Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring juicy, spicy, and garlicky shrimp in a rich butter sauce. This budget-friendly meal is ready in about 20 minutes and serves 4 people.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds large or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large lemon (juice and zest)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (for serving)
- Crusty bread or baguette (for serving)
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp under cold water if using, then pat them completely dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Melt until foamy but do not let it brown.
- Add shrimp to the pan in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary). Sear for 2 minutes on the first side until pink, then flip and cook for 1-2 minutes until just cooked through. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the same pan. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute to reduce slightly.
- Return shrimp and any juices to the pan. Add lemon juice and zest. Toss gently to coat.
- Heat through for 30 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning with more Cajun spice or salt if needed. Stir in fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately over fluffy white rice or with crusty bread.
Notes
Patting the shrimp dry is crucial to prevent steaming and ensure a good sear. Do not overcook the shrimp; they should curl into a ‘C’ shape. If they curl into an ‘O’, they are overcooked. The recipe is naturally gluten-free if you use a gluten-free Cajun seasoning blend.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving with rice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Cajun shrimp, garlic butter shrimp, one pan dinner, weeknight dinner, easy seafood, spicy shrimp, budget dinner