Honey Garlic Shrimp

This honey garlic shrimp is so irresistible, you’ll want to eat it every night! A sweet savory glaze covers succulent shrimp, and it’s done in 10 minutes.

Every now and then a recipe comes along that knocks our socks off—and so it was with this honey garlic shrimp recipe! There’s nothing like the sweet savory combination of honey garlic glaze and juicy shrimp. The best part? It takes 10 minutes to make.

This honey garlic shrimp hits all the comforting, satisfying dinner notes with a lightning fast prep speed: making it one of Alex and my favorite easy dinner ideas after over a decade of creating recipes! It’s hard to find those recipes with that trifecta of healthy, simple, and delicious—and this one is a keeper.

The secrets behind honey garlic shrimp—in 10 minutes

There’s no marinating time needed with this honey garlic shrimp. It’s the ultimate fast and easy dinner idea that comes together in just 10 minutes! Here are a few of the secrets to this kitchen magic trick (or jump to the recipe below):

Mix the shrimp with minced garlic, onion powder, and salt. This allows maximum coverage of the seasoning on the shrimp first.
Mix together a quick sauce. Honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar is all you need!
Sauté 1 to 2 minutes per side. It’s perfectly seared, just like our popular sautéed shrimp.
Turn off the heat and add the sauce! Removing the heat is important so the sauce doesn’t evaporate when it hits the hot pan. Stir until everything is fully coated in glossy sauce.

The best shrimp to buy

When you’re shopping for shrimp, there are so many options at the store. If you’re making this honey garlic shrimp, here’s what we’d recommend:

Find medium shrimp (or large). Medium is nice because you get more bites! Medium is also labeled as 41 to 50 count, and Large as 31 to 40 count (which indicates how many shrimp there are per pound).
Use tail on or peeled. Tail on looks nice, but you do have to remove the tails as you eat them! Peeled shrimp is helpful if desired.
Buy fresh or frozen. Both are essentially the same freshness because most shrimp are immediately flash frozen when caught. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp in advance.
Look for wild caught. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.

How to thaw shrimp

What’s the best way to thaw shrimp? The easiest way is to remember to place it in the refrigerator the night before! But if you’re like us and rarely think ahead, there’s a quick method too. Here’s the best way to thaw shrimp:

Day before: Place the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
Day of: Place the frozen shrimp in a large bowl with very cold water. Stir the bowl every 5 minutes to break up clumps of shrimp that freeze together. The shrimp should defrost in about 15 minutes. Make sure to pat it dry before using!

Ways to serve honey garlic shrimp

All you need are a side dish or two to make honey garlic shrimp into a healthy dinner that everyone will love. Our favorite picks is serving simply with rice and broccoli. Every time we make it, everyone around the table raves. Even our kids inhale it! This is one of those recipes I could eat at least 6 out of 7 days of the week and be happy. Here are a few side dish ideas:

Broccoli: Whip up pan fried broccoli in a separate pan, or use the same pan after you cook the shrimp.
Rice: Go to white rice or brown rice. (Or try lentil rice, rice made from lentils: it cooks even faster!)
Veggie sauté: Pair with these sauteed veggies.
Edamame: Try edamame or shelled edamame.
Stir fry: Pair with a cauliflower stir fry for a stunning meal.
Snow peas: Try easy snow peas.

Dietary notes

This honey garlic shrimp recipe is pescatarian, gluten-free and dairy free (with olive oil).

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