Can I use salted butter?

Yes, salted butter can be substituted for unsalted butter in this recipe. Shrimp cooked with salted butter may taste saltier than those cooked with unsalted butter because of the added salt in the recipe. Add less salt and taste the sauce after adding lemon juice and parsley. This recipe calls for unsalted butter to prevent the dish from being too salty.

Can I use jarred garlic?

Yes, jarred garlic can be used in place of fresh garlic cloves. Freshly minced garlic is recommended and will alter the flavor of the dish. Both jarred minced garlic and fresh minced garlic should be added to the dish 30 seconds before each side of the shrimp is fully cooked. Stirring frequently will prevent the garlic from browning too much while cooking in butter.

Can I make garlic butter shrimp ahead?

This shrimp dish should be cooked and served immediately. Added at the end of cooking are butter and lemon juice with parsley. The sauce for this dish tastes best when served straight from the pan. Preparing the butter, lemon juice, pepper flakes, and parsley in advance will save time when cooking the dish. Shrimp should be cooked just before serving.

How do I scale this down?

You can make a smaller batch by halving the recipe. Use a skillet size that lets you cook shrimp in a single layer rather than layers of shrimp. Follow the same cooking and color guidelines as for the full recipe: cook shrimp until pink, flip, and add garlic. Take extra care to watch the cooking time for garlic when preparing a smaller batch of shrimp.

What should I serve with garlic butter shrimp?

Serve with rice and green beans or other vegetables as a main dish. Other serving ideas include using pasta for a dish with more lemon-butter sauce. Fresh bread rolls and garlic toast are good for sopping up sauce from the pan. When serving as an appetizer, leave the tails on and offer napkins.

Garlic Butter Shrimp with Lemon, Parsley, and Red Pepper Flakes

By Mason BrooksOct 7, 2026

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Dinner can be made in less than 20 minutes using one pan and common ingredients. Shrimp are sautéed in butter and garlic until they are pink in this recipe. Fresh lemon juice, parsley, and red pepper flakes are added to the shrimp. This recipe can be served as an entree or appetizer.

Garlic Butter Shrimp with Lemon, Parsley, and Red Pepper Flakes

Olive oil and part of the butter are used to sauté shrimp in a large skillet over medium-high heat until nearly cooked. Garlic is added. More butter and lemon juice and chopped parsley are added as a sauce. Large or jumbo shrimp with shells can be used. Leaving the tails on the shrimp makes them easier for guests to eat as an appetizer.

Observation of the shrimp will tell you when they are done in two to three minutes on one side. Flip shrimp and cook another two minutes. Cook garlic and red pepper flakes about 30 seconds to bring out flavor. The main issue with preparing this recipe is burning garlic, which can make the butter taste harsh rather than garlicky.

Serve with rice, pasta, or green beans. Fresh bread rolls and garlic toast are good for soaking up leftover lemon butter sauce from the pan. Shrimp are best served immediately but can be stored in an airtight container and reheated in a pan if needed.

Why you'll love this recipe

Dinner can be prepared quickly because all shrimp are cooked in the same skillet using a similar method without a separate saucepan.
Cleanup is simple because the olive oil, butter, shrimp, garlic, and finished sauce all cook in the same pan.
The ingredient list is simple and accessible, Ingredients include shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and red pepper flakes.
Frozen shrimp can be used in this recipe.
Both fresh and frozen shrimp will work. Using frozen shrimp might be an advantage if you are the person responsible for planning meals and need to use a frozen food product.
Food ideas with shrimp are versatile, Shrimp dishes can be used as appetizers or main dishes with side dishes like rice, pasta, green beans, bread, and garlic toast.
Fresh lemon and parsley are added at the end to complement the creamy garlic sauce.

Instructions

Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the shrimp turn pink.

Season the shrimp with salt.

Flip the shrimp and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 30 seconds, until aromatic. Do not burn.

Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice, and parsley.

Turn off the heat and serve immediately.

FAQ

Yes, fresh and frozen shrimp can be used for this recipe. Frozen shrimp are a quick meal solution. Separate frozen shrimp and remove ice glaze. Drain well and thaw shrimp in the refrigerator. This will help keep the shrimp from steaming in a hot pan.

1 / 5

Lunch Dinner Snacks & Appetizers Quick Meals One Pot Shrimp