Description
Garlic Butter Tiger Shrimp is a quick, flavorful seafood dish featuring succulent tiger shrimp sautéed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a hint of lemon and spice. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, this recipe combines simple ingredients to create a moist, tender shrimp dish bursting with vibrant flavors. Serve it with rice, pasta, or crusty bread for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1½ pounds tiger shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails on)
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp: Pat the tiger shrimp dry with paper towels to ensure they sear well. Season them lightly with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to add subtle smoky heat and balance.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat the olive oil and half of the butter (2 tablespoons) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1–2 minutes on each side until they turn pink and slightly golden. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- Make the garlic butter sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant and aromatic.
- Add lemon flavor: Pour in the lemon juice and sprinkle the lemon zest into the skillet. Stir everything to combine well, allowing the sauce to meld its bright, tangy flavors.
- Reintroduce shrimp: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss them gently to coat fully in the garlic butter lemon sauce. Cook for an additional 1–2 minutes to heat through and marry the flavors.
- Finish and serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately. This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the savory sauce.
Notes
- For extra richness, finish the dish with a splash of white wine or a drizzle of cream added during the sauce-making step.
- Tiger shrimp can be substituted with jumbo shrimp or prawns based on availability or preference.
- This recipe pairs well with roasted vegetables or served over linguine for a hearty meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Seafood / American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 6–8 shrimp
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg
