This simple one-pan skillet meal comes together in under 30 minutes for a flavorful and satisfying weeknight dinner. Lemony garlic butter shrimp paired with tender broccoli makes for a comforting yet light meal.
Should I use fresh or frozen broccoli?
Either fresh or frozen broccoli will work well in this recipe. Fresh broccoli has a brighter color and flavor, but frozen broccoli is very convenient if you don’t have access to fresh. Frozen broccoli is flash frozen right after harvesting, so it retains much of its nutrition. Thaw and drain frozen broccoli thoroughly before using. Are you interested knowing about Raising Cane’s Sauce
Do I need to use fresh lemon slices?
While fresh lemon slices add a hit of bright acidity, you can substitute 1-2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice if you don’t have fresh lemons on hand. The lemon juice is important for balancing the rich garlic butter sauce. Be sure to zest the lemon beforehand to distribute that aromatic lemon flavor throughout.
Which size shrimp should I use in this recipe?
Any size shrimp will work for this skillet meal, but traditionally most recipes call for “26/30” size or smaller shrimp (26-30 shrimp per pound). Larger shrimp like “16/20” may take slightly longer to cook through. Feel free to use your preferred size – just be mindful of cooking times if using larger shrimp.
How long will it take to make?
From start to finish, this skillet shrimp and broccoli dish comes together in under 30 minutes. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- 5 minutes: Prepare ingredients
- 5 minutes: Cook broccoli
- 10 minutes: Cook shrimp
- 5 minutes: Toss pasta and top with parsley
It’s one of the quickest and easiest weeknight meals you can make. The whole family will love how fast dinner is on the table.
What do I serve with it?
This shrimp and broccoli skillet is satisfying as is, but you can also serve it over pasta, rice or zoodles to soak up the flavorful garlic butter sauce. Some classic sides that complement the flavors include:
- Bread to soak up extra sauce
- Herbed or plain rice pilaf
- Garlic bread
- Roasted potatoes
- Pasta salad
You can also add protein like boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked alongside the shrimp to make it a complete meal.
What is in the Garlic Butter?
The key to unlocking big flavor in this simple skillet shrimp recipe is the lemony garlic butter sauce. This compound butter is emulsified with fresh lemon zest and juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Feel free to vary the herbs – basil, oregano or thyme would also be delicious. The butter coats the shrimp and broccoli to infuse them with luscious flavor.
Make extra garlic butter to have on hand for sautéing vegetables, tossing with pasta, or spreading on bread. It can be kept covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for several months.
How to Cook Shrimp
Cooking shrimp is simple once you know a few tips:
- Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails intact if desired
- Pat shrimp very dry with paper towels before adding to pan
- Use high heat and cook shrimp just until pink and opaque, 2-3 minutes
- Do not overcook or shrimp will become tough
- Remove shrimp as soon as done to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm
Shrimp cooks very quickly, so have all your ingredients prepared beforehand. With proper timing, the shrimp will be perfectly tender every time.
Broccoli Cooking Tips
For tender-crisp broccoli to pair with the shrimp:
- Trim woody stems and cut into bite-size florets
- Peel stems with a vegetable peeler if thicker than 1/2 inch
- Add broccoli to pan several minutes before shrimp is done
- Toss broccoli frequently and cook 3-5 minutes until bright green
- Remove broccoli to a plate when almost tender and finish cooking in residual heat
- Doing this two-step cooking method prevents overcooking the broccoli while allowing it to absorb flavor from the buttery pan sauce.
How to Change Up this Easy Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe
There are lots of ways to adapt this basic shrimp and broccoli recipe into completely new meals:
- Swap broccoli for other veggies like asparagus, green beans or carrots
- Add diced bell peppers and onions for extra flavor and color
- Use different herbs like basil, oregano or thyme in the butter
- Toss shrimp and veggies with pasta instead of serving as a skillet meal
- Try honey-garlic or cajun seasoning variations on the butter
- Add protein like chicken or andouille sausage
Get creative by mixing up your flavors and ingredients each time. The garlic butter sauce is incredibly versatile.
What should I pair with the Shrimp recipe?
Some tasty sides that complement the flavors of this skillet shrimp recipe include:
- Rice pilaf or risotto
- Roasted red potatoes
- Garlic bread
- Pasta or noodles
- Sautéed spinach or kale
- Grilled vegetables like zucchini or summer squash
- Salad with citrus vinaigrette
You can also serve the shrimp and broccoli recipe over noodles, rice or quinoa for an easy one-pan meal. Leftovers also make a delicious lunch the next day.
Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli
Ingredients:
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Instructions:
Combine butter, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, minced garlic, 1 Tbsp lemon zest, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper in a small bowl. Set aside garlic butter sauce.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt 2 Tbsp butter. Once foamy, add broccoli florets and 1/4 cup water. Toss broccoli to coat and cover skillet, steaming broccoli 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp. Transfer broccoli to a plate and tent with foil.
Return skillet to stove and add remaining 2 Tbsp butter. Once melted and foamy, add shrimp in a single layer. Sauté 2-3 minutes per side until pink and curled.
Remove skillet from heat and stir in half the garlic butter sauce. Add broccoli back to skillet and toss to coat. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
Serve shrimp and broccoli in a warm skillet or over rice. Garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Peel and devein shrimp for easy eating
- Pat shrimp very dry before cooking
- Cook broccoli until just tender-crisp to maintain color and nutrients
- Cook shrimp in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding
- Toss everything while hot so flavors combine
- This simple skillet recipe comes together in about 30 minutes for a satisfying weeknight meal the whole family will love.
More Shrimp Recipes
A few other delicious shrimp recipes to try:
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi over Angel Hair Pasta
- Shrimp Fried Rice with Snap Peas and Edamame
- 30-Minute Creamy Shrimp and Grits
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Mango Salsa
- Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Slaw
- Shrimp Cocktail with Spicy Cocktail Sauce
- Sweet and Spicy Shrimp
- Shrimp Boil with Corn and Potatoes
Why this recipe works
This simple skillet shrimp recipe proves that you don’t need multiple ingredients or elaborate cooking techniques to make a great weeknight dinner. A few high-quality ingredients handled properly can add up to big flavor.
Garlic butter is the star ingredient that takes this dish to the next level. The emulsified butter coats the shrimp and broccoli, creating a rich yet light sauce. Lemon zest and juice balance the rich butter for a bright finish. Together, garlic, lemon and butter create an irresistible flavor profile.
Cooking the shrimp and broccoli in stages ensures each component gets the proper attention. The broccoli steams gently before meeting up with the shrimp and butter for maximum flavor absorption. Quick sautéing keeps the shrimp moist and tender. Removing them as they finish cooking prevents overcooking.
In just 30 minutes, all the components come together into a satisfying and nutrient-packed one-pan meal. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but flavorful enough for company. Try this foolproof recipe and see why garlic butter is such a magic condiment for seafood and vegetables.
Ingredients needed for this Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
The ingredient list for this simple skillet shrimp and broccoli recipe is minimal:
- Shrimp – Look for frozen or fresh shrimp that are peeled and deveined for easy cooking and eating. About 1 pound serves 3-4 people.
- Broccoli – 1 large head of fresh broccoli produces 4-5 cups of florets, enough for a generous serving per person.
- Butter – Un salted butter is best to control the amount of salt used. 4 tablespoons melts into a rich and flavorful sauce.
- Garlic – 3-4 cloves of minced fresh garlic, to taste, add intense garlicky flavor to the butter.
- Lemon – 1 medium lemon yields 2-3 tablespoons of juice and 1-2 teaspoons grated zest for brightness.
- Herbs – Parsley, if using, for a pop of color and freshness. Basil or oregano also complement the flavors
- Salt and black pepper – A small pinch of each enhances the natural flavors.
All of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry or can be found at any grocery store. Their simplicity results in big taste.
How to Make Shrimp and Broccoli
Follow these easy steps to toss together this skillet shrimp and broccoli recipe:
- Prepare ingredients – Peel/devein shrimp; trim broccoli; mince garlic; juice and zest lemon.
- Make garlic butter sauce – Melt butter in a small bowl; mix in garlic, lemon juice/zest, salt, pepper.
- Cook broccoli – Add broccoli and water to hot skillet; cover and steam 3-5 mins until bright green.
- Cook shrimp – Add butter to skillet; sauté shrimp until pink, about 2-3 mins per side.
- Assemble – Transfer broccoli from skillet; stir garlic butter sauce into skillet.
Finish and serve – Return broccoli to skillet; toss to coat. Serve hot with extra garlic butter on the side.
FAQs
What do you eat garlic shrimp with?
Rice is a classic pairing to soak up the sauce. You can also serve over noodles, with bread to dip in the sauce, or with vegetables like broccoli.
What is shrimp with garlic sauce made of?
Shrimp with garlic sauce usually contains shrimp, butter or oil, minced garlic, lemon or lime juice, and seasonings like salt, pepper, red pepper flakes. The sauce comes together quickly in the pan.
How do you cook frozen shrimp quickly?
Thaw shrimp overnight in the fridge or by running under cool water. Pat dry thoroughly before cooking. In a hot skillet, sauté shrimp just until pink and curled, 2-3 min tops. No need to thaw if cooking time is short. Check often to avoid overcooking.
Final Words
Alright friends, let me tell you – this skillet shrimp and broccoli recipe is just about the perfect midweek meal, I’m telling you. I mean it’s so easy with no ingredients to even remember and it comes together faster than you can say “pass the parmesan”. But even though it’s simple simple simple, the best part is that when you use nice fresh stuff like giant shrimp, lots of creamy butter and mountains of garlic, even with just basic cooking it turns into the tastiest, most satisfying dinner ever. And get this – the garlic butter sauce is so versatile you can change it up however you want each time. Feel like spinach tonight? Done. Asparagus speaking to you? You got it. The options are endless! Whether you’re rushed on a Tuesday or feeding a whole football team, this one-pan wonder always delivers on flavour and ease. I’m telling you, with minimal effort you’ll be serving up a meal your whole crew goes bananas for, I promise.
In the end, this skillet recipe really shows that you don’t need a million doodads to make food dance, you know? Sometimes all you need is sweet shrimp, baby broccoli and a decadent buttery sauce to feel totally stuffed without breaking a sweat in the kitchen. It’s just so easy I can’t tell you enough how often I find myself making it on the regular. Consider this your sign to give it a whirl, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
