Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

The Most Addictive Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe Ever

Chili garlic butter shrimp brings zesty excitement to seafood lovers seeking bold, mouthwatering flavors.

Spicy and creamy elements dance together in this irresistible dish that revolutionizes ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

Marine proteins absorb intense seasonings, creating a sensational culinary experience that tingles taste buds with each delectable bite.

Rich, golden butter melds seamlessly with fiery chili and aromatic garlic, promising a harmonious blend of heat and smoothness.

Succulent shellfish become the perfect canvas for these vibrant seasonings, offering a restaurant-quality meal you can easily craft at home.

Delicate yet robust, this recipe balances complex flavor profiles that will impress even discerning palates.

Quick to prepare and deeply satisfying, this shrimp preparation promises a delightful dining adventure.

Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp: Flavor That Pops

  • Boost Flavor Explosion: The combination of chili, garlic, and butter creates an incredible taste sensation that transforms ordinary shrimp into a mouthwatering delicacy with layers of spicy, rich, and aromatic notes.
  • Master Quick Cooking: This recipe delivers restaurant-quality results in under 10 minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want a gourmet meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Celebrate Versatile Elegance: The dish works brilliantly as a quick weeknight dinner, impressive appetizer, or party starter, easily paired with rice, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious butter sauce.
  • Embrace Foolproof Technique: With simple searing and quick sauce-making steps, even novice cooks can confidently prepare a restaurant-worthy seafood dish that looks and tastes professionally prepared.

Ingredients You Need for Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp

Seafood Base:
  • Shrimp: Fresh, wild-caught preferred for best flavor and texture, peeled and deveined for easy eating.
Seasoning Essentials:
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Standard seasonings to enhance natural shrimp sweetness.
Flavor Builders:
  • Olive Oil: Provides smooth cooking base and light background flavor.
  • Butter: Adds rich, creamy texture and helps create silky sauce.
  • Garlic: Provides sharp, aromatic punch and depth to overall dish.
  • Red Chilis: Brings vibrant heat and spicy complexity to the sauce.
  • Parsley: Fresh herb that adds bright, clean finishing note.
  • Broth: Helps deglaze pan and adds subtle background liquid for sauce development.

Cooking Instructions for Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp Done Right

Step 1: Prepare Cooking Surface

Select a large skillet or pan. Heat olive oil over medium heat until it shimmers slightly.

Step 2: Sear Succulent Shrimp

  • Place shrimp in hot pan
  • Sprinkle with salt and black pepper
  • Cook 1-2 minutes per side until edges turn soft pink
  • Avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure proper searing

Step 3: Create Flavor Foundation

Pour chicken broth or seafood stock into pan to deglaze

Gently scrape bottom of skillet to release caramelized bits

These brown fragments provide deep, rich flavor to the dish

Step 4: Build Luxurious Butter Sauce

Add ingredients to pan:
  • Unsalted butter
  • Minced garlic
  • Sliced red chili peppers
  • Chopped fresh parsley

Step 5: Final Cooking Technique

Toss shrimp gently in butter sauce

Cook additional 30-45 seconds until shrimp are fully opaque

Ensure shrimp remain tender and do not become rubbery

Step 6: Serve Immediately

Remove from heat

Transfer shrimp and sauce to serving plate

Garnish with extra parsley if desired

Serving Suggestions:

Pair with crusty bread, white rice, or pasta to soak up delicious sauce

Tips to Nail the Heat and Butter Balance in Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp

  • Select Fresh Shrimp: Choose plump, firm shrimp with a sweet ocean smell, ensuring maximum flavor and texture for your dish.
  • Control Cooking Time: Sear shrimp quickly for 1-2 minutes per side to prevent rubbery texture, watching for a light pink color as the key doneness indicator.
  • Balance Spice Levels: Adjust red chili quantity based on personal heat preference, starting with less and adding more for a customized kick.
  • Use High-Quality Butter: Opt for unsalted, grass-fed butter to enhance the richness and create a more complex, luxurious sauce.
  • Serve Immediately: Plate the shrimp right after cooking to preserve the delicate texture and prevent overcooking, maintaining the perfect tender bite.

Storage Tips for Leftover Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp

  • Refrigeration: Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • Reheating: Gently warm shrimp in a skillet over low heat with a splash of butter or broth, stirring constantly to prevent overcooking and maintain tenderness.
  • Best Practice: Consume reheated shrimp immediately for optimal flavor and texture, as seafood can quickly become rubbery when repeatedly heated.

Great Pairings for Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp Dishes

  • Pair with Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio cuts through the rich butter and complements the spicy chili notes, creating a refreshing balance with the shrimp's delicate flavor.
  • Serve Alongside Crusty Bread: Rustic sourdough or baguette slices become perfect vessels for soaking up the garlicky, spicy butter sauce, enhancing every delicious bite of the dish.
  • Match with Zesty Citrus Salad: A light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette provides a bright, tangy contrast to the rich, buttery shrimp, cleansing the palate between bites.
  • Complement with Chilled Pilsner: A cold, crisp beer with subtle hoppy notes helps cool down the chili's heat while matching the dish's bold, vibrant flavors.

Variations of Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp to Explore

  • Zesty Mediterranean Remix: Swap red chilis for sun-dried tomatoes and add crumbled feta cheese. Sprinkle oregano and squeeze fresh lemon juice for a Greek-inspired seafood experience.
  • Coconut Spice Adventure: Replace olive oil with coconut oil and add a tablespoon of green curry paste. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes and fresh cilantro for a tropical flavor profile.
  • Smoky Cajun Sensation: Mix in Cajun seasoning and swap parsley for green onions. Add a splash of white wine and serve over dirty rice for a New Orleans-style approach to the dish.
  • Asian Fusion Fusion: Incorporate ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Top with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for an umami-packed transformation.
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Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe


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4.6 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Sizzling chili garlic butter shrimp delivers spicy Mediterranean coastal flavors with succulent prawns dancing in a fiery, aromatic sauce. Quick restaurant-quality seafood perfection brings bold garlic notes and zesty pepper heat right to your dinner plate.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 1.25 pounds (567 grams) large shrimp prawns, shelled and deveined, tails on or off

Cooking Fats and Aromatics:

  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons (57 grams) butter
  • 45 cloves garlic, minced (or 1.5 tablespoons minced garlic)

Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:

  • 1/16 teaspoon coarse salt, to taste
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) broth
  • 12 whole red cayenne chili peppers
  • ¼ cup (15 grams) parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, creating an ideal cooking environment for succulent seafood.
  2. Gently place the shrimp into the heated pan, ensuring each piece is seasoned with a delicate sprinkle of salt and freshly ground pepper.
  3. Sear the shrimp for a brief moment, approximately 1-2 minutes per side, watching for a beautiful golden-pink transformation that signals perfect doneness.
  4. Pour a small amount of broth into the pan, using the liquid to lift and incorporate the caramelized flavor bits clinging to the skillet’s surface.
  5. Introduce rich, creamy butter into the pan, allowing it to melt and create a luxurious base for the aromatic sauce.
  6. Mince the garlic and thinly slice red chilis, releasing their intense, vibrant flavors into the bubbling butter.
  7. Gently fold the shrimp through the chili-garlic butter sauce, ensuring each morsel is generously coated and heated through without becoming tough.
  8. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the shrimp, adding a burst of color and fresh herbaceous notes.
  9. Remove the skillet from heat immediately to prevent overcooking, preserving the shrimp’s tender texture and delicate flavor profile.
  10. Transfer the chili garlic butter shrimp to a serving plate, allowing the aromatic sauce to cascade over the perfectly cooked seafood.

Notes

  • Quickly sear shrimp to prevent overcooking, ensuring they remain tender and juicy with a slightly crisp exterior.
  • Use fresh chili peppers for an authentic, vibrant heat that elevates the entire dish’s flavor profile.
  • Select medium-high heat to create a perfect golden sear without burning the garlic or scorching the butter.
  • Allow broth to help release delicious caramelized bits from the pan, adding depth and complexity to the sauce.
  • Toss shrimp rapidly in the butter sauce to coat evenly and maximize the absorption of garlic and chili flavors.
  • Serve immediately after cooking to enjoy the shrimp at peak temperature and texture, preserving their delicate succulence.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 220 mg
  • Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 30 g
  • Cholesterol: 260 mg
Liam O'Brien

Liam O’Brien

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Traditional Irish Dishes
  • Farm-to-Table Cooking
  • Recipe Creation
  • Teaching Cooking Skills
  • Sustainable Food Practices

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (now Technological University Dublin)

  • Program: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in cooking techniques, kitchen management, and exploring both Irish and international cuisines.

Ballymaloe Cookery School, County Cork, Ireland

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Farm-to-table cooking, emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

Liam O’Brien is the co-founder and kitchen soul behind Good Tasting Meals, a chef who believes that cooking shouldn’t feel stressful or complicated.

He earned his culinary stripes at Technological University Dublin and polished his farm-to-table skills at Ballymaloe Cookery School. With over 15 years flipping pans and stirring up stories, Liam has worked in family cafés, bustling bistros, and everything in between.

At Good Tasting Meals, Liam brings you recipes that feel like home: cozy, simple, and full of flavor.

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