Easy Pan Seared Shrimp Recipe (Ready In Under 5 Minutes)

This pan seared shrimp cooks to perfection every time. It's incredible with grits or rice, in a salad, wrapped in tacos, or just eaten straight out of the pan. And the best part is it takes just 5 minutes from start to finish to whip up this delicious sautéed shrimp recipe!

The Best Sauteed Shrimp

If you've been looking for the best way to cook shrimp, look no further!

This sauteed shrimp recipe is beyond simple to make, yet the results are anything but that. The shrimp is sauteed in a basic yet crazy flavorful sauce, and it comes out perfectly tender and juicy every single time. 

Plus, not only is it delicious, but this has to be the easiest way to cook shrimp. I'm not kidding. All you have to do is heat a skillet, toss the ingredients in, and let the shrimp cook.

Oh, and as I mentioned, it'll take you no more than 5 minutes to make! How awesome does that sound? 

Now, since the sauteed shrimp only takes a few minutes to make, you'll have plenty of time to whip up a side to go with it like, like these twice baked mashed potatoes or these simple buttery parmesan noodles.

Honestly, though you can skip the sides altogether and eat the shrimp all by itself - I've been guilty of eating it straight out of the pan. With that said though, one of my favorite things to do with the shrimp is to add it to some tortillas and make some shrimp scampi tacos with it.

Ingredients

Another reason I love this recipe is how simple the ingredient list is. If you have raw shrimp or frozen shrimp, I can almost guarantee you have everything else you need to make this easy sauteéd shrimp recipe. 

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make it:

• ¾ lb. shrimp, peeled, deveined, and precooked
• ½ tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Lemon juice or lemon wedges, to serve with

Simple stuff, right?!

By the way, if you end up with some extra shrimp after making this recipe, you can always use it to make this blackened shrimp recipe. It's just as quick, easy, and tasty to make as this pan seared shrimp is.

Use Fresh Or Frozen Shrimp

When it comes to what kind of shrimp to use in this recipe, you can choose between fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp. It's really up to you, but my vote is definitely for fresh shrimp - I just think it tastes the best.

However, as I said, you can always use frozen shrimp too. It will pan sear just as well, and it's usually a bit cheaper.

As for how to thaw frozen shrimp, I usually transfer my frozen raw shrimp to a Ziplock bag and submerge it under cold water. After 20-30 minutes, it should be thawed enough to use.

Also, you can use precooked or uncooked shrimp to make this shrimp recipe. The only difference really will come down to how long you have to sauteé the shrimp for. 

How To Make Pan Seared Shrimp

Now it's time for the fun part - it's time to get cooking and make some shrimp.

As I've said a number of times already, it couldn't be easier to make this sauteed shrimp recipe. Just gather up your ingredients, grab your skillet, and get ready because dinner will be on the table before you know it!

So, without further ado, let's get cooking.

Step 1: Prep Work

First things first, you'll want to pat the shrimp dry with paper towels if it isn't dry already. Then, you can season the shrimp with as much salt and pepper as you want.

Next, you can add a little olive oil and butter to a large skillet and set it over medium-high heat.

Step 2: Sauté The Shrimp

Once your skillet is hot, and the butter has melted, you can place the shrimp in the skillet. You'll want to make sure that the shrimp are in a single layer so they cook evenly. If your skillet is too small, you may need to cook it in batches. 

Anyway, you'll want to cook the shrimp for 1 minute without moving it, then you can flip each shrimp and cook 'em for another 30 seconds. You'll know the shrimp are done cooking when they turn pink in color and have a slight char on the outside. Also, just keep in mind that if you're starting with raw uncooked shrimp, you'll need to cook it for a bit longer. 

After all of your shrimp have finished cooking, you can serve the buttery shrimp warm with a heavy squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top. Enjoy!

How To Store Cooked Shrimp

This recipe for sauteed shrimp makes 2 servings, so it's just enough for a small dinner for two. Luckily, if you want to make more, then you can easily double or triple the recipe with almost no added time.

Then, if you happen to end up with leftovers, you can store your cooked shrimp in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. Just transfer the cooked shrimp to an airtight container for the best storage. 

How To Reheat Cooked Shrimp

When you're ready to enjoy the cooked shrimp again, you can either eat it cold or reheat it. 

With that said, to reheat it, I suggest you put the shrimp on the stove again with a little oil over low heat. Then, just let the shrimp cook for about a minute, flip it, and cook for another 30 seconds or so until it's warmed through. 

FAQs About This Pan Seared Shrimp Recipe

How long do you cook shrimp in a pan?

You only need to cook shrimp in a pan for a few minutes. If you're cooking the shrimp with butter and oil, it should cook in 2-5 minutes - if it's raw and uncooked. If the shrimp have been precooked, it will only take a minute or two.

How do you sear shrimp without overcooking?

The best way to sear shrimp without overcooking it is by cooking it over medium-high heat using a mix of butter and oil. It basically will marinate the shrimp while it's cooking, and it will keep it juicy. 

How do you tell when pan seared shrimp is done?

You'll know pan seared shrimp is done once it turns bright pink on both sides. The shrimp will also have a slight char on the outside, similar to if you were to grill shrimp.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make pan seared shrimp in under 10 minutes!

I love the simplicity of this recipe, how quick it is to make, and how delicious the shrimp comes out. For those reasons, it's one of my favorite shrimp recipes and has been my go-to lunch and dinner recently when I'm running short on time.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this pan seared shrimp recipe as much as I/we do.

As always, if you give this recipe a try, then be sure to leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!

More Seafood Recipes

If you loved this sauteed shrimp recipe, we have a ton of easy seafood recipes that you can try next!

Check out all of these recipes:

• Olive Garden shrimp alfredo
• Shrimp scampi without wine
• Beer battered shrimp
• Pan seared cod
• Baked haddock

Also, make sure to check us out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for even more deliciousness! We post new recipes on them every day.

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