Garlic Butter Shrimp
Juicy shrimp seared in a glossy garlic butter sauce with lemon and parsley. A 15-minute one-pan keto dinner with almost zero carbs and huge flavor.
Fifteen minutes to the best shrimp of your week
Some recipes earn a permanent spot in the rotation simply because they are fast, cheap, and impossible to mess up. Garlic butter shrimp is one of them. A hot pan, a pound of shrimp, a generous amount of butter and garlic, and you have a dinner that tastes like it took real effort but is done before your side dish finishes cooking.
Because shrimp cook so quickly, the whole game is not overcooking them. They are ready the instant they curl into a loose C shape and turn pink. Wait until they curl into a tight O and they have gone rubbery. Keep the heat high, keep moving, and pull them early.
- Have every ingredient prepped before the pan gets hot
- Cook the shrimp just until they turn pink and curl loosely
- Build the garlic butter sauce in the same pan for maximum flavor
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (net carbs →)
- 5 tablespoons butter, divided (net carbs →)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (net carbs →)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced (net carbs →)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Juice of 1 lemon (net carbs →)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (net carbs →)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- 1Pat the shrimp completely dry and season with the salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- 2Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 3Add the shrimp in a single layer and sear for about 1 minute per side, until they just turn pink and curl. Transfer to a plate.
- 4Reduce the heat to medium and melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 5Stir in the lemon juice, then return the shrimp to the pan and toss to coat in the garlic butter.
- 6Remove from the heat, sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately, spooning the extra butter sauce over the top.
Nutrition (per serving)
Recipe FAQ
How do I avoid rubbery shrimp?
Overcooking is the only way shrimp go rubbery. They cook in about 2 minutes total, so pull them the instant they turn pink and curl into a loose C. If they tighten into an O, they are overdone. Cooking them separately and adding them back at the end gives you the most control.
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes, and it is often fresher than the thawed shrimp at the counter. Thaw them in a colander under cold running water for a few minutes, then pat very dry so they sear instead of steam.
What should I serve with garlic butter shrimp?
Cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, sauteed green beans, or a crisp salad all soak up the garlic butter beautifully while keeping the meal keto. You can also pile the shrimp straight onto greens for an easy bowl.
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What should I eat today?
Turn the ingredients you like or already have into a keto breakfast, lunch & dinner — net carbs counted.