10-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp
Sticky, glossy honey garlic shrimp ready in just 10 minutes, this easy weeknight dinner delivers bold sweet and savory flavor in every bite.
The Easiest Honey Garlic Shrimp You Will Ever Make
If you have ever wondered how to make honey shrimp without spending your whole evening in the kitchen, this is the recipe that changes everything. Honey garlic shrimp comes together in one skillet, uses ingredients you probably already have, and tastes like something from your favorite takeout spot. It is sweet, garlicky, just a little tangy, and coated in the glossiest sauce imaginable.
This is one of those garlic honey shrimp recipes that earns a permanent spot in your weekly rotation. It is fast enough for a Tuesday night and impressive enough for guests.
Before we get cooking, the right tools and ingredients make a real difference here. A good heavy bottomed skillet helps the sauce reduce evenly without scorching, and using real honey instead of a honey flavored syrup gives the glaze its signature shine and depth.
Why This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe Works
There are plenty of shrimp recipes out there, but this one earns its spot for a few simple reasons.
- The sauce is built from pantry staples, no specialty ingredients required
- Shrimp cooks in mere minutes, so there is zero risk of a long, fussy process
- The glaze strikes a perfect balance between sweet honey and savory garlic
- It is naturally gluten free if you swap in a gluten free soy sauce
Chef's Tip: Do not walk away from the skillet once the shrimp go back in. Shrimp can go from perfectly tender to rubbery in under a minute, so keep your eyes on the pan during this final step.
How To Cook Honey Garlic Shrimp Like a Pro
The secret to easy honey garlic shrimp lies in cooking the shrimp and the sauce separately before bringing them together. Searing the shrimp first locks in flavor and prevents them from getting soggy in the sauce. Once the garlic blooms in butter and the honey sauce simmers down, that is when the magic happens. The sauce thickens into a glossy glaze that clings to every piece of shrimp.
If you like things spicy, this also doubles beautifully as a spicy honey garlic shrimp stir-fry. Just bump up the red pepper flakes or add a splash of sriracha to the sauce for extra heat.
Ready to make it? Here is the full step-by-step recipe:
10-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp
Sticky, glossy honey garlic shrimp ready in just 10 minutes, this easy weeknight dinner delivers bold sweet and savory flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
- 3/8 cup honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce, low sodium recommended
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional, for a spicy kick
- 1 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp water, optional for thicker sauce
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
- 1 pinch salt and black pepper, to taste
Instruction
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Set the sauce aside.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the shrimp in a single layer and sear for about 1 to 2 minutes per side, until just pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp to a plate.
Lower the heat to medium and add the remaining butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Saute for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Pour in the honey garlic sauce and let it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly thickened. If you want a thicker glaze, stir in the cornstarch slurry now and simmer 30 seconds more.
Return the shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat in the glossy sauce for about 1 minute, until fully warmed through.
Remove from heat, garnish with sliced scallions, and serve immediately.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Tongs
Notes
What To Serve With Honey Garlic Shrimp
This dish is incredibly versatile, which is part of why it has become such a popular weeknight staple. For a classic pairing, spoon the shrimp and sauce over steamed jasmine or white rice. Honey garlic shrimp and rice is an unbeatable combo since the rice soaks up every drop of that sticky glaze.
Other great options include:
- Garlic noodles or lo mein for a takeout style meal
- Steamed broccoli or snap peas for a lighter, veggie forward plate
- A simple cucumber salad to balance the sweetness
- Cauliflower rice if you are keeping things low carb
For a fresh finishing touch, this honey-garlic shrimp with scallions presentation adds color and a mild onion bite that cuts through the richness of the sauce.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Shrimp are delicate, so a little care goes a long way when storing leftovers. Let the shrimp cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container, then refrigerate for up to two days.
When you are ready to reheat, skip the microwave if you can. A quick warm up in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water keeps the shrimp tender instead of tough. This is genuinely one of the best honey shrimp recipe easy options for meal prep, since the flavor only gets better as the sauce settles into the shrimp overnight.
Chef's Tip: If your sauce seems too thin after simmering, resist the urge to keep boiling it down, since this can make the honey taste burnt. Instead, use the cornstarch slurry trick for a quick, foolproof thickness boost.
Final Thoughts
Once you see how quickly this comes together, you will understand why so many home cooks search for shrimp recipes honey garlic style again and again. It is proof that a restaurant quality dinner does not need a long ingredient list or hours of prep. Just a hot skillet, a handful of pantry staples, and ten minutes of your time stand between you and a seriously delicious meal.
