Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp Delivers Delicious 15-Min Flavor.

Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp is a chef-tested, weeknight-friendly dish designed for busy families and professionals who crave restaurant-quality flavor in minutes. I’m a home cook who believes great meals can be fast, simple, and wholesome. This recipe brings silky garlic sauce together with tender shrimp in just 15 minutes, ideal over rice, pasta, or crusty bread. With pantry staples and a few practical steps, you’ll serve something comforting and impressive without spending hours at the stove. Read on to see how I turn everyday ingredients into something special you’ll reach for again and again.

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what makes this Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp special

Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp is my go-to weeknight saver. I know the drill—late meetings and hungry helpers. The beauty is a silky garlic sauce that pairs with tender shrimp in minutes. It shines over rice, pasta, or crusty bread, using pantry staples you already have. I love how fast it comes together yet feels special enough for a cozy night in. If you need dinner that’s warm, comforting, and doable, this is your dish.

Step 1: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Heat oil and butter

In a large skillet, melt the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted and bubbling.

Step 2: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Sear the shrimp

Add shrimp and season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until pink on both sides, about 1–2 minutes per side; remove shrimp and set aside.

Step 3: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Sauté garlic

In the same skillet, add minced garlic. Sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Step 4: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Simmer the cream

Pour in cooking cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it warm through, about 2–3 minutes.

Step 5: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Stir in Parmesan

Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.

Step 6: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Return shrimp and finish

Return the shrimp to the skillet, tossing to coat in the creamy sauce. Cook 1–2 minutes more until everything is hot and evenly coated. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

Step 7: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Serve immediately

Remove from heat and serve right away over rice, pasta, or crusty bread. Garnish with parsley or lemon if desired.

Ingredients Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp

I keep Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp ready for busy nights when time runs short but flavor still needs to shine. This pantry-friendly lineup is simple yet forgiving, letting you swap in what you have without ruining the dish. You can print the exact quantities from the bottom of the article for a quick shopping list and a smooth cook.

• 500 g raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup cooking cream
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Optional: chopped parsley or lemon wedges for serving

Notes: Optional ingredients and substitutions. Exact quantities appear at the bottom of the article for printing.

How to Make Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp

Step 1: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Heat oil and butter

I melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Let it bubble until the butter foams a bit.

This is the start of Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp.

Prep tip: pat the shrimp dry for a great sear.

I want a gentle sizzle, not a loud hiss.

Oil helps heat evenly and keeps butter from burning.

I find butter alone can burn if the heat is high.

Step 2: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Sear the shrimp

Add shrimp and season with paprika, salt, and pepper.

Cook until pink on both sides, about 1–2 minutes per side.

Remove shrimp and set aside to rest while you build the sauce.

If your pan has brown bits, keep them; they flavor the sauce.

Small shrimp cook faster; larger ones may need a minute longer.

Shake the pan gently for even cooking.

This garlic shrimp recipe never feels fussy; it stays practical for busy nights.

Step 3: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Sauté garlic

(In the same skillet) add minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Do not burn.

If there are fond bits, scrape them up for extra depth.

That extra flavor helps the sauce sing when the cream comes in.

This is a key moment for Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp to bloom.

If you hate sizzling sound, lower heat a touch.

Garlic burns fast, so stay nearby.

Step 4: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Simmer the cream

Pour in cooking cream, bringing it to a gentle simmer.

Let it warm through, about 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Keep the heat steady; a rolling boil separates the cream.

If the sauce thickens too much, splash in a splash of cream.

I like a sauce that clings, not pours.

If you prefer thicker sauce, simmer a minute longer.

Add a tiny splash of broth for extra depth.

Step 5: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Stir in Parmesan

Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.

Parmesan brings a savory depth, so taste for salt as it melts.

If the sauce thickens too fast, loosen it with a splash of cream.

This is your parmesan shrimp moment, so keep it glossy.

If desired, add a tiny squeeze of lemon to brighten.

Use a microplane for fresh parmesan; it melts quicker.

Pair with a squeeze of lemon to brighten the dish.

Step 6: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Return shrimp and finish

Return the shrimp to the skillet, tossing to coat in the creamy sauce.

Cook 1–2 minutes more until everything is hot and evenly coated.

Taste and adjust salt if needed; Parmesan adds salt, so go gently.

Keep heat gentle so the sauce stays glossy.

If the sauce looks thin, simmer a bit longer.

Step 7: Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Serve immediately

Remove from heat and serve right away over rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

I garnish with parsley or lemon for color and brightness.

This creamy garlic shrimp is easy enough for a weekday dinner.

Serve with extra lemon wedges if you like a fresh finish.

Enjoy the restaurant-quality flavor at home in minutes.

Notes: This step-by-step guidance keeps timing practical and checks for doneness as you go. Expect a silky, garlic-forward sauce that clings to shrimp. Enjoy the flexibility to swap sides or adjust the cream for a lighter version if you like. The goal is confident steps you can repeat any night.

Tips for Success

• Dry the shrimp well before cooking for a crisp sear.
• Don’t overcook; shrimp turn pink quickly—remove from heat promptly.
• Adjust sauce thickness by simmering longer or adding a splash of cream.
• Parmesan adds salt, so taste early and adjust lightly.
• Finish with lemon for brightness if you like.
• Taste and adjust seasoning before serving; a little parsley adds color.
• Have mise en place ready to speed things up.

Equipment Needed

• Large skillet or sauté pan
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Optional: tongs for flipping shrimp

Notes: These essentials cover Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp; if you’re without a skillet, a wide sauté pan works. A nonstick surface helps with cleanup. I keep a spatula handy to toss the shrimp gently, and a splash guard can cut splatter.

Variations

Here are easy variations for Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp to fit different tastes and dietary needs.

• I swap cooking cream for dairy-free coconut cream to make Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp dairy-free. It still coats the shrimp silky, but watch for coconut sweetness.
• I add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat. It gives a gentle kick without overpowering garlic.
• I swap Parmesan for Pecorino Romano for sharper tang. Pecorino is saltier, so taste as you go.
• I use cooked shrimp instead of raw, warming through gently. Great for meal-prep nights.
• I serve over a bed of cooked quinoa for a lighter option. The sauce still clings and shines.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp

I love that Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp delivers restaurant-worthy flavor in about 15 minutes.

The creamy garlic sauce clings to each shrimp, turning a weeknight dinner into a welcomed treat.

It shines over rice, pasta, or crusty bread and works for picky eaters and busy families alike.

I keep this dish in rotation for busy nights.

Leftovers reheat well, and the sauce stays glossy.

It’s comforting, doable, and makes me feel like a kitchen hero.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp over steamed white rice or buttered pasta.
• Pair with a crisp green salad and a glass of white wine.
• Add lemon wedges for brightness that lifts the sauce.
• Garnish with chopped parsley for color and fresh aroma.

Notes: These serving ideas adapt to your crowd.

Make-Ahead and Meal-Prep Ideas for Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp

I love planning ahead with Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp because it makes weeknights calmer. A few smart make-ahead moves turn a 15-minute dinner into a speedy, stress-free meal. It’s simpler than you think.

These ideas help you keep the restaurant-quality sauce silky and the shrimp tender, even when the clock is ticking. With a little prep, you can serve restaurant flavor without spending hours at the stove.

• Sauce ahead: whisk the cream, Parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate in an airtight jar. Rewarm gently in a skillet. Finish the dish.
• Shrimp ahead: cook the shrimp halfway, then cool and refrigerate. Rewarm in the sauce to finish cooking.
• Meal-prep portions: divide into containers with a side of rice or pasta. Great for quick lunches or dinners.
• Leftovers: store in airtight containers up to 2 days. Reheat slowly to keep the sauce glossy and the shrimp plump.

A little planning goes a long way, turning Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp into a weeknight hero.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp has become my weeknight magic wand. In 15 minutes, I trade rushed prep for a warm, silky sauce and shrimp that taste like a small celebration. I love how the garlic perfume fills the kitchen and how Parmesan lends a cozy, savory hug to every bite. It pairs with rice, pasta, or crusty bread, and it never feels heavy, even on busy days. If you’re juggling schedules and picky eaters, this dish is a dependable ally—simple, flexible, and deeply satisfying. Keep this one in rotation for dinners that feel special, not complicated. Every night, at home.

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