Succulent shrimp are marinated in a zesty blend of olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, fragrant paprika, a hint of spicy red pepper flakes, a touch of salt, and pepper, infusing them with Mediterranean-inspired flavors. Sauteed in a mixture of butter and olive oil, these tangy and garlicky shrimp are quick to make and sure to please!
How To Make a Marinade for Shrimp?
Shrimp have a very mild taste, so marinating them is a great way to infuse flavor.
For this marinade, we use a mixture of minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, paprika, and red pepper flakes.
If you don’t like spicy food, omit the red pepper flakes. Don’t forget the salt and pepper! Marinate the shrimp for at least 10 mins, but 30 is optimal.
What is The Best Way to Cook Shrimp?
Lemon garlic shrimp can either be fan-fried or grilled. If you wish to grill them, using skewers is a great idea. This makes it easy to flip them. For this recipe, we will pan-fry them in a mixture of olive oil and butter. Adding olive oil to the butter prevents it from browning too quickly. Before cooking them, the skillet should be very hot.
Do not cook shrimp for more than 3-4 minutes on each side. Overcooked shrimp become rubbery and lose their crisp texture.
More Shrimp Recipes For You:
- Baked Shrimp Recipe
- Shrimp Alfredo Bake
- Easy Shrimp Burritos
- Louisiana Cajun Shrimp
- Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi

Best Lemon Garlic Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 ½ of lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 lemon sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine 1/2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes.
- Mix in the shrimp, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 10-30 mins.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and the remaining tbsp of olive oil. Once hot, place the shrimp on the skillet (with the marinade), the lemon slices and the freshly chopped parsley. Cook for 3 minutes on one side, and 3 minutes on the other side.
Notes
- If you want your shrimp to look restaurant-style, leave the tail on and butterfly them.
- Do not add the shrimp to the skillet unless it is very hot.
- It is a good idea to add olive oil to the butter, this way it won’t burn.