This honey garlic shrimp recipe is a simple, healthy dinner with tons of flavor and almost no effort. Sweet and savory, that marinade fills the shrimp with flavor, and a quick sear in a hot skillet unites it all in just a few minutes. Serve over brown rice with steamed vegetables on the side for an balanced meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Top with fresh green onions for surface and freshness. This amazing dish can be enjoyed in under 20 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Quick and simple: Take only 20 minutes to make so great for busy nights.
Low-Calorie: Shrimp is low in calories and high in protein, while honey contributes natural sweetness.
Flexible: Serve with rice noodles or steamed vegetables for a full meal.
Key Ingredients:
Shrimp: Medium-sized, peeled and deveined shrimp are quick to cook and easy to eat. Frozen shrimp will work if you can’t find fresh — just thaw the shrimp before marinating.
Honey: Provides a burst of sweetness to balance out the salty soy sauce. If you’d rather not use honey, maple syrup is a good substitute.
Soy Sauce: Keeping this dish flavorful without too much salt, reduced-sodium soy sauce goes in the stock here. For gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos.
Fresh garlic: Garlic helps to add aromatic dimension to theero pack. Or if you’re a garlic lover, add an extra clove!
Ginger (Optional): Fresh ginger adds a bit of zing that contrasts nicely with the honey sweetness. If you can’t get fresh, use ground ginger (roughly 1/4 teaspoon).
Olive Oil: A drizzle of olive oil is used to cook the shrimp with healthy, lighter fat.
Green Onion (Optional): Chopped green onion adds fresh, mild onion flavor and color.
Full ingredient amounts and instructions are in the recipe card below
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Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Marinade
In a medium bowl, combine and whisk:
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
(OPTIONAL) 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
This marinade offers an ideal balance of sweetness and saltiness to impart to the shrimp.
Step 2: Marinate the Shrimp
Put 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined) in a large resealable plastic bag or Tupperware container.
Drizzle half the marinade mix over the shrimp and seal the bag/ container.
Shake or stir gently to evenly coat the shrimp.
Refrigerate the shrimp to marinate for at least 15 minutes. For a stronger taste, the marinade can sit for 8-12 hours.
Set aside the remaining marinade to use in cooking.
Step 3: Cook the Shrimp
In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat until hot.
Yank the marinated shrimp into the skillet, discarding the spent marinade.
Cook on one side, without turning, for about 45 seconds, until shrimp are just beginning to pink.
Turn the shrimp over, then add in the reserved marinade.
Cook 1 minute more, or until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through.
Step 4: Serve
Place the shrimp on a serving platter, drizzling any of the cooked marinade sauce left in your pan over the shrimp.
Top with chopped green onion if you like.
Serve with brown rice and steamed veggies to soak up the yummy sauce.
Serving Suggestions:
Rice or Quinoa: Serve with brown rice, jasmine rice, or fluffy quinoa that can soak up the delicious sauce.
Noodles: This shrimp is great with noodles, be it rice noodles, soba or even linguine.
Vegetables: Serve with steamed broccoli, snap peas or sautéed bell peppers for a plate that’s bright and healthy.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
Storage: Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheating: Reheat slowly in a skillet on low heat to keep the shrimp from overcooking, or microwave in short bursts.
Freezing: This dish is best made right before you eat, but can be frozen: The shrimp (uncooked) can soak in the marinade and then be frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost in refrigerator, then cook as directed.
Variations:
Spicy Honey Garlic Shrimp
A pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha stirred into the marinade gives it a spicy kick that offsets the sweetness.
Lemon Garlic Shrimp
Replace the honey with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for a zesty zing. Finishing it with a bit of lemon zest for an added touch of citrus.
Teriyaki-Style Shrimp
Substitute 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce for soy sauce, and omit the honey for a similar sweet-savory profile. Top with sesame seeds for the complete teriyaki moves.
Conclusion:
In 20 minutes you can have restaurant-quality flavors on your table with this Honey Garlic Shrimp recipe! It’s a perfect combination of sweet, savory, and a little tang, which is sure to please family and friends. Serve it alongside with your favorite sides and enjoy this quick, healthy and tasty meal!!
20-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce reduced sodium
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger optional, minced
- 1 lb medium shrimp uncooked, peeled and deveined
- 2 tsp olive oil
- green onion chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and optional fresh ginger.
- Place shrimp in a resealable plastic bag or container. Pour half of the marinade over the shrimp, seal, and gently shake to coat evenly. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, reserving remaining marinade.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the skillet, discarding used marinade. Cook shrimp on one side for 45 seconds until pink. Flip, then pour in reserved marinade, cooking for another 1 minute until shrimp are opaque.
- Transfer shrimp to a serving dish and drizzle with remaining sauce from skillet. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired.