Plump, succulent shrimp sautéed in fragrant garlic butter — a fast, flavorful dinner you can make in minutes. Watch for the visual cues that tell you when shrimp are perfectly cooked and tender.
This is one of the easiest and most reliable shrimp recipes you’ll reach for when you want a fast, impressive meal. Minimal ingredients, minimal fuss, maximum flavor: tender shrimp bathed in garlic-infused butter make for a delicious main, an elegant appetizer, or a quick pasta topping.
What makes this shrimp recipe so special?
Speed and simplicity. The secret to perfectly tender, buttery shrimp is to cook them just until they become opaque and take on a pink hue — and that only takes a few minutes. Overcooking turns shrimp rubbery and tough, so this method keeps cooking short and precise for the best texture.
The whole dish comes together in roughly ten minutes: a quick garlic infusion, a brief sear of the shrimp, a sprinkle of salt, and you’re ready to serve. Because it cooks so fast, it’s an ideal weeknight dinner or a last-minute option when guests arrive.
How to cook garlic butter shrimp
- Gently melt unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the sliced garlic. Let the garlic infuse the butter for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic brown too much — reduce the heat if it starts to darken.
- Add the shrimp in a single layer so each piece makes contact with the pan. Cook for about 1 minute, until the shrimp begin to turn opaque and pink at the edges.
- Flip the shrimp and cook for an additional minute on the other side. Sprinkle with salt and stir frequently for another minute, just until every shrimp is fully opaque and curled into a gentle C shape.
- Remove from heat, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if you like, and serve immediately over pasta, rice, or simply with crusty bread as an appetizer.
Visual cues for perfectly cooked shrimp
- The flesh turns opaque instead of translucent.
- The color shifts to pink.
- Shrimp curl into a loose C shape (very tight curls indicate overcooking).
That’s it — quick, reliable, and utterly delicious. This garlic butter shrimp makes a great weeknight main or an easy dish to double for entertaining. Serve over angel hair pasta for a light, elegant meal; toss the cooked pasta with a touch of the pan sauce for extra flavor.
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb large raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
- Angel hair pasta, cooked according to package directions, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the sliced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Tip: lower the heat if the garlic begins to brown.
- Place the shrimp in a single layer and cook about 1 minute, until they start to turn opaque and pink.
- Flip the shrimp and cook another minute. Sprinkle with salt and stir for a final minute until all shrimp are opaque and curled into a loose C.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately over pasta, rice, or as an appetizer with crusty bread.
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This recipe was originally published on September 12th, 2017, and last updated on April 28th, 2020.