-leaf parsley to the final deglazing, takes a mere 18 minutes. This extreme speed is what makes this the quintessential easy garlic shrimp recipe. Success is guaranteed through preparation: getting all 4 servings’ worth of ingredients ready (mise en place) before the 8-minute cooking sprint begins is key. Due to its rapid cooking time, this dish is not only ideal for a fast family dinner but also serves beautifully as an elegant, last-minute shrimp appetizer when unexpected guests arrive.

Securing Your Flavor Arsenal: Essential Components for Garlic Butter Shrimp

Before the heat even turns on, securing the highest quality ingredients and preparing them correctly determines the final outcome of the sauce and the texture of the seafood.

Choosing the Best Catch: Fresh vs. Frozen Shrimp Selection

I strongly recommend utilizing large or jumbo shrimp (16/20 count) for the best eating experience, totaling about 450 grams or 1 pound. Whether you opt for fresh or thoroughly thawed frozen product, the preparation is paramount: the shrimp must be peeled, deveined, and, most crucially, patted rigorously dry with paper towels.

Any residual moisture will cause the shrimp to steam in the pan instead of searing, preventing you from achieving that coveted crisp exterior. Once dried, toss them lightly with half a teaspoon of sea salt and a quarter teaspoon of black pepper.

The Ultimate Garlic Infusion: Prepping Your Cloves

The character of the dish rests entirely on the quality of the garlic infusion. Do not skimp on the 5 to 6 cloves of garlic; mince or grate them finely to ensure they release their maximum aroma quickly. Alongside the garlic, have your crushed red pepper flakes (½ tsp, if using) ready.

The sauce utilizes 6 Tbsp of high-quality unsalted butter, and combining this with the 2 Tbsp of olive oil ensures a stable, flavorful fat mixture ready for the flash fry.

Necessary Gear for the Perfect Flash Fry

Because this is a rapid-fire dish, having the right equipment is non-negotiable. A large, heavy-bottomed skillet is essential—cast iron or stainless steel will hold the necessary medium-high heat best. This guarantees an even sear across the shrimp and prevents the temperature from plummeting when the cold seafood hits the pan.

Have your cutting board, a sharp knife for the parsley, and a good pair of tongs ready to execute the quick flip required during the cooking phase.

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The Rapid-Fire Process: Cooking Your Perfect Garlic Butter Shrimp

With your mise en place complete, the actual cooking process is less than ten minutes and requires swift attention to detail.

Building the Foundation: Searing the Shrimp for Texture

Start by heating the skillet over medium-high heat and adding the olive oil. Once the oil shimmers, incorporate two-thirds of the butter (4 Tbsp). When the foam subsides, the pan is ready. Add the seasoned, dried shrimp in a single layer—if your pan is crowded, work in batches to maintain high heat. Sear the shrimp for just 1 to 2 minutes per side. The goal is a quick transformation: they should turn pink and opaque and curl gently into a shallow "C" shape.

The Aromatics Release: Creating the Golden Garlic Butter Sauce

After the shrimp has been seared, reduce the heat immediately to medium-low. This is the moment to introduce the minced garlic and the optional chili flakes. Cook them for a brief 60 to 90 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic is intensely fragrant but absolutely not allowed to brown. This careful sauté ensures we maximize the aromatic flavor of the garlic without introducing any bitterness, which is critical for making a successful garlic butter shrimp scampi .

Deglazing and Finishing: Introducing Lemon and Fresh Herbs

This final stage elevates the savory base to culinary perfection. If using, pour 2 Tbsp of dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc) into the hot pan to deglaze, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom. Let this bubble for about 30 seconds to reduce slightly. Next, reduce the heat to low, remove the pan from the burner, and swirl in the remaining 2 Tbsp of cold butter. This classic chef’s technique ( monter au beurre ) instantly emufies the sauce, giving the shrimp with garlic butter sauce a beautiful, high-gloss finish. Finish by stirring in the fresh lemon juice and the generous handful of finely chopped fresh parsley. The resulting glossy sauce clings beautifully, whether you are serving it over rice or tossing it into a rich garlic butter shrimp pasta .

Troubleshooting and Serving Savvy: Elevating Your Garlic Butter Shrimp Experience

Successful execution involves recognizing and avoiding common pitfalls and knowing how to best complement the rich flavor profile.

Avoiding the Rubber Texture: Overcooking Prevention Tips

The primary enemy of garlic butter shrimp is overcooking. Shrimp cooks incredibly fast, transforming from raw to perfect in just a few minutes. The key is to remove the pan from the heat immediately once the shrimp is opaque. Next,, remember the advice on patting the shrimp dry; if they hit the pan wet, they will steam rather than sear, leading to a chewy, rubbery texture. Finally, do not overcrowd your skillet. If you are cooking a larger batch, quickly sear the shrimp in two smaller rounds to ensure consistent heat distribution.

Perfect Pairings: What to Serve Alongside the Buttered Delicacy

The richness of the butter sauce demands a vehicle that can soak up every drop. This dish pairs spectacularly with a simple carbohydrate base. For a comforting meal, serve it atop creamy polenta or simple steamed jasmine rice, creating a stunning garlic butter shrimp and rice dish. If you are aiming for Italian flair, toss the hot shrimp and sauce directly into a nest of linguine or capellini for a delicious garlic butter shrimp pasta . And, of course, keep a fresh, crusty baguette handy—the perfect utensil for mopping up the plate.

Quick Recipe Remixes: Adding Heat or Herbaceous Notes

This foundational recipe is highly adaptable. For those who enjoy a bit of luxury, stirring in 3 Tbsp of heavy (double) cream right after the lemon juice and letting it simmer for 60 seconds yields a decadent creamy garlic butter shrimp sauce. Alternatively, omit the parsley and swirl in 2 Tbsp of fresh basil pesto alongside the final knob of cold butter for a vibrant, Mediterranean twist. For added heat without excessive chili, finish the dish with a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper alongside the black pepper seasoning.

Keeping It Fresh: Reheating and Storage Guidelines

Leftovers of this exquisite easy garlic shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. However, reheating seafood requires care. To preserve the delicate texture of the shrimp and prevent it from drying out, avoid the microwave entirely. Instead, reheat the shrimp and sauce gently in a clean skillet over very low heat. Add a tablespoon of water or stock to the pan to help steam the shrimp gently and refresh the sauce without scorching the residual butter solids.