Description
This Baked Lemon Garlic Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful seafood dish, perfect for a light weeknight dinner or a tasty appetizer. The shrimp are baked in a rich mixture of butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes, then brightened with fresh lemon juice and herbs for a delicious, zesty finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ lbs medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, cilantro, chives, or green onion
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare butter base: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Slice the butter and arrange it evenly in a single layer in a 9×11-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes and minced garlic over the butter. Place the baking dish in the oven while it finishes preheating to gently melt the butter and release the garlic aroma.
- Melt and stir butter: Once the butter has melted, carefully stir the mixture to combine the garlic and red pepper flakes evenly in the butter. Leave the dish in the oven for an additional 2 minutes to infuse flavors further.
- Add shrimp and season: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the buttery mixture. Sprinkle the shrimp with salt and stir them gently for at least 30 seconds, flipping to coat each piece thoroughly in the flavored butter.
- Bake the shrimp: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake until the shrimp curl up and turn pink and opaque, indicating they are cooked through; this will take approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Stir once halfway through baking to ensure even cooking and coating.
- Finish with lemon juice: Remove the baking dish from the oven and stir in the fresh lemon juice. Immediately transfer the shrimp onto a serving platter so they do not overcook in the residual heat of the dish. Scrape any remaining buttery sauce from the baking dish onto the shrimp.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the chopped fresh herbs of your choice (parsley, cilantro, chives, or green onion) over the shrimp. Serve immediately, enjoying the vibrant flavors and tender texture.
Notes
- You can use any fresh herbs you prefer for garnish, such as parsley, cilantro, chives, or green onions, depending on your flavor preference.
- Ensure shrimp are fully thawed and patted dry before baking to avoid excess moisture in the baking dish.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, feel free to increase the amount of red pepper flakes slightly.
- Serve with crusty bread, over pasta, or with a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Do not overcook the shrimp as they will become rubbery; remove them as soon as they turn pink and opaque.
