Description
A quick and flavorful Garlic Butter Shrimp and Broccoli skillet dish featuring succulent shrimp sautéed with garlic, aromatic herbs, and a hint of lemon, paired perfectly with tender-crisp broccoli. This easy, nutritious one-pan meal is ideal for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Vegetables
- 1 cup broccoli florets
Oils and Flavorings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Heat the skillet: Place a large skillet over medium heat and allow it to warm up.
- Heat olive oil: Pour in the olive oil and let it heat for about a minute until shimmering.
- Sauté garlic: Add minced garlic to the hot oil and sauté for roughly 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful to prevent burning.
- Add spices: Stir in red pepper flakes and dried thyme, toasting them briefly for a few seconds to release their flavors.
- Cook shrimp: Add shrimp in a single layer to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Set aside shrimp: Remove cooked shrimp from the skillet and place them on a plate to keep warm.
- Prepare broccoli: Add butter to the same skillet and let it melt, swirling to combine with the garlic and oil residue.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli florets and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until tender but still slightly crisp.
- Add lemon: Squeeze lemon juice and sprinkle lemon zest over the broccoli, stirring gently to combine.
- Combine shrimp and broccoli: Return shrimp to the skillet and toss to mix evenly with the broccoli and sauce.
- Season: Season the mixture with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Final cook: Cook everything together for an additional 2 minutes to ensure shrimp and broccoli are heated through and well coated.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh shrimp for best texture, but frozen and thawed can work as well.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- For a low-fat version, use olive oil only and reduce or omit butter.
- Serve with steamed rice, quinoa, or crusty bread for a complete meal.
- Broccoli can be substituted with other vegetables like asparagus or green beans.
