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Seared Honey Garlic Shrimp coated in the most irresistible honey garlic butter sauce makes for a quick, flavorful dinner that’s guaranteed to impress. If you loved my viral Honey Garlic Butter Salmon, you’ll be thrilled to know so may of you asked for a Garlic and Honey Shrimp version, and here it is!
This buttery, sweet, and savory shrimp dish is ready in under 10 minutes, with zero marinading required, making it one of the easiest and most satisfying Honey Shrimp recipes you’ll ever try. Perfect for busy weeknights yet impressive enough for guests, it’s better than anything you’ll order at a restaurant.
What Makes This Honey Garlic Shrimp Work
What makes this Honey Garlic Shrimp so good is the perfect balance of sweet honey, savory garlic, and rich butter. The sauce caramelizes beautifully over tender shrimp, giving you a glossy, restaurant-style finish in under 10 minutes, no marinading needed.
It’s also endlessly versatile. Serve this Garlic and Honey Shrimp over rice, noodles, or with fresh veggies, and it’s sure to be one of your go-to Honey Shrimp recipes for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions.
What Goes Into Honey Garlic Shrimp
The magic of this Honey Garlic Shrimp comes from simple, fresh ingredients that pack a big punch of flavor. Here are the stars that make this dish shine:
- Unsalted Butter: Creates a rich, velvety base for the sauce and balances the sweetness of the honey.
- Honey: The signature sweetness that caramelizes beautifully with the garlic, giving this Garlic and Honey Shrimp its irresistible glaze.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a savory depth that cuts through the sweetness for perfect balance.
- Shrimp or Prawns: Juicy, tender shrimp soak up every drop of that buttery honey garlic sauce, making this one of the most crave-worthy Honey Shrimp recipes.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Honey Garlic Shrimp
- Make the Sauce: Melt butter in a non stick pan over medium heat. Stir in honey, lemon juice, and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds.
- Reserve Sauce: Remove from heat. Pour out just over half of the honey garlic butter, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan.
- Sear First Batch: Add 2 teaspoons of oil. Sear half the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side until opaque, then transfer.
- Sear Second Batch: Wipe the pan with paper towel. Add the remaining oil and sear the rest of the shrimp the same way.
- Glaze the Shrimp: Return all shrimp to pan. Pour in the reserved honey garlic butter and toss until evenly coated.
- Finish and Serve: Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon slices.
This Honey Garlic Shrimp pairs beautifully with Zucchini (Zettuccine) Carbonara, where the creamy, savory sauce complements the shrimp’s sweet garlic glaze. For a cozy side, try Crispy Greek Lemon Smashed Potatoes; their tangy, herby crunch balances the richness of the shrimp. And if you’re craving pasta, Browned Butter Shrimp Scampi makes a decadent surf-and-surf dinner that’s indulgent but perfectly harmonious in flavor.
Recipe FAQ’s
Large or jumbo raw shrimp work best because they stay juicy and tender after cooking. Fresh or thawed frozen shrimp both work well.
Absolutely. Just thaw them completely and pat dry before cooking to prevent excess water from diluting the sauce.
Cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side, just until they turn pink and opaque. Overcooked shrimp can become rubbery.
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Buttery Honey Garlic Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic large, minced
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 21 ounces shrimp or prawns, tails on or off
- 1 pinch salt to season
- 1 pinch pepper to season
- 4 lemon slices to serve
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Melt butter in a non stick pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the honey, lemon juice and garlic; stir well to combine all of the flavours together and cook for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat.
- Pour out just over half of the honey garlic butter from the pan, leaving 2 tablespoons in the pan; reserve the rest for later.
- Add 2 teaspoons of the oil into the same pan and sear half of the shrimp for about 2 minutes each side, or until just cooked through and opaque. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Wipe pan over with paper towel and repeat with remaining oil and shrimp.
- Throw the cooked shrimp back into the pan and pour in the remaining honey garlic butter sauce, stirring through the shrimp to evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper if desired and garnish with parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this recipe for dinner tonight. It was really delicious. I was afraid the garlic or honey would overpower the dish, but it was perfect. It’s also very quick and easy. I served with avocado, rice and an arugula salad. Definitely going into the regular rotation. Thanks for the recipe!
I held my first dinner party and was looking for a simple recipe. My guests loved this recipe!
One of my guest doesn’t even like garlic and she wanted the recipe!
I was afraid that it wouldn’t taste good but it came out so well! I loved how simple it is yet it is flavorful without any of the ingredients being too overpowering.
Thanks so much for this delicious recipe!
Delicious, quick and easy. Whole family enjoyed this recipe.
I just made it this evening. It was incredible! Very easy dish to make.
This is absolutely delicious and so addicting! I made it for a friend and she loved it. The garlic really does make this so good! It’s a keeper.
Wow ! Fantastic , made with jasmine rice turned out great….easy recipe will be on regular rotation !