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A mouth-watering cilantro lime shrimp recipe that is the perfect choice for seafood lovers. With its zesty lime flavor and lots fresh cilantro, this dish is sure to impress. Try it out today!
This Cilantro Lime Shrimp is a must-have for quick weeknight dinners or fresh summer meals. The shrimp are marinated in a blend of lime juice, garlic, and fresh cilantro, then quickly cooked to perfection. Whether you’re serving it in tacos, over rice, or tossed into a salad, this easy recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite for anyone who loves fresh and vibrant flavors.
This dish is the perfect combination of zesty lime and fresh cilantro with tender and juicy shrimp. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also incredibly simple to make, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. Whether you’re a seafood lover or just looking to try something new, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your cooking repertoire.
Plus, you can’t beat getting dinner on the table in just 15 minutes. And when you can pair it with so many things, you will never get bored.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Large Shrimp – Pick up frozen shrimp from the grocery store, just make sure it is deveined.
- Olive Oil
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt & Pepper
- Garlic
- Lime Juice – fresh lime juice is best for this recipe
- Cilantro – if you aren’t a fan of cilantro you can swap parsley
How to Make Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- Prep Shrimp. Depending on the type of shrimp you buy, you may need to remove the shell. If you can leave the tails on or take them off, that is up to you. Just make sure the vein is removed, and then pat them dry.
- Season. Toss the shrimp together with the olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
- Cook. Add the seasoned shrimp to a hot skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side (may be more or less depending on the size of shrimp you use), until it is pink and cooked through.
- Finish. Squeeze in the lime juice, and add the fresh cilantro. Stir together until the shrimp is evenly coated. Remove from the heat and serve.
Serving Suggestions
This is a super simple shrimp recipe that you can serve multiple different ways, depending on what you are looking for. You can serve them as a main with whatever your favorite side dishes are. Or use the shrimp in a different way.
- Tacos – fill tortillas with the shrimp, top with Mexican Coleslaw and your favorite taco toppings for a fun taco night
- Salad – these shrimp will go perfectly on top of your favorite salad. They would make a great swap for the chicken in this Southwest Cobb Salad.
- Bowls – Chipotle Chicken Bowls are a big hit, but swap out the chicken for shrimp and you have a loaded bowl that everyone will love.
- Tostadas – these Shrimp & Avocado Tostadas are delicious, and these shrimp would add even more flavor.
How To Thaw Frozen Shrimp
I always buy a bag of frozen shrimp when it is on sale, so I can grab it quickly for busy weeknights. Here are your two basic methods for thawing them.
- Easy Thaw Method: This is great if you have planned ahead, just take the bag of shrimp from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Quick Thaw: Method: This is what I do most of the time, because I don’t ever remember to take it out. Add the shrimp to a large bowl and fill with cold water. Let the shrimp sit for 10-15 minutes, strain out the water and repeat until the shrimp is thawed. This usually takes 2-3 times to thaw completely, but that will depend on the size of shrimp you are using.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- You will often see the tails left on shrimp, and this is because there is flavor in the tail. It seeps out into the shrimp as it cooks and just gives the dish more flavor. It is up to you if you want to remove them before or after cooking.
- Fresh parsley makes a great substitute in any recipe that calls for cilantro if you are one of the people who really doesn’t like cilantro.
- Shrimp cooks quickly, so it is best to have everything ready before you start. If shrimp is over cooked it turns rubbery and it not great, so watch it closely.
- Make sure you are using raw uncooked shrimp. If you are new to cooking seafood, the seafood aisle at the store can be confusing. Just make sure the shrimp are white, not pink and the bag says raw.
How To Store Leftover Shrimp
Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last up to 3 days. You can enjoy cold on a salad or like shrimp cocktail. If you want to reheat here is what I recommend.
- Microwave: I like to heat at 50% power with 30 second intervals, so that the shrimp doesn’t get too hot too fast. Shrimp in the microwave can get a little rubbery, so just keep an eye on it.
- Stove: You can also use the stovetop for a little bit better results. The key is to just warm the shrimp through, on a medium heat. You don’t want to cook them further, so don’t use too high of heat.
More Easy Seafood Recipes
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, mined
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl toss together the shrimp, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper until well coated.1 pound shrimp, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the shrimp and spread into a single layer.
- Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side (it will depend on the size of your shrimp how quickly they will cook).
- Once the shrimp are pink, and opaque, they should be cooked through. Toss with lime juice and fresh cilantro to coat.2 Tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup cilantro
- Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Citrus is such a classic combo with shellfish. I usually see it with lemon, so I’m eager to try this lime recipe.
Delicious and flavorful! The best shrimp dish for summer! Yum!
This flavor is SPOT ON! Loved it!
Can anything be substituted for the cilantro.
Yes, you can use parsley. See the What If I Don’t Like Cilantro part of the post
Sooooooo good!!