This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
The Best Cilantro Lime Shrimp
I made this sizzling cilantro lime shrimp on a hot cast-iron skillet that looks and tastes like it’s straight from the best Mexican restaurant in town. Actually better. Much better and cheaper, too.
I have gone cilantro lime mad. I have a ton of leftover cilantro and lime in my fridge from the cilantro lime chicken I made a few days ago, so what to do?
See the garlic, cilantro, and shrimp goodness that stick to the bottom of the skillet? You will have everyone swooning and begging for more. While you are at it, make some orange-lime margaritas to go with this recipe.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Ingredients for Shrimp Recipe
- Jumbo shrimp
- Cilantro
- Lime
- Garlic
- Cayenne pepper
- Unsalted butter
How to Cook Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- First of all, to get the perfectly cooked but slightly seared shrimp (we all love the brown bits), it’s best to cook with a cast-iron skillet.
- Secondly, start off with olive oil to saute the shrimp but in the middle of cooking, add in some butter. Butter makes everything better, it always does.
- Add in a load of cilantro (use the stems as they impart the most flavors) and lime juice. Also, give your shrimp an extra kick by seasoning the shrimp with some cayenne pepper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Can You Keep Cooked Shrimp in the Fridge before It Goes Bad?
Shrimp lasts in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
How Do You Not Overcook Shrimp?
To not overcook shrimp, remove them from the heat right when the meat is the same color pink all around (no brown/grey). Perfectly cooked shrimp will be in a loose C shape while tight C shapes usually indicate overcooked shrimp.
How Many Calories?
This recipe has 174 calories per serving.
Serve Cilantro Lime Shrimp With:
For a wholesome dinner, make the following dishes.
For more great recipes like this, sign up for our newsletter. We’ll send daily recipes you’ll love!
Sign up for our newsletter!
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb. tail-on jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro (stems and leaves)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- fresh lemon wedges
Instructions
- Season the shrimp with salt and cayenne pepper.
- Heat up a cast-iron skillet, add the olive oil, garlic and lightly saute before adding the shrimp. Stir and cook until the shrimp is half cooked. Add the cilantro, butter, stir to combine well with the shrimp. Add the lime juice and continue to cook the shrimp.
- Turn off the heat when the lime juice dries up and the shrimp is nicely cooked and slightly charred on the surface. Serve immediately with some fresh lime wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I plan on making this recipe this weekend. Just wondering – suggestions for veggies or other side dishes to go with it?
Hi Judy, you can check out my side dishes recipes for ideas: https://rasamalaysia.com/tag/side-dish/
I had this for dinner with the family tonight. Loved it! So quick and easy.
Thanks for trying my cilantro lime shrimp recipe! :)
I made this for dinner last night and we all loved it. Instead of pepper I added a diced jalepeno pepper and about a teaspoon or so of spicy Szechuan cooking sauce. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Oooh good idea. Thanks for trying my cilantro lime shrimp.
I cooked it according to recipe — refrigerated it and served it cold as an appetizer. Before serving I added some lime juice and garnished with avocado. It was a huge hit at a mexican barbecue!
Thanks Mary Ann for trying my cilantro lime shrimp recipe.
We just had this for dinner, I highly recommend! I think I could have put a little more cayenne though but definitely a keeper recipe!
Yes the more cayenne pepper, the merrier. Thanks for trying my cilantro lime shrimp.
I have been looking for a great recipe with shrimps and seems like I found my winner! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Hi Rasa. I`m wondering if you used frozen shrimp or fresh?This sounds delicious. Thanks!
We get frozen shrimp in the US. You can never get fresh shrimp.
I beg to differ…..I think it depends on where you live in the United States because I have access to fresh shrimp on a daily basis! The recipe looks delicious whether one uses fresh or frozen.
I used Thai chiles instead of cayenne (I love heat) and served with wasabi and basmati rice! Yum! The shrimp were huge so I cut them in half lengthwise. Very tasty!
I hate when ppl reply to comments, or answer questions, when they have no idea what they’re talking about lol! NO ONE in the USA gets fresh shrimp now lol?!!? She’s obviously shopping at the local grocery store, and a complete moron lol. Please don’t make generalizations about the entire country due to your lack of experience. It’s so frustrating. Just don’t respond to questions. Your ignorance isn’t helping anyone out$
I like this website and the recipes but yeah that was an incredibly stupid comment. My local grocery store always has fresh shrimp along with other fresh seafood like squid.
Danielle, Kathy, my comment of fresh shrimp meant shrimp that are not previously frozen. I didn’t mean it that we get “stale” shrimp that are not fresh or rotten. There is no hostility but your replies are hostile…and there is no need to resort to name calling. It’s really not cool. I live in California, and honestly, if someone can tell me where to buy fresh shrimp that are not previously frozen, please enlighten me. Thank you!
Read this: http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/08/how-to-pick-shrimp-varieties-freshness-guide.html#frozen, exactly what I meant. “The vast majority of shrimp sold in the supermarket or at the fishmonger were deep frozen at sea and delivered to the retailer in that state. That display of “fresh” shrimp you see at the counter? Those are the same bags of frozen shrimp you find in the freezer that have simply been allowed to thaw out in the store before going on display.”
Fresh meat or seafood’ sold at any supermarket are frozen…..period!
I don’t care if they were thawed at the meat counter…they were still frozen!
Seriously, some people take offense for every thing…so what if the shrimp is fresh or frozen…get over it!!!
Annie – yes, exactly what I meant.
I really like thos recipe! And btw, And im so glad you fought those bullies with that link. Lol And look what happened….SILENCE. I love it.
Hi Cherie, thanks for your sweet comment. Truth roars. :)
I have stores that state at the seafood counter “not previously frozen” sometimes & I live in Oklahoma. It can be done
That’s great. I haven’t seen that sign in my stores though.
Fresh shrimp is really common near the gulf, which might be what is causing the confusion. Basically the entire south and parts of the midwest have access to fresh shrimp (Gulf shrimp is what Michelle (above) has access to in Oklahoma.) They haven’t been frozen on the boat, they are still alive when they arrive and you can buy them at the dock, or fresh in many, many stores (and even gas stations, ha!). I won’t speak to how shrimp is sold on the west or east coast though, I have no idea. But if your ever near the gulf of Mexico, do try to be at the docks midmorning when the shrimp boats come in, it is a lot of fun to watch. Looking forward to trying this recipe tomorrow evening. Thank you for sharing!
That’s awesome to know we can get fresh shrimp in the gulf. In California, the shrimp are all frozen in box and thawed. Let me know how you like my cilantro lime shrimp.
In Louisiana, we get fresh shrimp all the time. You can buy is right off the boats…
That’s so awesome!
The shrimp is frozen on the shrimp boat and thawed at the grocer or market. It says fresh shrimp and it really is, it’s just flash frozen for a short time to keep it fresh. Sort of like what they do to fresh turkeys.
If you live on the Gulf Coast of Texas you can get fresh shrimp everyday in just about every grocery store, seafood and even butcher shops. The same holds true for Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida in The United States.
I need to move there! I get no fresh shrimp here in California! They are all frozen.
Santa Monica seafood and Malibu Seafood both have FRESH SHRIMP not frozen.
Good to know!
Anxious to receive your recipes!
Was so glad to get the Shrimp cilantro recipe.
Had been looking for one!
Thank you so much.
Thanks Mary, this Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe is awesome.
Add in a little Sambal Oleak. Yummy!
Typically, I’m scared to eat shrimp but this looks yummy! Husband and I are somewhat clueless cooks. Bought frozen shrimp from the grocery store and thought we could just defrost and serve. Wrong. An older and wiser Aunt suggested we cook them first. Huh? We are thinking. Why can’t we just eat? Going to make this instead!
Shrimp is really good and my favorite ingredients. You should totally try this cilantro lime shrimp recipe! :)
Are you guys fat?