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Close-up of Cilantro Lime Sautéed Shrimp garnished with chopped herbs, red pepper flakes, and lime wedges—perfect for those wanting to learn how to cook shrimp with a fresh, zesty twist.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Easy Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Bright, zesty cilantro lime shrimp cooked quickly with garlic and fresh lime juice—an easy 20-minute seafood recipe perfect for tacos, rice bowls, salads, or quick weeknight dinners.
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time12 minutes
Course: Appetizer, dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Seafood
Keyword: easy, healthy, quick, spicy
Servings: 4 people
Author: Courtney ODell
Cost: 15

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp butter olive oil, or vegan butter
  • 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
  • ¼ cup garlic diced
  • 1 lime 1/2 sliced, 1/2 juiced and zested
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp pepper freshly cracked
  • ¼ cup cilantro chopped
  • 1 tbsp seafood seasoning (Old Bay, Seafood Magic, etc), optional

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients in small bowl (melt butter if using butter) and pour over shrimp to season and marinate.
  • Heat a large pan to piping hot.
  • Stir in shrimp with garlic, seasonings, cilantro, lime, and red pepper flakes.
  • Stir often to prevent burning - cook about 3 minutes per each side of shrimp.
  • Continue to cook on high until pink are just pink and opaque - about another 4 minutes - do not overcook shrimp. 
  • Remove from heat and serve as an appetizer, over pasta, rice, vegetables, or in a taco or wrap! 

Video

Notes

Use large or extra-large shrimp for the best texture and juiciness. Smaller shrimp cook too quickly and can become rubbery.
Pat shrimp dry before cooking so they sear properly instead of steaming in the pan.
Fresh lime juice makes a big difference in flavor compared to bottled juice.
Don’t overcook the shrimp. They should turn pink and opaque and curl into a loose “C” shape, usually in 2–3 minutes per side.
Add cilantro at the end of cooking to keep its fresh flavor bright.
For extra flavor, add lime zest or a pinch of red pepper flakes before serving.
This shrimp is best served immediately, but leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and can be used in tacos, salads, or rice bowls.
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 604IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg

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