Pan Seared Shrimp

The fastest way to get dinner on the table is with this easy Pan Seared Shrimp recipe! Simply seasoned and completely delicious, sauteed garlic shrimp is ready in less than 10 minutes.

Pan Seared Shrimp is one of my go-to proteins. It’s very versatile and can take on many different flavors but my favorite shrimp recipe is this simple one with shrimp cooked in a skillet with butter, Italian seasoning, and plenty of savory garlic.

I have lots of other tasty shrimp recipes you can try! Poach shrimp to use for shrimp cocktails or cold salads. Skewer them up and grill shrimp for a delicious meal in the summer months. You can even bake shrimp!

Overall, sauteed shrimp is my favorite cooking method, and I know you’ll love it too, once you see how quick and easy it is.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Ready Fast – The shrimp will be cooked in just 5 minutes! Give yourself about 5 minutes to prep the ingredients, and you’ll have this recipe ready in no time at all.
2. Simple and Delicious – Fresh lemon, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings are really all you need to make shrimp taste its best.
3. Versatile Meal Starter – Your dinner options are endless when it comes to what you can serve with pan seared shrimp! I’ll share my favorite ideas below, and I know you’ll come up with the perfect meal for your family to enjoy.

Ingredients For Pan Seared Shrimp

This is everything you need to make buttery garlic-sauteed shrimp:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Shrimp: This recipe makes one pound (450 grams) of shrimp. Be sure to start with raw shrimp (not the pre-cooked kind). If needed, thaw the shrimp, remove the shells, and cut out the veins. I’m cooking large shrimp (31-40 count) here, but you can adjust this recipe to sautee jumbo or medium shrimp too.
• Butter and Oil: I like to use both to pan-fry fish, chicken, meat, or shrimp. Frying in butter adds flavor, and the olive oil allows us to cook at a higher temperature.
• Garlic: Garlic just goes so well with shrimp! Four cloves, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press give the right amount of savory flavor to a pound of shrimp.
• Seasonings: I love using Italian Seasoning. It has the perfect blend of herbs and goes well with almost everything! A bit of paprika adds color and warmth, and salt and pepper are a must. Fresh parsley is added at the end.
• Lemon: Butter, garlic, and lemon – the perfect trio of flavors for shrimp! Use both the zest and the juice from a lemon to add bright acidity to the dish.

How To Make Pan Seared Shrimp

1. Heat the Skillet: Add olive oil and butter to a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the shrimp, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Sautee: Stir to coat the shrimp with the seasonings, then cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp is pink and opaque.
3. Add Lemon: Just before the shrimp is finished cooking, add lemon zest and lemon juice, to taste.
4. Serve: Remove the shrimp from the heat and serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Recipe Tips

• A Non-stick pan makes this recipe super simple. It’s easier to clean, and you won’t need to worry about your shrimp sticking to the skillet. Be sure to use a skillet large enough to hold the shrimp, at least 12 inches is ideal.
• If you want to cook shrimp larger or smaller than I’m making here, you’ll need to adjust the timing. smaller shrimp will only need 1-2 minutes per side, while jumbo shrimp might need 3-4.
• Use the whole lemon. You can add as much lemon zest and lemon juice to this recipe as you like, just be sure to zest the lemon with a microplane before you cut it in half to juice it. Doing those steps the other way around is nearly impossible!
• Have your side dishes ready. The shrimp literally cooks in 5 minutes and is best eaten right away. Make your sides first, and cook the shrimp last – this way everything will be ready at the same time.
• Take it a step further and try my creamy garlic shrimp recipe! It’s a very similar method, but you’ll also create a rich and decadent parmesan cream sauce in the skillet to go with the shrimp.
• Looking for something even more flavorful? Try my spicy garlic butter shrimp with harissa paste. Yum!

Storing Tips

Wondering how to store leftover shrimp? Simply keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days this way.

To reheat, add the shrimp to a hot pan and very briefly saute again, just until the shrimp are warmed through.

What To Serve With Pan Seared Shrimp

This super quick protein is the first building block for an easy weeknight dinner. Try these dinner ideas:

Use your air fryer to make Air Fryer Vegetables or Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes.

Make Pasta: Toss sauteed shrimp with garlic butter pasta or pasta with cream cheese pasta sauce. A side of broccoli makes a balanced and delicious meal.

Have a Salad: I love warm pan-seared shrimp on top of a healthy salad! Try my Beet Salad or Roasted Sweet Potato Salad. Caesar Salad is amazing with shrimp too.

Other sides that go well with shrimp include roasted root vegetables, cauliflower steaks, garlic bread, and pasta with peas.

For dessert, try this easy honey bun cake, or warm pear crisp.

Need more ideas? Check out all of our easy and delicious side dish recipes!

FAQs

Pan Seared Shrimp only takes 10 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights! Add Shrimp to your shopping list this week and impress your family with this tasty meal.