Go Back
–+ servings
Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp in a pan
Print Recipe
4.63 from 37 votes

Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp

Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp is packed full of flavour and ready on your table in under 10 minutes!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Garlic Butter Shrimp, Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp
Servings: 4 people
Author: Karina Carrel

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup butter divided
  • 4 cloves garlic minced, or 1 tablespoon
  • 1 3/4 pounds shrimp or prawns, peeled and deveined, tails intact
  • 1 pinch Kosher salt to taste
  • 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice juice of half a lemon - add more if desired
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 pinch fresh parsley chopped to garnish
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Melt 2 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute). 
    Butter being melted while garlic is cooked
  • Fry shrimp and add salt and pepper, to your taste. Cook 2 minutes on one side, while stirring occasionally.
    shrimp cooked in a pan
    • Flip and cook 2 minutes on the other side until JUST beginning to turn pink.
  • Add in the remaining butter, lemon juice and water. Cook, while stirring, until the butter melts and the shrimp have cooked through (do not over cook them). Take off heat. Taste test, and add more lemon juice, salt or pepper, if needed to suit your tastes.
    adding remainder butter into the cooked shrimp
  • Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve over rice or pasta.
    ready lemon shrimp

Video

Notes

Because this lemon shrimp recipe only takes 20 minutes from start to finish, I always suggest making it right before you plan to eat. Cooking shrimp ahead of time and reheating it usually leads to a tough texture.
If you do end up with leftovers, let the shrimp cool and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
When you are ready to eat them again, skip the microwave if you can. The best way to reheat leftover shrimp without ruining the texture is in a skillet on the stove over very low heat. Add the leftover sauce and a tiny splash of water or extra butter to the pan, and heat them gently just until they are warmed through.
A few quick notes before you start. These tips help you get the best texture and flavor every time.
I hope this lemon garlic butter shrimp becomes one of those recipes you come back to when you want something fast, reliable, and full of flavor. Keep it simple, trust the timing, and enjoy every bite.
Happy cooking! Xx
For extra tang, try adding extra lemon juice!

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 360mg | Sodium: 369mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 494IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 1mg