Description
A quick and easy 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring crispy, seared shrimp in a rich garlic butter sauce with white wine and lemon. This skillet meal is pantry-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and significantly faster than takeout.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
- Crusty bread or pasta for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Place in a bowl and toss with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until lightly coated.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron or stainless steel) over medium-high heat.
- Add shrimp in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Sear for 1-2 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in white wine (or broth) and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Stir in lemon juice.
- Return shrimp to the skillet and toss in the sauce for 30 seconds to warm through.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley.
- Serve immediately with crusty bread, pasta, or rice.
Notes
[‘Patting shrimp dry is crucial for achieving a crispy texture rather than steaming.’, ‘Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary to ensure proper searing.’, ‘Watch garlic closely as it burns quickly; lower heat if it starts to darken.’, ‘Shrimp cook very quickly (2-3 minutes total); remove from heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque to avoid rubberiness.’, ‘This recipe does not freeze well; the shrimp may become rubbery and the sauce may separate.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: shrimp scampi, garlic butter shrimp, quick dinner, weeknight meals, skillet recipes, seafood, crispy shrimp, easy dinner, gluten-free option