Description

Looking for the best garlic butter shrimp? This one is quick, easy, and full of rich buttery flavor. Whether you are after a healthy dinner idea or a simple party dish, this delivers every time. Great for weeknight dinner, meal prep, holiday gatherings, potluck spreads, brunch tables, and party appetizers. Save this easy garlic butter shrimp for your next holiday, potluck, or busy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds large shrimp
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic cloves
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 whole lemon lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika

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Instructions

Start by rinsing the shrimp and checking that they are peeled and deveined. Once they are clean, pat them dry well so the surface looks firm instead of wet and glossy. At the end of this step, the shrimp should look plump, smooth, and neatly prepared in the bowl. They should still be completely raw, with a light gray and pink tone and no sauce or seasoning on them yet.
Finely mince the garlic until the pieces are very small and even. Chop the parsley into soft green flecks so it will spread easily through the butter mixture later. Visually, this step gives you two fresh flavor elements that are easy to spot right away. The garlic should look pale and finely chopped, while the parsley should look bright green and delicate rather than coarse or chunky.
Add the softened butter, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and paprika to the bowl with most of the minced garlic. Mix until the butter turns smooth, creamy, and lightly tinted from the paprika. Once mixed, the seasoning should look thick, glossy, and evenly speckled with garlic and pepper. The color should shift from pale butter yellow to a warmer golden shade with tiny red and black flecks throughout.
Add the raw shrimp to the bowl and toss until every piece is coated. The butter mixture should cling to the curves of the shrimp so each one looks glossy and seasoned from edge to edge. At this stage, the shrimp are still raw but visibly transformed. Instead of looking plain and pale, they should now look richly coated with a buttery golden layer dotted with garlic and spices.
Squeeze in fresh lemon juice and scatter in some chopped parsley, then gently fold everything together. Let the shrimp rest briefly so the flavors settle into the coating and the bowl looks evenly dressed. After resting, the shrimp should still look raw but slightly more glossy and relaxed in the bowl. You will notice a little extra sheen from the lemon mixing into the butter, along with fresh green parsley spread between the shrimp.
After the shrimp have cooked, place them back into the bowl and spoon over the remaining garlic butter mixture. Toss gently until the shrimp look glossy, pink, and fully coated, then add the last of the parsley. This is the moment when the dish really looks complete. The shrimp should now appear opaque and curled, with a rich buttery glaze, bright green parsley, and visible bits of softened garlic clinging to the surface.
Transfer the finished shrimp to a serving plate and arrange them so the sauce settles around them instead of hiding underneath. Add a few lemon slices and the final sprinkle of parsley so the dish looks fresh, glossy, and ready to serve. The final plated dish should look and inviting. You should see pink shrimp, golden butter sauce, green parsley, and bright lemon all working together in a clean, finished presentation.

Notes

Pro Tips:

Pat the shrimp very dry before seasoning so the butter mixture sticks better.
Use fresh garlic instead of jarred garlic for a cleaner and stronger flavor.
Do not skip the lemon because it balances the richness of the butter beautifully.
Finish with parsley right before serving so the color stays bright and fresh.

Storage: Store leftover garlic butter shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best texture, keep the shrimp with some of the sauce so they stay moist. You can freeze it for up to 2 months, though the texture is best when enjoyed fresh. Reheat gently in short intervals until just warmed through, because overcooking can make the shrimp firm and rubbery.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dinner
Cuisine: American