Name: Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp and Rice in 20 Minutes Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup Minute Rice; 6 tablespoons Unsalted Butter; 4 cloves Garlic, minced; 12–16 oz Extra Large Shrimp, peeled & deveined; ¼ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese; 3 tablespoons Skim Milk; 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped; Salt, to taste; Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Jump to Recipe

Introduction

This garlic butter shrimp and rice recipe is a quick and flavorful meal you can make in just 20 minutes. Tender shrimp cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce paired with fluffy rice makes for an irresistible dinner. It’s creamy, cheesy, and perfect for busy weeknights.

The dish shows a round white bowl filled with a creamy sauce topped with about twelve cooked shrimp that are orange with slight char marks. The shrimp sit on one side of the bowl while a neat mound of plain white rice is on the opposite side. The sauce is light beige, smooth, and slightly thick, spreading under the shrimp and rice. Small green herbs are sprinkled evenly over the shrimp and rice for color. The bowl is set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup Minute Rice
6 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
4 cloves Garlic, minced
12–16 oz Extra Large Shrimp, peeled & deveined
¼ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
3 tablespoons Skim Milk
2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
Salt, to taste
Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Cook 1 cup of Minute Rice according to package instructions. Once cooked, set aside and keep warm.
Step 2: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned, taking care not to burn the garlic by lowering the heat if needed.
Step 3: Add 12–16 oz peeled and deveined extra-large shrimp to the skillet. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the shrimp turn pink and opaque.
Step 4: Pour the cooked rice into the skillet with the shrimp and garlic butter. Gently stir to combine and coat everything evenly with the sauce.
Step 5: Stir in ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 3 tablespoons skim milk, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook for another 1–2 minutes until the mixture is creamy and heated through.
Step 6: Remove from heat and garnish with additional Parmesan and parsley if desired. Serve immediately for the best flavor.

Tips & Variations

For extra brightness, serve with lemon wedges on the side to squeeze over the dish just before eating.
Swap Parmesan for Pecorino Romano for a sharper cheese flavor.
Add red pepper flakes when sautéing garlic for a spicy kick.
Use jasmine or basmati rice if you prefer a fragrant rice base instead of Minute Rice.

Storage

Store leftover shrimp and rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave to avoid overcooking the shrimp. Add a splash of milk or water while reheating to restore creaminess.

How to Serve

A white bowl filled with a creamy yellow sauce as the base layer, topped with a circle of white rice placed slightly off-center. Surrounding the rice, there are cooked shrimp arranged in a ring, each shrimp pink with slight char marks and sprinkled with chopped green herbs. The sauce looks smooth and glossy, lightly covering the shrimp and pooling slightly at the edges of the bowl. The background shows a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Just thaw them completely and pat dry before cooking to ensure they sauté evenly and don’t release excess water.

How can I make this dish gluten free?

This recipe is naturally gluten free as long as you choose a gluten-free rice variety and verify that your Parmesan cheese has no additives containing gluten.