Garlic Shrimp {Hawaiian Style}

Garlic Shrimp – It is identical to the well-known shrimp you can purchase from food carts in Hawaii. Contains succulent shrimp that have been cooked in a butter-based sauce with additional garlic.

Garlic shrimp in a shallow white bowl with rice, pineapple and a fresh tropical flower for decoration.

And who doesn’t adore a good recipe for sautéed shrimp? additionally, a quick dinner made with simple ingredients that is sure to impress?

It’s one of those entrées that’s excellent enough to serve to guests at a weekend get-together while still being ideal for a hectic day.

Shrimp is always wonderful (when cooked properly, of course), but when you top it off with such a great sauce, people will be raving about it for days and wishing they could have another taste of this savory bliss.

Garlic Shrimp Ingredients

Image of ingredients used to make Hawaiian garlic shrimp. Includes raw shrimp, olive oil, parsley, garlic, lemon, flour, butter, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.

  • Extra large shrimp weighing 1 lb, skinned, and deveined
  • 1/4 cup (lightly packed) (slightly packed) fresh garlic minced (nearly 1 medium head)
  • All-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon
  • 1.5 teaspoons paprika
  • Cayenne pepper, 1/8 tsp (optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper and salt
  • Unsalted butter, chopped into 1 Tbsp-sized pieces, 6 Tbsp
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
  • 1 teaspoon freshly minced parsley (optional)

Instructions

Collage image of four steps showing how to prepare Hawaiian garlic shrimp. Includes drying shrimp with paper towels, tossing shrimp in a bowl with spices and flour, sauteeing garlic with butter and cooking shrimp in pan.

  1. Apply paper towels to both sides of the shrimp to remove any excess moisture. Put them in a bowl.
  2. As desired, sprinkle with flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
  3. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, combine olive oil and butter to melt.
  4. Sauté the garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant but not brown.
  5. In a uniform layer, add shrimp to the skillet. Cook the first side for about 2 minutes, or until the bottom is pinkish. The opposite side should be cooked for an additional two minutes, then flip.
  6. Toss with lemon and, if desired, parsley before removing from heat.
  7. Serve immediately topped with extra pan-made garlic butter sauce.

Tips for Garlic Shrimp

Close up image of Hawaiian garlic shrimp served over white rice with slices of fresh pineapple.

  • The dish will taste bitter and be ruined if the garlic is browned.
  • If the excess moisture from the shrimp isn’t dried, the seasoning combination will just clump up.
  • Don’t overcook shrimp or the sensitive texture will be ruined.
  • Add some freshly squeezed lemon for a delectable finishing touch.
  • Deliver it hot. This recipe for shrimp is not intended to be served cold, unlike some others.