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Steamed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Lemon

A quick and easy American-style seafood dish featuring succulent shrimp steamed in a fragrant garlic butter and fresh lemon sauce, perfect for a flavorful dinner.

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Steamed Garlic Butter Shrimp with Lemon
Prep time10 min
Cook time7 min
Total time17 min
Servings4Serves 4 as a main dish
DifficultyEasy
What you’ll need

Ingredients

Check ingredients as you go.

  • Main Ingredients
  • Sauce
  • Garnish
  • Seasoning
One step at a time

Let’s make it

  1. Preparation

    Prepare the shrimp by rinsing under cold water and patting dry with paper towels. Set aside.

  2. Sauce Preparation

    In a large skillet or sauté pan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.

  3. Cooking Shrimp

    Add the shrimp to the butter and garlic mixture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir to coat the shrimp evenly.

  4. Steaming

    Add the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest to the pan. Cover the skillet with a lid and steam the shrimp over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, or until the shrimp turn opaque and are cooked through.

  5. Finishing

    Remove the lid and stir gently to ensure the shrimp are well coated in the garlic butter lemon sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

  6. Serving

    Transfer the steamed garlic butter shrimp with lemon to a serving dish. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if using, and serve immediately.

A little kitchen wisdom

Tips & notes

Use fresh garlic and fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Do not overcook the shrimp to keep them tender and juicy. Serve with crusty bread or over rice to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Saving it for later

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. Consume within 3 days for best quality.

Reheating

Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat to avoid overcooking the shrimp. Add a splash of water or lemon juice to keep the shrimp moist. Avoid microwave reheating as it can make shrimp rubbery.

DinnerSeafoodComfort FoodFamily DinnerAmerican