Honey Garlic Shrimp

This Honey Garlic Shrimp is a dream for shrimp lovers, and a game changer for those who are hesitant to try seafood!

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OK, I’m just going to get straight to the point here—if you like seafood, you HAVE to try this honey garlic shrimp! I for one love seafood, but sometimes I struggle to get past the potent flavors, textures, and visuals of even some of my favorite dishes. That being said, it’s really important for me to be able to include bold, rich flavors into my seafood dishes to enhance the overall taste. Honey garlic shrimp is one of the best examples of how to do this.

I know seafood, and especially shellfish, is not for everyone. In fact, I didn’t like shrimp growing up. I had to train my taste buds to appreciate this popular crustacean over time. As a child, I got started with Coconut Shrimp, which reminded me of a sweet chicken nugget. Then I worked my way up to shrimp scampi, because pasta is the way to my heart! Over time, I learned to love and even crave shrimp, and now it’s one of my go-to recipes for quick and easy dinners at home.

In hindsight, I wish I had discovered this honey garlic shrimp at a much younger age, because I truly think it would have immediately sold me on the idea of shrimp. This recipe for tender, juicy shrimp tossed in a sweet and savory sauce is the perfect way to introduce a new food to someone. It’s flavorful, packed with garlicky goodness, and even has the slightest red pepper kick to it! Most of all, it perfectly balances all the ideal flavor profiles. It’s a little sweet, a little savory, a little garlicky, a little spicy, and a whole lot tasty! Even though the recipe makes four servings of shrimp to easily share, you’ll find yourself shellfish-ly hoarding it all!

Is Honey Garlic Shrimp Healthy?

Honey garlic shrimp is a light meal that packs a lot of protein. Shrimp is a great choice for lean protein, while the use of ingredients like raw honey and olive oil offers lots of flavor with few added fats and sweeteners.

The Secret To Tender Shrimp

If you’ve had good shrimp before, you know it’s tender, bouncy, and light. It’s really easy to overcook shrimp since it cooks so quickly, so it’s useful to have a few insider tips for achieving that bouncy tenderness in this recipe.

First, marinating the shrimp in the honey garlic sauce is so important. This marinade uses cornstarch to create a protective coating around the shrimp, locking in moisture and allowing it to cook perfectly. The second important tip is to turn off the heat on the stove as soon as the shrimp turns opaque and begins to curl. Overcooking shrimp makes it chewy and tough, so you have to cook it just through.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 pinches red pepper flakes
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons olive oil
Chopped green onion for garnish
Lime wedges for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Marinate

Mix marinade, add to shrimp, and refrigerate.

Cook

Sauté shrimp, add extra marinade and slurry, and cook through.

Serve

Plate shrimp with sauce, lime wedges, and green onions.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How To Make Ahead And Store

You can marinate your shrimp for up to 24 hours before cooking, as long as it’s kept in the fridge. Cooked leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. When reheating, warm the shrimp gently in the microwave or on the stove until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Be careful not to overcook, as shrimp can become rubbery if heated too long.

Is Honey Garlic Shrimp Spicy?

I would describe this recipe as having a sweet and garlic-forward flavor. The recipe does call for a bit of red pepper flakes for a little kick, but you can remove them if you really hate spice!

Brine Shrimp Ahead Of Time

Brining your shrimp in a 1:1 mixture of salt and water for about 30 minutes before cooking will allow the protein to lock in moisture and stay hydrated while cooking, which will further support that juicy, tender texture we want to achieve.

Serving Suggestions

This honey garlic shrimp makes for an amazing appetizer to impress dinner or party guests. You can stick toothpicks in the individual shrimp for easy eating, or serve them on a bed of Coleslaw. As a main course, this honey garlic shrimp pairs well with your choice of Coconut Rice or Honey Garlic Instant Pot Noodles, or this Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice served with a simple and bright side of Roasted Carrots.