Ultimate 20-Minute Creamy Garlic (Printable)

Succulent shrimp in rich garlicky cream sauce, ready in 20 minutes for quick elegant dining.

# What You Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
03 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dairy

05 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Other

08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

# How-To:

01 - Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season evenly with salt, pepper, and paprika.
02 - Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining butter, shallot, and garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk in Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, about 2–3 minutes.
05 - Return shrimp along with any accumulated juices to the skillet. Toss to coat and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes until heated through.
06 - Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Plate immediately, garnished with additional parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent an hour cooking, but you'll be sitting down in twenty minutes flat.
  • The creamy garlic sauce clings to every shrimp like it was designed for them, rich without feeling heavy.
  • You can serve it to guests or your tired family on a Wednesday, and both will think you're a genius.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the shrimp in the first sear, they'll finish cooking in the sauce and you want them tender, not rubbery.
  • If your sauce looks too thin, let it simmer another minute, if it's too thick, splash in a tablespoon of pasta water or chicken stock.
  • Always add the lemon juice at the very end, acid added too early can make the cream look curdled and grainy.
03 -
  • Use the biggest skillet you have so the shrimp cook in one even layer, crowding the pan makes them steam and you'll lose that golden sear.
  • Grate your own Parmesan from a block, the pre-shredded stuff has anti-caking agents that can make your sauce gritty instead of silky.
  • If you love garlic as much as I do, add an extra clove, this dish can handle it and your kitchen will smell even better.
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