Cilantro Lime Garlicky Shrimp: A Fast & Easy Dinner Favorite

By contributing writer, Victoria

Quick and easy dinners are my go to standards these days. I don’t have a lot of time to cook but I don’t want to serve my family convenience meals that are lacking nutritional value either. I need meals that are healthy, full of real foods and can get on the table in under 30 minutes.

Now that school is back in season and the evenings are busier, it’s great to have a list of quick cooking meals that your family loves and are super simple to make. This Cilantro Lime Garlicky Shrimp is just that! Preps and cooks in minutes, plus it is full of flavor and satisfies.

It’s a family favorite that can easily be paired with a number of different sides to make a filling and healthy real-food, fast-food meal!

My family isn’t a big fan of sea food yet we love shrimp. I like that it cooks pretty quickly and is a great source of protein. Shrimp is one of those great versatile meal choices, it pairs well with a variety of fairs and flavors, from stir-frys to pasta dishes.

Fresh cilantro, lime and garlic is one of my most favorite flavor combinations. They pair well with one another, enhancing the natural flavors. Light and fresh for summer eating yet still surprisingly comforting in the cooler months too.

This dish couldn’t be any easier. In fact outside of the prep work, if you purchase frozen pre-cooked and peel shrimp (which I always do), it cooks in less than 5 minutes! Even with raw shrimp, this cooks up fast making it great for busy week nights.

Ingredients

1 pound of peeled and deveined Shrimp

3 TBSP olive or coconut oil

3 to 4 cloves of garlic, minced

Juice of one lime

Handful of freshly chopped cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Since this is a super fast cooking meal, I like to mince my garlic and chop my cilantro before I even heat the shrimp. I also like to prep my shrimp too. I buy frozen, pre-cooked and peeled shrimp which I thaw in the refrigerator. Since I have a 3 and 4 year old eating I also go ahead and use my kitchen spears to clip off the tails just to make meal time easier. If you prefer to purchase raw shrimp, give yourself time to peel and devein.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat with your oil. I normally use olive oil but coconut oil is also a great option too. Once the oil is warm enough, sauté the garlic but keep your eye on it since garlic burns very easily.

Toss in the shrimp and season with salt and pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently stir to make sure the shrimp is coated well with all the wonderful oil and garlic goodness. Pre-cooked shrimp warms pretty quickly so be careful not to overcook. You’ll end up with tough shrimp which I am sadly all to familiar with! 😉

Once the shrimp is cooked through, remove the pan from heat and toss with the freshly chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.

During the warmer summer months, I like to pair the cilantro, lime and garlicky shrimp with grilled or roasted summer squash or serve on a bed of fresh greens and chopped garden vegetables. Plus since it’s so quick to make, this makes a great lunch too.

When the whether turns cooler soon, this shrimp is so delicious tossed with buttery noodles or served on top of brown rice or quinoa. Since the sides usually take much longer to cook then the shrimp, I always make sure to cook them first so the shrimp doesn’t overcook or get cold waiting.

I’ve been blessed with kids who are really great eaters and they LOVE this shrimp. In fact I have learned to purchase more shrimp then I think I will need because they literally inhale it and ask for seconds, sometimes even thirds!

I hope you enjoy this cilantro lime garlicky shrimp as much as my family does!

By the way if you want even more ideas for easy, real food meals that you can get on the table in 20 minutes or less, check out Leigh Ann’s eBook, 20 Minute Meals: Giving Weary Chefs Grace While Keeping Families Healthy! It has an entire month’s worth of meals PLANNED FOR YOU along with recipes, shopping lists, and tips for making meal time easier. Click here to learn more.

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