Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
Creamy Garlic Shrimp is a quick and easy dinner idea that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the trick to get that perfect creamy sauce every time. The golden, garlicky shrimp will make your kitchen smell amazing. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy High Protein Pancake Muffins and Vegan Taquitos.
Why This Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Creamy, garlicky sauce that's irresistible
- Better than takeout, and healthier too
What You'll Need for Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb shrimp
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Parsley
- Lemon juice
- Optional: Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Fresh parsley
📝 Ingredient Notes
- shrimp: Peel and devein if needed
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast Iron Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Smooth, lump-free sauce in seconds → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
- Sear shrimp: Season shrimp with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Sear in a hot skillet until pink, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Make sauce: Add heavy cream and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer and let it cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Blend sauce: Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer the sauce to a regular blender and blend until smooth, then return it to the skillet.
- Add shrimp: Add the shrimp back to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, until the shrimp are heated through.
- Finish: Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with additional parsley and parmesan cheese if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
- : Use unsalted butter for searing the shrimp to prevent over-salting.
- Common mistake and fix: If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce. If it's too thick, add a little more chicken broth.
- : For a spicier dish, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Storing & Reheating Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated on the stove. Add the shrimp just before serving.
Freezing Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb version, serve the shrimp over zucchini noodles instead of pasta.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the shrimp for chicken or scallops if you prefer.
- Make-ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated on the stove. Add the shrimp just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce. If it's too thick, add a little more chicken broth.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality shrimp — Makes a big difference in flavor and texture → Check price on Amazon
Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Parsley
- Lemon juice
Optional Toppings
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sear shrimp: Season shrimp with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Sear in a hot skillet until pink, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Make sauce: Add heavy cream and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer and let it cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Blend sauce: Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer the sauce to a regular blender and blend until smooth, then return it to the skillet.
- Add shrimp: Add the shrimp back to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, until the shrimp are heated through.
- Finish: Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with additional parsley and parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb version, serve the shrimp over zucchini noodles instead of pasta.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the shrimp for chicken or scallops if you prefer.
- Make-ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated on the stove. Add the shrimp just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce. If it's too thick, add a little more chicken broth.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated on the stove. Add the shrimp just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 280
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Cholesterol: 210mg
- Sat. Fat: 11g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time and reheat it on the stove. Add the shrimp just before serving.
If your sauce is lumpy, it's likely because the cream curdled. This can happen if the skillet is too hot. To fix, remove the skillet from the heat and whisk in a little cold cream or milk until smooth.
Yes, you can cook the shrimp in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 5-7 minutes, until pink and slightly charred. Then, follow the rest of the recipe as written.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Yes, this recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
