Make this amazing Shrimp in Butter Lime Sauce for a mouthwatering seafood dish any night of the week! Perfectly sautéed shrimp in a buttery cilantro like sauce makes for a flavorful and delicious dinner.
Even though it sounds fancy, this family-friendly meal is easy to make and is generally kid-friendly! Great for an easy dinner or elevated appetizer, you'll love the tender shrimp and the creamy sauce that bursts with tangy flavor.
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🩵 About This Recipe
Shrimp has been a go-to staple on the blog for some time now. I love it because it's a quick protein to cook and dinner's on the table in a snap.
Whenever I develop a recipe that everyone loves.... that's a big bonus! And everyone (even the kids!) enjoy this buttery, tangy dish.
It kind of seems fancy, maybe because it's shellfish, but let me tell you this meal can't get any easier or more delicious! And if you're like me and serve it over instant rice with simple steamed vegetables, you take easy to a whole new level!
Dinner on the table in 30 minutes? Oh yes, BIG win!
What readers are saying...
This shrimp really packs a flavor punch. The lime and cilantro with a little bit of heat from the pepper flakes. Yummy! Also, very easy to make.
- Krissy
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- shrimp - purchase medium size.
- butter - just a touch, it adds great flavor!
- lime and cilantro - adds a great tropical punch.
- red pepper flakes - for a little kick.
🔪 Let's Make Shrimp in Butter Lime Sauce!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Cook Shrimp
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter and shrimp.
Make Sauce
Cook until the shrimp in butter are barely pink. Add the lime juice and red pepper flakes, then cook another minute or two.
Finish and Serve
Remove from heat, add the reserved butter and cilantro, and toss.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Have all of your ingredients ready and measured out before the shrimp starts to cook. The process goes quickly and you don't want the shrimp to overcook while you're getting everything else prepared!
- I prefer to use fresh lime juice for the best flavor, but you can use bottled lime juice if you'd like a convenient shortcut.
❔ FAQs
You can cook it from frozen, but it's easy to overcook. Using frozen shrimp is fine, in fact most shrimp is frozen by the time it gets to your grocery store anyway. You just want to thaw it first. To thaw from frozen, put it in a colander and run it underneath cold water until it's completely thawed.
It sure is! It's filled with vitamins and minerals. Because of the high content of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, it's a a great choice for a low fat meal.
I like to use frozen, in which case I look for bags that are not opened or damaged. I thaw right before I'm ready to cook under cool running water, and make sure that the shrimp is fully cooked before eating. However, you can use fresh shrimp in this dish instead! For more tips on food safety practices with shellfish and other seafood, you can read this article from the FDA on how to select and serve fresh and frozen seafood.
It doesn't take long at all! Cook them until they just barely turn pink. Depending on the size you use, it will only take between 7-10 minutes!
If it turns out rubbery, it's because you've cooked it too long. As shrimp overcooks, it gets tough - ahem.... speaking from experience here! 🙋♀️
Medium-high heat is perfect for this recipe. You'll get a great sear on the outside, and the shrimp in butter will be cooked completely through.
I used medium sized for this recipe, which you'll find labeled as 36-42. The size is designated by the number of shrimp per pound. Below is a quick reference for you.
Common Sizes
Medium
Large
Jumbo
Number of Shrimp
36-42
31-36
21-26
4 oz. serving size
10-11 shrimp
8-9 shrimp
5-6 shrimp
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- If you don't like your food spicy, feel free to omit the red pepper flakes.
- Chopped parsley can be used in place of cilantro.
- For even more flavor, add minced garlic with the butter and shrimp.
- Make this a more hearty one pan meal by tossing in some sliced bell pepper or zucchini.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
Careful not to overcook the shrimp! If you give it room in the pan to cook through properly, it should only take a couple of minutes on each side.
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days or so. Reheat the leftovers in a skillet over low heat to avoid overcooking the shrimp.
I don't recommend freezing this dish - shrimp tends to come out rubbery or stringy when frozen and thawed after cooking.
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this shrimp in butter lime sauce recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Grab a loaf of Italian bread to serve with this meal. The butter sauce is definitely sop-worthy and you won't want to leave any on your plate!
You can also serve this shrimp over some cilantro lime rice and garnish with fresh lime wedges. A simple salad or some steamed vegetables are also great side dishes to make this a full meal!
😋 More Easy Shrimp Recipes You'll Love
- Easy Shrimp Stew - This Easy Shrimp Stew is a great option when you want something a little different for dinner.
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo - A healthy fettuccine Alfredo dish that includes perfectly cooked shrimp with tender pasta and a homemade low fat Alfredo sauce!
- Chipotle Shrimp Tacos with Asparagus - You'll love these juicy chipotle shrimp tacos with lime crema, wrapped up snugly in soft flour tortillas alongside tender asparagus spears.
- Crispy Shrimp Tacos - This amazing recipe from Butter Your Biscuit includes crispy fried shrimp and a delicious homemade sauce.
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Cilantro Butter Lime Shrimp
⭐ Did you make this recipe? Awesome! I would love to hear from you. Please give it a star rating and review below! 👇
📋 Recipe Card
Shrimp in Butter Lime Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp (peeled, deveined, tail off, patted dry - if frozen, thaw under running water first)
- 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup chopped cilantro
- lime wedges (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter, and the shrimp.1 pound shrimp, 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
- Cook until the shrimp are almost done (they will start to get firm and pink). Then add lime juice and red pepper flakes, and cook about 2 more minutes, until the shrimp are fully cooked.¼ cup lime juice, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Add the remaining butter and cilantro, and toss.⅓ cup chopped cilantro
- Serve over rice with some lime wedges on the side.lime wedges (for garnish, optional)
Notes
Prep Tips:
- It's helpful to have all ingredients measured and ready before you start, since shrimp cooks very quickly.
- Fresh lime juice provides the best flavor, but bottled lime juice works well if needed.
Variations:
- You can omit using the red pepper flakes if desired.
- If you don't care for cilantro, use chopped parsley instead.
- Minced garlic added along with the butter and shrimp is a nice addition.
- Toss in sliced bell peppers or zucchini for a simple one-pan meal.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve over rice and garnish with lime wedges.
- Pair with a simple salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Serve alongside crusty bread to capture every bit of the sauce.
Storage:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To reheat, warm the leftovers gently in a skillet over low heat just until heated through to avoid overcooking the shrimp.
- I don't recommend freezing the leftovers, since reheated shrimp can become rubbery and the sauce may separate.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March 2020 and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in June 2026.
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Happy cooking!
Saif says
A simple but delicious dish. I love shrimp and adding with cilantro makes the dish mouthwatering. Can't wait to make this at home.
Anita says
I love shrimp dishes. It's always so delicious and so quick to prepare.
Krissy Allori says
This shrimp really packs a flavor punch. The lime and cilantro with a little bit of heat from the pepper flakes. Yummy! Also, very easy to make.
Andrea Metlika says
Cilantro lime sauce on shrimp sounds wonderful. Can't wait to try this.
Joanne/WineLadyCooks says
I just love this delicious shrimp recipe. When I can make a recipe in less than 30 minutes, it's a keeper for me. I make shrimp often because of it's 'quick cooking' and it takes on so many wonderful flavors like your lime and cilantro combination. Thanks so much for sharing.
Joanne
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
cilantro, lime, and shrimp - this dish would bring summertime to the table! it looks so good! we eat shrimp quite often. I love finding new recipes using it!
Kristin says
And summertime is just around the corner! I hope it gets here soon! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Sally!
Tina Verrelli says
Love those flavors Kristin!! Dinner on the table in 30 is a great thing!!
Kristin says
I am with you, you can't go wrong with this combo of flavors. I love how quickly shrimp cooks up too. Thanks for stopping by, Tina!
jerseygirlcooks says
I love any kind of shrimp but cilantro and lime are some of my favorites. Great meal!
Kristin says
I agree, cilantro especially is one of my favorites. Sometimes I just chop it up and sprinkle it over lettuce and call it a salad! 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This is so very appetizing!
Kristin says
Thanks! It truly is a burst of flavor. I was sad that I had to share with the rest of the family LOL!