Go Back
Easy 20-Minute Shrimp Recipe (Quick & Delicious)

Easy 20-Minute Shrimp Recipe (Quick & Delicious)

Large shrimp are quickly cooked in olive oil, then coated in a fragrant garlic-butter sauce with lemon, paprika, parsley, and optional red-pepper flakes. Serve immediately with rice, pasta, vegetables, or crusty bread.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Shrimp and Seasoning
  • 1 pound Large shrimp, peeled and deveined, fresh or completely thawed frozen
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons Unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves Garlic, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red-pepper flakes, optional
To Serve
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
  • as needed Lemon wedges

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season both sides with kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 1–2 minutes per side, until pink, opaque, and just cooked through; transfer them to a plate.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter and minced garlic. Cook for about 30–60 seconds, stirring often, just until fragrant; do not let the garlic brown.
  4. Return the shrimp to the skillet. Add the lemon juice and optional red-pepper flakes, then toss for 30–60 seconds so the shrimp are coated and warmed through.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the shrimp with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, crusty bread, rice, pasta, or vegetables.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry to encourage light browning instead of steaming. Cook until the shrimp form a loose C shape and are opaque; a tightly curled O shape usually means they are overcooked. If using frozen shrimp, thaw completely and drain well before seasoning.