Spicy Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Buttery Citrus Sauce
By Mason Brooks
Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
Ready in 20 minutes, this lemon and garlic shrimp dish with red pepper flakes is a one-pan meal made with jumbo shrimp, butter or olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, white wine, and other ingredients. Jumbo shrimp cooked in lemon-butter sauce with red pepper flakes provides a spicy taste, though you can reduce the spiciness of this dish.
Butter or olive oil is sautéed with garlic, onion powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper for flavoring. Large peeled and deveined shrimp are stirred into the skillet, and lemon juice and white wine are stirred in at the end to create a sauce. Fresh cilantro is stirred in at the end for flavor but does not need to be cooked. Sautéing the spices in oil before adding the shrimp helps build flavor in the dish.
Search for pink, nontransparent shrimp for best results. Cook shrimp in sauce until completely covered. Overcooking shrimp is the primary risk. According to the article's author, jumbo shrimp cook for two to three minutes on each side and can become tough. Pat dry any thawed frozen shrimp to prevent the sauce from becoming watery. Use a big pan to prevent overcrowding while cooking shrimp quickly.
Eat immediately with rice, pasta, or another salad. Other recipes the article suggests include Avocado Cucumber Salad and Iced Tea Lemonade. You can reheat leftovers in a skillet over low heat with broth or lemon water, according to the article. Do not reheat leftovers in the microwave, as suggested in the article, because shrimp can be fragile.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Completes in 20 minutes because the garlic and spice mixture is cooked with the shrimp in the skillet, and the sauce is prepared by adding lemon juice and wine.
- Uses typical pantry seasonings, including garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, crushed red pepper, lemon juice, and white wine, to add flavor rather than marinate.
- Uses common kitchen utensils and equipment, including a large nonstick skillet, bowl, spoon, knife, cutting board, and measuring spoons.
- Adaptable to local ingredients because the recipe provides olive oil and parsley as alternatives to butter and cilantro, in addition to the standard recipe instructions.
- Scales down for small portions because the recipe has a short ingredient list with exact measurements and uses shrimp that are pink and opaque, meaning they've been fully cooked.
- Serves four, Variations possible in side dishes, Saucy shrimp can be a complete meal served with sides of rice, pasta, or salad.
Ingredients
- •2 lb raw jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- •6 tbsp butter or olive oil
- •½ tsp sea salt (or to taste)
- •½ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- •1 tsp onion powder
- •9 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
- •2 tsp paprika
- •2 tsp chili flakes (or to taste)
- •2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- •¼ cup white wine
- •2 tbsp cilantro (finely chopped)
Instructions
- 1
Heat butter or olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- 2
Add garlic, onion powder, paprika, chili flakes, salt, and pepper; sauté for 1 minute.
- 3
Stir in the shrimp and cook until they start to turn pink.
- 4
Add lemon juice and white wine; cook for another 2–3 minutes.
- 5
Stir occasionally until shrimp are fully cooked and coated in sauce.
- 6
Turn off the heat and garnish with chopped cilantro.
- 7
Serve immediately with rice, pasta, or salad. Pair with Avocado Cucumber Salad or Iced Tea Lemonade if desired.
FAQ
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
312
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