Description
This Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp recipe combines succulent shrimp with a rich, flavorful garlic cream sauce enhanced by Cajun seasoning and fresh lemon juice. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, the dish is simple to prepare yet delivers deliciously creamy and zesty flavors that pair well with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 500 g (1 lb) shrimp/prawns, shelled and deveined
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter (divided)
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1–2 tsp lemon juice
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps them sear properly. Place the shrimp in a bowl and season evenly with salt and pepper.
- Cook the Shrimp: Heat a large pan over high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the shrimp to the hot pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they become opaque and start to brown on one side. Flip and cook briefly on the other side. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside to prevent overcooking.
- Make the Sauce: In the same pan, add an additional teaspoon of butter. Add the crushed garlic cloves and Cajun seasoning, stirring constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt. Pour in the heavy cream along with the lemon juice, stirring to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for approximately 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, intensifying the flavors.
- Combine and Heat Through: Return the cooked shrimp to the pan and toss gently to coat them evenly with the creamy sauce. Let everything heat through together for 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pan from heat, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish for a burst of freshness and color, and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Use fresh shrimp or high-quality frozen shrimp for best flavor.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning amount based on your preferred spice level.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed rice, pasta, or crusty bread for dipping.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Make sure not to overcook shrimp as they become rubbery quickly.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 125g)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
Keywords: creamy garlic shrimp, Cajun shrimp recipe, easy shrimp dinner, quick shrimp recipe, garlic cream sauce shrimp
