Sauteed Shrimp

Article by Layla Khoury-Hanold

Shrimp are a quick-cooking, versatile and satisfying protein that star in many seafood dishes, whether you boil, saute or fry them. But shrimp are notoriously easy to overcook, which can yield an unpleasant, rubbery texture. With Tyler Florence’s easy sauteed shrimp recipe, you’ll learn how to saute shrimp in butter, how long to saute shrimp without overcooking and the key tips and techniques to ensure shrimp with a tender, juicy texture and flavorful finish.

How to Saute Shrimp Like a Pro

Dredge the shrimp in flour for the best finish. Lightly coating the shrimp in flour helps create a slightly crisp coating, prevents the shrimp from sticking to the pan and ensures that the pan sauce clings to the shrimp.

Use a combination of butter and olive oil. Using butter and olive oil creates a richer flavor, and the olive oil helps raise the smoke point of the butter to ensure that it doesn’t burn.

Keep a close eye on the shrimp. Shrimp cook quickly, so be sure to monitor them closely to avoid overcooking them, which creates a rubbery texture. Aim for about 2 minutes per side, depending on the size of the shrimp.

Add lemon juice for a bright finish. Fresh lemon juice gives the savory pan sauce a punch of citrus that pairs beautifully with the briny sweetness of shrimp.

How Long to Saute Shrimp

Shrimp cook very quickly on the stovetop, so keep a close eye on them as they cook. Saute shrimp about 1.5 to 2 minutes per side, flipping them over halfway through cooking. The cook time depends on the size of the shrimp, so look for visual cues to tell when shrimp are done cooking. They’ll turn opaque, pink and curl into a slight C shape.

How to Saute Frozen Shrimp

Buying frozen shrimp and storing it in your freezer ensures that you can make sauteed shrimp any time a recipe calls for it or a craving strikes. Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the refrigerator first, then saute shrimp according to the recipe instructions above.

Serving Suggestions

Sauteed shrimp take a starring turn in many easy shrimp recipes. You can serve sauteed shrimp as an appetizer or an easy lunch with a simple salad, like Tyler's Arugula Salad with Olive Oil, Lemon and Parmesan Cheese, over rice or as part of a grain bowl, like this Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl. This sauteed shrimp is also one of our favorite shrimp recipes for dinner—try serving it as part of Tyler Florence’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguine, Fettucine Alfredo or his Ultimate Shrimp and Grits. Or pair sauteed shrimp with fan-favorite sides like Tyler’s Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds, Herbed Garlic Bread, Rice Pilaf or Angela Hair Pasta with Pesto.