Our healthy honey garlic butter shrimp recipe will show you how to make a quick and delicious meal. All it takes is 17 minutes to prepare it.
Before we begin, here are some interesting facts about this dish.
Is Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Healthy?
Yes, our honey garlic butter shrimp recipe is healthy. Here’s why:
1. Shrimp Benefits
These little shellfish are relatively low in calories yet high in protein. This means they will keep you full for longer.
In addition, shrimp are a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as iodine, selenium, and vitamin B12. They're also an excellent source of healthy fats as they provide high amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
2. Sweet, But Still Healthy
As the name suggests, our honey garlic butter shrimp contains added sugar. However, we only used two tablespoons of honey for the whole recipe.
Honey is a natural sweetener that contains many crucial antioxidants and can benefit your health. When consumed in moderation, it’s a better option compared to regular granulated sugar.
Main Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients of today’s honey garlic butter shrimp recipe:
- Shrimp: We’re using raw, whole shrimp for today’s recipe. We’ll give you a quick demonstration of how to prepare your shrimp later.
- Butter: We used unsalted butter to sear the shrimp and give it a rich flavor. It can also enhance the taste of the shrimp as it masks the fishy seafood smell.
- Broccoli: This crunchy vegetable adds a touch of freshness and gives the dish a vibrant color. If you don’t like broccoli, Brussels sprouts are a great alternative.
- Spices and condiments: To season the shrimp, we used honey, garlic, salt, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, Sriracha, and paprika. We also added cornstarch and water to help the seasonings better cling to the shrimp.
- Rice: We’re serving our sweet and savory, protein-packed shrimp and broccoli with a side of warm cooked white rice. It will make the meal more filling and wholesome.
How to Prepare Shrimp
Here’s a quick and easy demonstration of how to prepare shrimp for any recipe:
1. Peel Shrimp
Frozen shrimp can be more convenient for busy people as they’re already peeled. But if you like eating fresh shrimp like we do, here’s an easy way to peel them:
- Twist the head and tear it away from the body. The shell may be slippery, so you may want to pinch it with a bit of force.
- Use a pair of scissors to cut along the back of the shrimp all the way down to the tail. Make sure the incision cuts into the shrimp only slightly.
- From the back of the shrimp, open the shell and remove it from the body. You can save a bit of shell on the tail to make the shrimp look prettier.
- You will notice a black line where you cut the shell with the scissors. That is the vein. Remove and discard it.
If you’re a culinary enthusiast, we suggest saving shrimp heads and shells and using them to make a stock.
2. Clean Shrimp
Whether you choose fresh or frozen peeled shrimp, we highly recommend you wash them before cooking. Rinse a couple of times under running water and rub gently to remove fishy slime.
With fresh shrimp, you should peel them first before cleaning. The shrimp can get dirty during the peeling process.
3. Thaw Shrimp
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp for this recipe. Make sure you thaw them thoroughly before cooking.
To defrost frozen shrimp, we recommend removing the shrimp from the freezer and putting it in the fridge. It should defrost completely overnight.
Or, you can submerged the shrimp package in a water bath and leave it on the counter. Your shrimp will be ready to use in 20 minutes or so.
Honey Garlic Butter Sauce for Shrimp
If you’re a regular here on HealthyRecipes101.com, you will notice that most of our stir-fried dishes have a sauce that is usually mixed separately and added to the pan during the last step of cooking.
However, today’s honey garlic butter sauce will be cooked with the shrimp in the pan. Here are the ingredients to make this sauce:
- Honey
- Salt
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Lemon juice
- Red pepper flakes
- Dijon mustard
- Sriracha
- Paprika
How to Tell if Shrimp Is Cooked
Raw shrimp has a blue-ish gray, translucent appearance.
Depending on the size of the shrimp, it will take two to three minutes to cook. You will see the shrimp turn an opaque, pink and white color, which indicates its doneness.
If you cook it any further, the color may become more vibrant and matte. If this happens, chances are your shrimp may be overcooked.
We’ve also got a few other dishes featuring broccoli and shrimp, like this Shrimp Chop Suey Recipe or this Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe.
How to Store and Reheat the Leftovers
If you have leftover shrimp, store it in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator.
Transfer the shrimp to a microwave-safe bowl and cover it loosely with a lid when you want to reheat it. This will ensure that the shrimp doesn’t get dry and tough.
What to Serve With
Although our honey garlic butter shrimp already has broccoli, we reckon you still have room for more fiber.
We recommend serving it with a side of crunchy Greek salad and a tangy dressing. This fresh salad will stimulate your taste buds and help you enjoy your food even more.
Lastly, finish your meal with a glass of iced pineapple celery juice for dessert. It will freshen your palate after a wholesome meal.
Still Got That Shrimp Craving? Check These Dishes Out!
Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe
With this easy honey garlic butter shrimp recipe, you can make a healthy meal in less than 20 minutes. Here's how to make it.
- cook TIME 7 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 17 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE Global
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 503 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 20 oz raw shrimp (this gives you about 12 oz of peeled and deveined shrimp)
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 oz broccoli (cut into florets)
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp pepper flakes
- 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp sriracha
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp coriander
- 3 1/2 cups cooked medium-grain rice
INSTRUCTIONS
Sauté the broccoli: In a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 6 oz broccoli florets. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Cook the shrimp: In the same skillet, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 tbsp minced garlic. Cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add 12 oz peeled shrimp, 2 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp water, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp sriracha, and 1 tsp paprika. Cook and stir for 3 minutes over medium heat.
Add finishing touches: Put the broccoli back in the skillet and stir for 2 minutes to warm it up. Turn off heat.
Garnish and serve: Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped coriander on top of the shrimp and serve with a bowl of warm cooked rice.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorLizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Wilson WIndulge in the sweet and savory flavors of honey garlic butter shrimp for a quick and easy dinner.