Picture yourself on a breezy Hawaiian beach, surrounded by the scent of sizzling garlic and buttery shrimp — that’s exactly the escape that a plate of Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp brings right to your own kitchen. Juicy, golden shrimp cloaked in a garlicky sauce, served over fluffy white rice, make every bite absolutely irresistible. Whether you’re missing the North Shore shrimp trucks or discovering this for the first time, you’ll fall for the way this dish transforms simple ingredients into something truly extraordinary. Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp delivers a punch of flavor in lightning-fast time, making it the kind of recipe you’ll want to share with all your seafood-loving friends.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is thanks to just a handful of straightforward ingredients everyone can find. Each one plays a unique part, from flavor and color to that signature buttery crust. Here’s what you need — and why you don’t want to skip a thing!
- Shrimp: Use large, peeled and deveined shrimp with the tails on for the most authentic texture and a lovely presentation.
- Garlic: Ten fresh cloves, finely minced, bring that signature punch—you can never have too much garlic here!
- All-purpose flour: Forms a light coating, crisping up the shrimp as they sear and giving the sauce something to cling to.
- Sweet paprika: Adds both color and a touch of subtle smokiness to brighten up each bite.
- Cayenne pepper (optional): For a little spicy kick, add this — or leave it out if heat’s not your thing.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential for bringing out all the flavors — don’t skip these basics!
- Olive oil: Helps get a gorgeous golden crust while keeping things light.
- Unsalted butter: Gives the sauce an irresistible, silky finish and classic flavor.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the dish, cuts through the richness, and adds an island-fresh zing.
- Cooked white rice and lemon wedges: For serving, and for soaking up every drop of that luscious garlic butter sauce.
- Chopped parsley (optional): Adds a pop of color and a hint of fresh flavor if you like to finish things off with a flourish.
How to Make Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
Step 1: Prep the Flour Coating
Start by combining the flour, sweet paprika, cayenne (if you love a little heat), salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Toss it all together to create a flavorful coating for your shrimp. This blend gives each bite a gentle crisp and lays down that craveable, golden color that makes Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp so iconic.
Step 2: Coat the Shrimp
Add the shrimp to the bowl, tossing gently to coat each piece lightly but evenly. Shake off any extra flour — you want just a whisper of it clinging to the shrimp so it crisps without turning heavy.
Step 3: Sauté the Garlic
Grab your biggest skillet and heat the olive oil on medium. Add the mountain of minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Be gentle — you want the garlic fragrant and sizzling but not browned, since that would turn it bitter instead of sweet and aromatic.
Step 4: Cook the Shrimp
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in your skillet. Let them cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, just until they’ve turned pink and slightly crisp at the edges. Resist the urge to crowd them; work in batches if needed to get that perfect sear. These beauties cook fast, so keep an eye out!
Step 5: Make that Garlicky Sauce
With the shrimp still in the pan, add the butter and squeeze in the fresh lemon juice. Stir everything gently, letting the butter melt and the lemon juice blend into the garlicky olive oil. Your kitchen will smell amazing about now! Give everything a quick toss to coat the shrimp in the rich, zesty sauce before removing from heat.
Step 6: Serve Up & Enjoy
Scoop the glistening shrimp over a bed of hot, fluffy white rice. Spoon every drop of garlicky sauce from the skillet on top, and add wedges of lemon on the side for extra brightness. If you’re in the mood, sprinkle with fresh parsley and dig in!
How to Serve Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
Garnishes
Finishing touches make all the difference! Just before serving, scatter some chopped fresh parsley over your Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp for a pop of color and a hint of herbal freshness. Arrange juicy lemon wedges alongside each plate for a simple, sunny presentation — and to allow guests to add even more tang if they wish.
Side Dishes
No authentic experience is complete without a scoop of steaming white rice, which soaks up all that mouthwatering sauce. You can also serve this with a classic Hawaiian-style macaroni salad, or some lightly sautéed vegetables like sugar snap peas and sweet corn for color and crunch that pairs perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re looking to wow, try serving the shrimp right inside a pineapple boat or over a bed of baby greens for a lighter twist. Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp also shines tucked into tortillas for tropical shrimp tacos, or even atop a Buddha bowl with avocado, mango, or pickled onions for those fresh island vibes.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers (though they tend to disappear fast!), place Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep well for up to 2 days, though the texture is always best fresh.
Freezing
While you can freeze cooked shrimp, the garlicky coating may lose a bit of its crispness upon thawing. If you do freeze them, lay out the shrimp on a tray to freeze individually before moving to a freezer bag. Keep frozen for up to 1 month for best taste and texture.
Reheating
To reheat Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp, warm gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or extra butter just until heated through. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the shrimp rubbery and dull the vibrant flavors.
FAQs
Can I use frozen shrimp for Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp?
Absolutely — just thaw them fully and pat extra dry before tossing with flour. This helps the coating stick and gives you those crave-worthy crispy edges.
How spicy is this dish?
It’s all up to you! The recipe uses cayenne pepper for gentle heat, but you can reduce or leave it out entirely for a milder taste (especially if you’re serving kids or those with lower heat tolerance).
What type Main Course
Classic short- or medium-grain white rice is the perfect canvas for soaking up all that yummy garlic butter sauce, but jasmine or even brown rice work beautifully if you prefer something a bit different.
Can I make Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp dairy-free?
Yes! Simply swap the butter for extra olive oil, or choose a plant-based butter substitute. You’ll still have plenty of rich flavor from the garlic and olive oil combo.
Is it okay to leave the tails on the shrimp?
Leaving the tails on not only helps with flavor and presentation but is part of the classic Hawaiian style. Guests can easily pick them up with their fingers (shrimp truck-style), but you’re welcome to remove them if you prefer.
Final Thoughts
Bringing Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp to your table is like serving sunshine with every bite! It’s so quick and truly rewarding, whether you’re after a weeknight treat or something special to share with friends. Give this fun, flavor-packed recipe a try — once you’ve tasted how bright and buttery shrimp can be, it’ll become a regular request in your home. Aloha and happy cooking!
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Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
A taste of the islands in a quick and flavorful dish, Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp features succulent shrimp tossed in a garlicky butter sauce, served over fluffy white rice. This dish is a perfect blend of savory and tangy flavors, with a hint of heat from the cayenne pepper.
Ingredients
Shrimp:
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on)
Garlic Mixture:
- 10 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Other:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Cooked white rice and lemon wedges, for serving
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Shrimp: Combine flour, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Lightly coat the shrimp in the flour mixture.
- Cook the Garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Cook the Shrimp: Add shrimp to the skillet and cook until pink and slightly crispy on both sides.
- Finish the Dish: Add butter and lemon juice to the skillet, toss to coat the shrimp, and remove from heat.
- Serve: Serve the shrimp over rice, garnish with parsley, and lemon wedges.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for optimal flavor.
- Do not overcook the shrimp.
- If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are fully thawed and dried before cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ¼ pound shrimp with sauce
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 195mg
