Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp

Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp is a quick, flavorful seafood recipe made with tender shrimp, fresh lemon, garlic, butter, and parsley. It cooks in just a few minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights, easy dinners, or a simple appetizer.

This is one of those recipes we love because it feels a little fancy without being complicated. The garlic butter melts right into the pan, the lemon adds brightness, and the shrimp come out juicy and flavorful when cooked just until pink.

For more easy dinner ideas, you may also like our honey garlic chicken drumsticks, garlic parmesan chicken tenders, and creamy garlic shrimp.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick To Make: This shrimp recipe cooks in just a few minutes from start to finish.
• Full Of Flavor: Garlic, lemon zest, butter, and parsley give every bite a fresh, rich taste.
• Great For Busy Nights: It’s simple enough for weeknights but delicious enough for guests.
• Versatile Dish: Serve it with pasta, rice, vegetables, salad, or crusty bread.

Ingredients

We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

This recipe uses large peeled and deveined shrimp, butter, fresh garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper, and oil. The butter creates a rich sauce while the lemon zest and juice brighten everything up. Fresh garlic gives the shrimp its bold flavor, and parsley adds a pop of color and freshness right before serving.

Variations

• Make It Spicy: Add red pepper flakes for a little heat.
• Use Lime Instead: Swap lemon juice and zest for lime for a slightly different citrus flavor.
• Add More Herbs: Try fresh basil, thyme, or chives with the parsley.
• Serve Over Pasta: Toss the cooked shrimp and garlic butter sauce with warm noodles.

Instructions

This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Mash together the butter, lemon zest, garlic, and parsley in a small bowl.

2. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.

3. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1–2 minutes, until the bottoms turn pink and lightly colored. Flip the shrimp, then add the garlic herb butter around the pan.

4. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, basting with the melted butter, until the shrimp are fully pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the pan right away, drizzle with lemon juice, and serve.

Expert Tips

• Pat the shrimp very dry before cooking so they sear instead of steam.
• Do not overcook the shrimp. Once they are pink and opaque, remove them from the pan.
• Add the butter after flipping the shrimp so the garlic does not burn.
• Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright flavor.
• Serve immediately for the best texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

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📖Recipe

Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.

Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp

and melted butter. It’s perfect for a simple weeknight dinner, appetizer, or flavorful protein to serve with pasta, rice, or vegetables.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 107kcal

Equipment

• Skillet
• Small mixing bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Paper towels
• Tongs or spatula
• serving platter

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup butter softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice for serving
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
• 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined (tails on preferred)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or regular cooking oil

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mash together the butter, lemon zest, garlic, and parsley. Set aside.
• Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• Season the shrimp evenly with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until hot.
• Add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook without moving for 1–2 minutes, until the bottom turns pink and slightly browned.
• Flip the shrimp and immediately add the garlic herb butter in small dollops around the pan.
• Cook for another 1–2 minutes, occasionally basting the shrimp with the melted butter, until fully pink and opaque.
• Remove shrimp from the pan immediately to prevent overcooking.
• Drizzle fresh lemon juice over the shrimp before serving.
• Serve immediately and enjoy.

Disclaimer

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1308mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 341IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 0.4mg