This zesty seafood dish takes just 10 minutes to make — excellent for busy weeknights and delicious enough for parties.
Craving succulent seafood but don’t want to get too fancy? This down-to-earth recipe for pan-seared shrimp is the perfect option. It takes less time than most main-course dishes but is still bursting with enough flavor to wow a crowd. Garlic, onion, paprika, crushed red pepper, and a splash of lemon juice tingle the taste buds, and each piece of shrimp is cooked until it practically melts in your mouth. This shrimp goes well with a wide array of sides making it just about the perfect meal for dressing up or down.
Shrimp is fairly cheap compared to many other seafoods and is readily available at both supermarkets and fish markets. Plus, if you buy it frozen you can always have a stash of it on hand. There are a lot of ways to cook shrimp but I like a hot pan on the stovetop for caramelizing the outside and giving it a delectable crunch while keeping the center juicy. Whether you’re making this for parties or a quick weeknight dinner with the family, everyone at the table will be satisfied.
Is Pan-Seared Shrimp Healthy?
If you enjoy seafood, this is an excellent recipe for healthy eating. Shrimp is high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates. They’re also full of micronutrients, including vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. This recipe pan-sears them in a relatively small amount of olive oil, a heart-healthy fat, making the dish very low in calories and saturated fat. The recipe is gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly.
How To Pick The Best Shrimp
When shopping for shrimp, it’s important to get it as fresh as possible. Unless you’re lucky enough to live near a coastal area where you can buy shrimp that’s right off the boat, most of what’s available will be previously frozen. This is true even if it’s displayed as fresh at the supermarket or fish store; most of this shrimp was simply thawed in-store and then placed over ice. If you prefer to buy shrimp already thawed, look for shrimp that’s firm, shiny, and free of brownish splotches. Make sure it smells clean and salty. The other option is to buy shrimp frozen and thaw it yourself. To thaw it, simply place it in a sealed bag and put it in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on size and whether it’s already peeled or not. You can also thaw a whole bag of frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Leftover pan-seared shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for as long as 3 days. Eat it as soon as possible to enjoy the best quality taste! You can enjoy leftovers cold or reheat them in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Freezing these shrimp isn’t recommended.
Serving Suggestions
Garnish pan-seared shrimp with fresh parsley, extra spice, or another splash of lemon juice if you wish. For a well-balanced dinner, serve these beautiful bites with any combination of Coconut Rice, Steamed Spinach, Fried Sweet Potatoes, and Garlic Toast. For parties, my aunt used to make this shrimp with a side of Rice Cooker Risotto, but you could also try it on a bowl of Cabbage and Noodles. Or try luscious Crab Salad for a seafood dynamic duo.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled, deveined, and patted dry with paper towels
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Freshly chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, toss the shrimp with olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and optional crushed red pepper flakes until evenly coated.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook without moving them for 1-2 minutes until they start to turn pink.
- Flip the shrimp and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until fully cooked and seared. Remove from heat.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the cooked shrimp. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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