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Craving a quick, flavorful dinner? This garlic butter shrimp is ready in just 15 minutes! Juicy shrimp in a creamy, garlicky butter sauce makes for the perfect meal over pasta, rice, or crusty bread. It’s easy, delicious, and completely irresistible. Check out my video guide and make it for dinner tonight!
Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe
When it comes to shrimp, there aren’t many recipes as easy and delicious as this one. It’s so good, and totally addictive! Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to make. Yep, you read that right—dinner is ready in 15 minutes if you follow my recipe and pick up a few multitasking tips for the kitchen (which I will teach you below).
Picture this: juicy shrimp smothered in an epic garlic butter sauce with a touch of cream. And I’m talking about light cream here—so it’s not as heavy, and it’s lower in calories. It pairs perfectly with any simple pasta like spaghetti, penne, macaroni, or ribbon-shaped farfalle or sea shells. Honestly, you’ll be done faster than it would take for your food to be delivered or for you to drive to a restaurant. Trust me on this one!
Why You Need This Butter Garlic Shrimp
I’m not bragging, but just look at these photos and my video—don’t you want to dive right into that sauce and those shrimp? There are plenty of Garlic Butter Shrimp recipes out there, but trust me, mine is a surefire standout because:
- It’s one of the easiest, fuss-free recipes you’ll find online. Why? Because I’ve simplified the method into just four steps, without sacrificing any of the flavor or presentation.
- It’s hands down the BEST and most delicious recipe ever! I’m not just talking it up—I’ll show you how to use Asian ingredients, like Japanese cooking sake and mirin (sweet rice wine), to take this dish to a whole new level that’s unlike anything you’ve tasted before.
- Whether you pair it with plain pasta, steamed rice (brown or white), or bread like Italian Puff Bread, crusty French baguette (like my Homemade Baguette), Skillet Garlic Bread, or even Naan, this recipe is versatile and just works.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp – Peeled and deveined — keep the tails on if you like the look or want something to grab, or take them off for easy eating.
- Butter – I used unsalted butter, but if all you have is salted, that’s totally fine! Just leave out the extra salt.
- Garlic
- Light cooking cream
- Japanese cooking sake – I used Japanese cooking sake in my recipe, but you can easily swap it with dry white wine if that’s what you have.
- Mirin
- Salt
- Cayenne pepper
- Parsley
- Parmesan cheese
- Lemon
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full details on each ingredient.
Recipe Variations
- Scallops: Swap the shrimp for scallops, and you’ve got Creamy Garlic Scallops—so tender and indulgent!
- Chicken: Use chicken instead of shrimp to make my Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken—a cozy, hearty dinner idea.
- Pork: Switch things up with pork chops and make my Instant Pot Pork Chops with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce—easy, flavorful, and satisfying.
- Pasta: Turn it into One-Pot Creamy Shrimp Pasta, where everything cooks together for the ultimate creamy comfort food.
How To Make Garlic Butter Shrimp
First, just give the shrimp a quick rinse, then pat them dry with some paper towels. Set them aside when you’re done!
Heat up a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Toss in the garlic and sauté it until it smells amazing, but don’t let it brown. Then, add the shrimp and cook until they’re pink and opaque on the outside, but they don’t need to be fully cooked through yet.
Next, pour in the light cooking cream, white wine (or sake if you’re using that), mirin (if you’ve got it), salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Let it all come to a gentle boil so the shrimp cook through. Then, toss in the parsley and give it a good stir to mix everything together.
Take it off the heat, then sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. Garnish with lemon wedges and squeeze the juice over the dish just before serving. It’s perfect with rice, pasta, or some crusty bread to soak up all the goodness!
Secrets To Quick Kitchen Success
Trust me, it’s possible to create gourmet-tasting meals in your home kitchen with just a few simple ingredients—and finish cooking in record time. For this easy butter garlic shrimp recipe, the key is multitasking so you can cut down on active time and be more efficient. Plus, by learning to use new ingredients in the kitchen, you can take your cooking to the next level. I embrace the idea of East meets West for the best results.
- Start by buying frozen shelled, deveined, headless, tail-on shrimp. I always grab a few packs of these frozen shrimp at my local grocery store, or even at Walmart or Target. All you have to do is thaw them in the microwave or soak them in water, and they’re ready for cooking.
- Stock up on Japanese cooking sake and mirin in your pantry. These are must-haves. For any recipe that calls for white wine, you can substitute with cooking sake. Sake has a slightly sweet, umami-rich flavor with a mild alcoholic taste. It’s often less acidic than wine and has a smoother, more rounded profile.
- Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine. It has a rich, syrupy consistency with a mild alcohol flavor. I love the sweetness, as it’s perfect for balancing savory or salty flavors in dishes.
- Plan and multitask: For this recipe, I’ll cook the pasta first, before starting to prep the shrimp. By the time the shrimp is ready, the pasta will be cooked al dente. Then, all you have to do is spoon the creamy garlic shrimp over the pasta, and dinner is served.
Shopping Guide: You can find Japanese cooking sake and mirin in the international aisle of most grocery stores or at Asian markets. Keep in mind that cooking sake is different from sake meant for drinking. When it comes to brands, you can always trust Mizkan—it’s a reliable choice for both cooking sake and mirin.
Frequently Asked Questions
To keep shrimp from getting rubbery, don’t overcook them! They cook really fast—usually about 2-3 minutes per side. You’ll know they’re ready when they’re opaque and firm to the touch, and they’ve curled up just a bit. If they curl too tightly, they’ve probably been on the heat a little too long. Just watch them closely, and you’ll get perfectly tender shrimp every time!
Definitely! If you want more heat, just add a bit more cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. A pinch is pretty mild, so feel free to increase it for that extra kick!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. When you’re ready to eat, just reheat gently so the shrimp don’t overcook.
This recipe is 542 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Garlic Butter Shrimp
For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Ingredients
- 8 oz shrimp, shelled, deveined, tail-on, 225 g
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/2 cup light cooking cream
- 1/2 cup white wine or Japanese cooking sake
- 1 tablespoon mirin, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt , or to taste
- 3 -5 dashes cayenne pepper
Garnishing
- 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 lemon, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Rinse the shrimp, pat them dry with paper towels, and set them aside.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant but not browned. Add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink and opaque on the surface, but are not fully cooked through.
- Add the light cooking cream, white wine or Japanese cooking sake, mirin (if using), salt, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, allowing the shrimp to cook through, add the parsley, stir to combine well.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and garnish with lemon wedges. Squeeze the lemon juice over the dish just before enjoying with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.
Video
Notes
- Start by buying frozen shelled, deveined, headless, tail-on shrimp. I always grab a few packs of these frozen shrimp at my local grocery store, or even at Walmart or Target. All you have to do is thaw them in the microwave or soak them in water, and they’re ready for cooking.
- Stock up on Japanese cooking sake and mirin in your pantry. These are must-haves. For any recipe that calls for white wine, you can substitute with cooking sake. Sake has a slightly sweet, umami-rich flavor with a mild alcoholic taste. It’s often less acidic than wine and has a smoother, more rounded profile.
- Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine. It has a rich, syrupy consistency with a mild alcohol flavor. I love the sweetness, as it’s perfect for balancing savory or salty flavors in dishes.
- Plan and multitask: For this recipe, I’ll cook the pasta first, before starting to prep the shrimp. By the time the shrimp is ready, the pasta will be cooked al dente. Then, all you have to do is spoon the creamy garlic shrimp over the pasta, and dinner is served.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
