This Pan Seared Shrimp is full of flavor and comes together in minutes. Season shrimp, sear in a hot skillet, and you’ll have a delicious meal ready in under 15 minutes from start to finish.
Searing shrimp in a hot skillet builds a caramelized crust that boosts flavor. Shrimp cook quickly—about 4–6 minutes total depending on size—making this an ideal fast weeknight dinner.
These juicy, caramelized shrimp pair well with simple sides like a lettuce salad, easy coconut rice, garlic herb rice, or buttermilk mashed potatoes.
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe Works
- Pan Seared Shrimp Recipe
- The Ingredients
- Variations
- How To Pan Sear Shrimp
- How Long To Pan Sear Shrimp
- Serving Shrimp
- Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Watch How To Make It
- More Easy Shrimp Recipes
- More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Pan Seared Shrimp Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and easy: Fresh shrimp cook quickly; frozen shrimp can be thawed in cold water in about 30 minutes, changing the water every 10 minutes.
- Big flavor: A simple spice mix and a good sear transform shrimp from bland to delicious.
- Family-friendly: This straightforward recipe is easy to scale and approachable for picky eaters.
Pan Seared Shrimp Recipe
This pan seared shrimp recipe deserves a spot on your dinner rotation. It’s fast, versatile, and satisfying. If your shrimp are frozen, defrost them in cool water before cooking for best texture.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe details, including ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions.
The Ingredients
The essentials are shrimp, seasoning, and a cooking fat such as olive oil or ghee. Below are the ingredients used in this recipe:
- Shrimp: Any size works; this recipe uses 1 pound of jumbo shrimp (about 16–20 pieces). Both wild-caught and farm-raised shrimp are fine.
- Seasoning: A blend of garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, red pepper flakes, paprika, salt, and black pepper gives great flavor. At minimum, garlic and onion powder add big flavor quickly.
- Oil: Olive oil or ghee are ideal for searing because of their higher smoke points. You can add butter at the end for extra richness, but avoid cooking in butter alone since it can burn.
Variations
Try these simple variations to change the flavor profile:
- Different seasonings: Use an Italian, Cajun, or fajita seasoning blend. If the blend contains salt, reduce the added salt accordingly.
- Make it spicy: Add cayenne pepper or increase the red pepper flakes.
- Air fryer: Season as directed and cook in an air fryer for a crisp finish.
Other related recipes you might enjoy include pan grilled salmon, pan seared chicken tenders, and pan seared tilapia. For easy one-pan dinners, try steak fried rice or spaghetti stir fry.
How To Pan Sear Shrimp
Follow these four simple steps. Use peeled and deveined shrimp for best results.
Step 1: Pat shrimp thoroughly dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Dry shrimp sear better and develop more flavor.
Step 2: Toss shrimp with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley, and red pepper flakes until evenly coated.
Step 3: Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add olive oil and let it warm for about a minute. Add shrimp in a single layer—work in batches if needed so they don’t crowd the pan.
Step 4: Cook shrimp on the first side for about 3 minutes until the edges start to turn opaque, then flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until fully opaque and cooked through.
Finish with minced parsley or chives. For extra richness, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to the pan after the shrimp are cooked, spoon the melted butter over the shrimp, and squeeze fresh lemon juice before serving.
Always sear shrimp in a single layer so they brown rather than steam. Use a large skillet or cook in batches to ensure space between pieces.
How Long To Pan Sear Shrimp
Shrimp cook very quickly. They are done once they change from translucent to opaque—remove them from heat immediately to avoid a rubbery texture.
Cook jumbo or extra-jumbo shrimp about 3 minutes per side on medium-high heat; smaller shrimp generally need about 2 minutes per side.
Serving Shrimp
Serve shrimp with lemon or lime wedges and your choice of vegetables or starches. Popular sides include:
- Sauteed vegetables
- Garlic butter green beans
- Roasted baby potatoes
- Corn avocado salad
- Mango avocado salsa
- Garlic herb rice
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Avoid overcooking. Remove shrimp from heat as soon as they turn opaque to keep them tender and juicy.
Season shrimp before cooking so the flavors penetrate as they sear.
Coat shrimp generously in seasoning and cook in ghee or oil. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness.
Watch How To Make It
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More Easy Shrimp Recipes
If you love shrimp, try these other recipes:
- Shrimp Avocado Tomato Salad
- Jollof Rice with Shrimp
- Blackened Shrimp Pasta
- Shrimp and Vegetables Stir Fry
- Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice
- Shrimp in White Wine Sauce
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Love easy dinners? Try these favorites:
Pan Seared Flank Steak
Pan Seared Boneless Chicken Thighs
Bone In Ribeye Steak
Mediterranean Baked Fish
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Pan Seared Shrimp
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Ingredients
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
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Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
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In a bowl, combine shrimp with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley, and red pepper flakes. Toss to coat evenly.
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Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the olive oil and let it heat for about 1 minute.
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Add shrimp in a single layer and cook on one side for 3 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 2–3 minutes until the shrimp turn opaque.
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Serve with lemon or lime wedges and your choice of side dishes.
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Notes
- Defrosting frozen shrimp: If shrimp are frozen, place them in a bowl of cool water for about 30 minutes, changing the water every 10 minutes, until thawed.
- Cooking time: Adjust cooking time by shrimp size—smaller shrimp need about 2 minutes per side; jumbo shrimp need about 3 minutes per side. Shrimp are done when opaque.
- Butter for flavor: For extra richness, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to the skillet after cooking, spoon it over the shrimp, then finish with fresh lemon juice.