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.

Why you will love this recipe:
- It is so quick and easy to make and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.
- It's made with just 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 naturally 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!
- You could serve these shrimp with shrimp sauce or cajun shrimp sauce.
- These shrimp are made with the shell on and are not battered or blackened.
Taste and texture:
These shrimp are cooked perfectly! Nice and crisp and caramelized on the outside yet moist and melt in your mouth tender on the inside. The seasoning gives these shrimp a nice bold flavour.
Key ingredients and substitutions:
- Shrimp - I recommend using jumbo or extra large shrimp for this recipe. Either fresh or frozen will work, but if you use frozen shrimp be sure to thaw them first. You will want to buy tail on shrimp for this dish.
- 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.
- Seasoning - I use Old Bay or New Bae seasoning to make these shrimp but you can really use any type of seasoning that you prefer to give these shrimp the flavour you like. Other great options include Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, fajita seasoning or simpler spices like garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
How to make:
Step one:
First, toss the shrimp in the seasoning mix until they are coated and set them aside.
Step two:
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 three:
Lastly, add the shrimp to the pan and cook them for 1-2 minutes per side. Then serve and enjoy!
Chef's tips:
- 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.
- 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.
- You can use either a cast iron skillet, carbon steel skillet or a stainless steel frying pan to fry these shrimp.
- Don't overcook the shrimp. You don't want them burn or get too dry.
- 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.
Recipe variations:
- You can use any type of seasoning that you like to flavour these shrimp.
- Either fresh or frozen shrimp can be used for this recipe. If using frozen shrimp be sure to let it thaw before you fry it in the skillet.
How to serve:
These shrimp are delicious served on their own but you could also use them to make a shrimp caesar salad, shrimp lettuce wraps, shrimp and steak, a shrimp salad or even shrimp tacos or shrimp fajitas. This shrimp dish can be eaten as an appetizer or as a main dish.
You can pair these shrimp with French fries, a side salad, rice, or vegetables. You can also squeeze a little lime or lemon juice on these shrimp before serving them.
How to store:
Store any leftover cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I don't recommend trying to freeze cooked shrimp.
Nutrition info:
This is a healthy shrimp recipe that is low calorie, low carb, keto, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, Whole30 compliant and sugar free. One serving of this shrimp has approximately 158 calories, 1 gram of net and total carbs, 23 grams of protein, 8 grams of fat and 0 grams of sugar.
Frequently asked questions:
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.
Other recipes you will love:
- Spanish cauliflower rice with shrimp
- Blackened cod
- Frozen shrimp in the air fryer
- Air fryer scallops with lemon butter
- Blackened Mahi Mahi
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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
- You can use any type of seasonings you prefer to make these shrimp.
- 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.
- You can use either a cast iron skillet, carbon steel skillet or a stainless steel frying pan to fry these shrimp.
- Don't overcook the shrimp. You don't want them burn or get too dry.
- 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.
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