You are going to love this pan seared shrimp recipe! It could not be easier to make and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. Plus you only need 3 ingredients to make this dish. You can have a healthy meal on the table in no time.
If you are a fan of easy seafood recipes like one pan tuna fried rice, tuna pesto pasta and air fryer shrimp then you are going to love today's simple shrimp recipe!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- It's so quick and easy to make and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. It's also made with only 3 ingredients!
- The shrimp turn out perfectly cooked - they are so flavourful and are seared to perfection on the outside, and melt in your mouth tender on the inside.
- This healthy shrimp recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, low carb, keto, paleo and Whole30 compliant.
- These fried shrimp can be used in so many ways - they can be eaten on their own, served as a side dish, added to salads or even made into shrimp tacos!
If you are a seafood lover you will also like the best blackened Mahi Mahi and my blackened cod recipe.
Ingredients and substitutions:
For the exact measurements refer to the recipe card later in this post.
Jump to the Recipe Card.
- Shrimp - I recommend using jumbo shrimp or extra-large shrimp that have the tail on them. Either fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp will work, but if you use frozen shrimp be sure to thaw them first.
- Coconut oil or butter - either of these fats will work to fry these shrimp. If you are dairy free be sure to use coconut oil. You could also use olive oil or avocado oil.
- Seasoning - I use Old Bay or New Bae seasoning but you can use any type of seasoning that you prefer to give these shrimp the flavour you like. Other great options include Cajun seasoning and chicken taco seasoning mix.
Recipe variations and add ins:
- Feel free to add some fresh herbs such as fresh cilantro, crushed garlic or red pepper flakes to give this shrimp a different taste.
- If you are serving a crowd feel free to double or triple this recipe and cook the shrimp in batches. Just keep adding more oil to the pan as needed.
How to make pan seared shrimp:
Step 1
First, toss the shrimp in the seasoning mix until they are coated and set them aside.
Step 2
Then pre-heat a pan or cast iron skillet for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is warm, add the butter or coconut oil to the pan and allow it to melt.
Step 3
Lastly, add the shrimp to the hot skillet and cook them for 1-2 minutes per side until they have a nice sear. Then serve and enjoy!
Top Tips:
- You want your shrimp to be dry, not wet when you cook them. Be sure to dry them off after you clean them (paper towels work great for this) and before you toss them in the seasoning mix.
- Use peeled and deveined shrimp for even faster preparation.
- Be sure to let the pan heat up before you start cooking the shrimp. A hot pan helps you get that perfect brown sear on the shrimp.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the size of shrimp you use. Larger shrimp will take longer while smaller shrimp will take less time so watch them closely.
- Don't overcook the shrimp. You don't want them to burn or get too dry.
Serving ideas:
You can serve these pan seared shrimp plain or with a sauce such as shrimp sauce or cajun shrimp sauce. You can also add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or fresh lime juice to give them even more flavour. You can pair them with air fryer French fries, a side kale and apple salad, rice, lime cilantro cauliflower rice, sweet potato rice, or vegetables.
These shrimp are delicious served on their own but you could also use them to make other recipes such as a shrimp salad, shrimp tacos or shrimp fajitas.
Pan seared shrimp FAQs:
No you don't. This is optional, but you can also buy deveined shrimp if you prefer deveined shrimp but don't want to do it yourself.
When fully cooked, shrimp turns pink and opaque. Overcooked shrimp will become rubbery and tough, while undercooked shrimp is still clear and shiny.
To clean shrimp, rinse the shrimp under cold water and the pat dry with a paper towel before cooking them.
Store any leftover cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Other seafood recipes you will love:
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Recipe
Pan Seared Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoon butter or coconut oil
Instructions
- Toss the shrimp in the seasoning mix and set them aside.
- Pre-heat a pan or cast iron skillet for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat.
- Add the butter or coconut oil to the pan and allow it to melt.
- Add the shrimp to the pan and cook them for 1-2 minutes per side.
Notes
-
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
- You want your shrimp to be dry, not wet when you cook them. Be sure to dry them off after you clean them and before you toss them in the seasoning mix.
- Be sure to let the pan heat up before you start cooking the shrimp. A hot pan helps you get that perfect brown sear on the shrimp.
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