Garlic Butter Shrimp

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Buttery, garlicky shrimp with plenty of bright lemon is something I can never get enough of. I have a hard time resisting eating these Garlic Butter Shrimp straight out of the pan each time I cook them!

Garlic Butter Shrimp

I love shrimp. I really love garlic butter shrimp. So, in my world, eating it straight out of the pan and calling that a meal absolutely works. However, sometimes it does need to be filled out a bit for a full family meal.

What to prepare with this garlic butter shrimp recipe? In two words, pasta or rice! Served over either those with a side of steamed or roasted vegetables, this is a dinner my family will happily eat any night of the week.

Butter Garlic Shrimp

Is there anything better than shrimp sauteed in butter and garlic? I love to bite into shrimp that’s been seared to perfection while basking in a rich pool of melted butter, and infused with all that garlicky goodness.

If you’re like me, then you know the glory of lemon with garlic and butter. Each has such distinct flavor, but the combination is timeless, especially for seafood. You simply can’t go wrong with lemon garlic butter shrimp, lobster, or salmon.

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Just a note about shrimp colors, some shrimp are gray when raw, and others have a natural reddish hue to them. Argentinian shrimp are completely red when raw.

It can be a little confusing in the grocery store though, as tiger prawn shrimp are the most common variety and they are completely gray until cooked.

Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:

• shrimp
• butter
• garlic
• salt and pepper
• lemon juice
• fresh Italian parsley
• cooked pasta or rice (optional)

Start by rinsing the shrimp with cold water in a colander. Then, line a large plate or tray with paper towels and place the shrimp on the towels. Pat dry with additional paper towels. Set aside next to the stove.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Then, add the shrimp and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes. Then, flip and cook 1-2 minutes on the other side.

Add the remaining ¼ cup butter and the lemon juice. Cook, while stirring, for another minute or so. Remove from the heat as soon as the butter has melted, taking care not to overcook the shrimp.

Taste a shrimp and add more salt and pepper or lemon juice, if desired. Sprinkle with parsley before serving over pasta or rice, if desired.

Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp

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5 from 4 votes

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Buttery, garlicky shrimp with plenty of bright lemon is something I can never get enough of. I have a hard time resisting eating these shrimp straight out of the pan each time I cook them! Cook Time: 10 minutes minsTotal Time: 10 minutes minsServings: 6 Save this recipe!Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!Email * Post Title Hero Save

Ingredients 1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined, tails intact or removed
• ▢ ¼ cup, plus 2 tablespoons butter divided
• ▢ 6 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about ½ of a medium-size lemon
• ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley
• ▢ cooked pasta or rice for serving, if desired

Instructions 

• Place the shrimp in a colander and rinse with cold water. Line a large plate or tray with paper towels and place the shrimp on the towels. Pat dry with additional paper towels. Set aside next to the stove.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the shrimp to the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook about 2 minutes. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes on the other side.
• Add the remaining ¼ cup butter and lemon juice. Cook, while stirring, for another minute or so. Remove from the heat as soon as the butter has melted. Taking care not to overcook the shrimp.
• Taste a shrimp and add more salt and pepper or lemon juice, if desired. Sprinkle with parsley before serving over pasta or rice, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 205 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 31 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g | Trans Fat: 0.3 g | Cholesterol: 265 mg | Sodium: 438 mg | Potassium: 424 mg | Fiber: 0.1 g | Sugar: 0.2 g | Vitamin A: 304 IU | Vitamin C: 4 mg | Calcium: 106 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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14 Comments

1. Tony Prato says: September 13, 2026 at 2:36 pm

   You know this is called Scampi, right!

   1. Mary Younkin says: September 14, 2026 at 9:48 am

      Hi, Tony. Technically this isn’t scampi, since the dish doesn’t include Parmesan cheese or white wine, but it is close. I hope you love the recipe!

2. Jamanda says: September 18, 2026 at 8:37 am

   All the recipes look delicious and yummy

   1. Mary Younkin says: September 18, 2026 at 10:33 am

      Glad to hear that the recipes look great! I hope you love the shrimp.

3. Todd Wesner says: October 3, 2026 at 7:01 pm

   I would brine my shrimp first to keep from over cooking. Plus, they plump up more and are much more flavorful. 3T kosher salt, 2T sugar, quart of water per pound. 15 min brine.

   1. Mary Younkin says: October 4, 2026 at 8:23 pm

      Great tip, Todd. Enjoy the shrimp!

4. Donna says: December 14, 2026 at 10:50 am

   Delicious but it is 9 points without the pasta. I need to find a way to reduce the butter without affecting the taste too much.

   1. Mary Younkin says: December 15, 2026 at 3:23 am

      You can likely reduce the butter by about half without affecting the results too much. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth, if it is a bit dry.

5. Dani says: November 16, 2026 at 5:05 pm

   Amazing recipe

   1. Mary Younkin says: November 17, 2026 at 7:04 am

      I’m glad it’s a hit.

6. Stan Grayson says: January 3, 2026 at 7:36 pm

   Excellent, simple recipe and delicious! I had no Italian parsley but used some fresh basil instead. I’ll cook this again!

   1. Mary Younkin says: January 5, 2026 at 10:27 am

      I’m thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying the shrimp!

7. Belinda Wilks says: May 2, 2026 at 7:10 am

   I have made this and it’s a hit every time I do. Great easy recipe. Neighbor asked if I knew how to make Garlic Butter Shrimp. Told her I had this recipe. She’s so excited about making it herself. Thank you for this recipe it’s phenomenal!

   1. Mary Younkin says: May 2, 2026 at 8:56 pm

      I’m thrilled that you love it!