Quick & Healthy Dinner: 20 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

If you’re looking for a quick, flavorful, and healthy dinner, this 20-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp is the answer. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, this shrimp dish is perfect for a busy weeknight. It pairs wonderfully with brown rice and steamed veggies, making it a wholesome, well-rounded meal.

Juicy Honey Garlic Shrimp in 20 Minutes

Shrimp is naturally quick to cook, and when paired with a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, it becomes an irresistible dinner option. The sauce combines honey, soy sauce, and garlic, giving the shrimp a deep, rich flavor with just a hint of sweetness. Plus, this dish requires minimal time and effort, yet delivers maximum flavor.

Not only does this honey garlic shrimp cook in under 5 minutes, but it also features a versatile marinade that doubles as a sauce. It’s simple, healthy, and incredibly delicious—perfect for those nights when you need dinner fast but don’t want to compromise on flavor!

And don’t forget, the leftovers make for a great meal the next day!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This 20-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp is packed with flavor and made with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. It’s the ultimate quick dinner that’s still healthy, full of protein, and versatile enough to be served with a variety of sides. Best of all, the marinade also works perfectly as a sauce, eliminating the need for extra steps in the kitchen!

This is a meal that will leave you satisfied without spending hours cooking.

Ingredients for 20-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp

This honey garlic shrimp recipe comes together quickly with just a handful of simple ingredients. Each component plays a key role in delivering the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and garlicky goodness. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Honey – Provides sweetness and helps create a beautifully caramelized glaze on the shrimp.
• Soy Sauce – Adds a savory, umami flavor to balance the sweetness of the honey. Reduced-sodium soy sauce works best to keep the dish from being too salty.
• Garlic – Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce that irresistible garlicky depth. You can also use jarred minced garlic for convenience.
• Optional: Fresh Ginger – For an extra layer of flavor, minced fresh ginger adds a subtle warmth that pairs perfectly with the honey and garlic.
• Shrimp – Use 1 pound of medium uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. Shrimp cook quickly and take on the flavors of the marinade beautifully.
• Olive Oil – For sautéing the shrimp in the skillet and helping achieve that perfect sear.
• Optional Garnish: Chopped Green Onion – Adds a pop of color and a fresh, mild onion flavor to the finished dish.

How to Make Honey Garlic Shrimp in Just 20 Minutes

Cooking shrimp is super fast, but the key to making it flavorful is a good marinade. This recipe uses the same marinade for both flavoring the shrimp and creating a tasty sauce to drizzle over your finished dish. Here’s how you can make this quick and healthy shrimp dinner in a few easy steps:

1. Make the Marinade: Start by whisking together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and fresh ginger (if using) in a medium bowl. This marinade is the flavor powerhouse of the dish!
2. Marinate the Shrimp: Place the shrimp in a large resealable container or zip-top bag. Pour half of the marinade over the shrimp and give it a good shake or stir to ensure all the shrimp are coated. Let the shrimp marinate in the fridge for at least 15 minutes, or for up to 8-12 hours if you want to prep ahead. Remember to set aside the other half of the marinade for later.Pro tip: While the shrimp is marinating, save time by steaming some broccoli and cooking a batch of quick brown rice to serve with the shrimp.
3. Cook the Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp to the skillet, discarding the used marinade. Cook the shrimp on one side for about 45 seconds, or until they start to turn pink. Then flip the shrimp over and pour in the reserved marinade. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the shrimp are fully cooked through.
4. Serve and Garnish: Once the shrimp are cooked, serve them with the leftover sauce in the skillet. Garnish with chopped green onions for a fresh finish. The sauce is perfect for drizzling over brown rice or steamed vegetables. Enjoy your flavorful, healthy meal!

How Long to Cook Honey Garlic Shrimp

Shrimp is one of the quickest proteins to cook, which makes it perfect for fast weeknight meals. The key to perfectly cooked shrimp is to watch them closely as they turn pink and opaque—overcooked shrimp can become tough and rubbery. Here’s a quick guide to help you get it right every time:

• Cooking Time: Shrimp only need about 2-3 minutes to cook completely. When you first add the shrimp to the hot skillet, cook them for about 45 seconds to 1 minute on one side, just until they start to turn pink.
• Flip and Finish: Flip the shrimp, then pour in the reserved marinade. Let the shrimp cook for another 1-2 minutes in the sauce. You’ll know they’re done when the shrimp are fully pink and curled into a “C” shape.

Shrimp Cooking Tip
Shrimp cook extremely fast, so it’s important to stay by the stove and monitor them closely. Overcooking shrimp can lead to a chewy texture, so as soon as they’re pink and opaque, they’re ready to come off the heat.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have any leftovers from your honey garlic shrimp meal, they can be stored easily for later. Here’s how to keep your shrimp tasting fresh:

• In the Refrigerator: Store cooked shrimp in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, being careful not to overcook the shrimp.
• In the Freezer: Cooked shrimp can also be frozen. Place shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This method prevents the shrimp from sticking together. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw shrimp in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Cooking Tips for the Best Results

• Pat Shrimp Dry: Before marinating, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. This helps the marinade stick better and ensures the shrimp get a good sear when cooking.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook the shrimp in a single layer in your skillet. Overcrowding the pan will steam the shrimp instead of searing them, leading to less caramelization and flavor.
• Use Fresh or Frozen Shrimp: Both fresh and frozen shrimp work well for this recipe. If using frozen shrimp, make sure to fully thaw and drain them before cooking.

This honey garlic shrimp dish is perfect for meal prepping too—just double the recipe and save the extras for a quick lunch or dinner later in the week!

Save this recipe on Pinterest for later!

Print