This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp are coated in the most amazing sticky honey garlic butter soy sauce. This is a quick 20 minute meal that you will make again and again!
You can’t go wrong with shrimp recipes that are quick and easy to make! Creamy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo Pasta, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe or Cajun Garlic Shrimp and Grits are a few of our favorite family meals.
Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp
Since the New Year has started I made a goal to make dinner at home more. The holidays were crazy and it is so nice to settle down a bit. I love cooking at home and eating together at night is just so much better. We started our week off with this amazing Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp. I am not even the biggest fan of shrimp… the hubby is… and this is one of the best meals that I have ever had!! Add some fried rice or white rice and this is a complete meal your family will love!
Honey, garlic, soy sauce, and butter. Seriously my favorite flavors in one. I use them in so many recipes because it is just so dang good!! It is easy to make and the flavor is incredible. It coats the shrimp perfectly and creates such a flavorful and sticky sauce! But my favorite part is that this meal was ready in under 30 minutes. You can have amazing meals for your family at night that require little effort but are restaurant quality. You are going to love the sticky sauce on this shrimp and this will be a meal that you want to make again and again!
Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Ingredients:
- Honey: Makes everything sticky but it makes it a little sweeter too!
- Soy Sauce: One of my favorite sauces to add to shrimp. It has a sweet and salty flavor that cooks well in shrimp.
- Garlic: You can never have enough garlic. This hint of garlic will balance out the flavors.
- Lemon: A squeeze of lemon is just what is needed to have a fresh, zest flavor.
- Shrimp: Large is best and ready to cook.
- Butter: Will be melted as you are cooking the shrimp in the skillet.
- Green Onions: Used for color and garnishing the shrimp.
How do you make Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp?
- Marinate the shrimp: In a small bowl whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic and lemon. Add half of the sauce to the shrimp and let marinate for 30 minutes.
- Melt the butter: In a medium sized skillet add the butter. Add the shrimp and discard marinade. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook shrimp: Turn the heat to medium high. Cook until the shrimp turns pink about 2 minutes each side.
- Add the sauce with the shrimp: Add the reserved marinade and pour over shrimp. Cook until the sauce starts to thicken and coats the shrimp. Garnish with green onions.
What is the best shrimp to use?
There most common types of shrimp found in markets are pink or white shrimp, both are great to use in this recipe. Make sure to select a jumbo-sized shrimp, look for 16 to 20 count (or pieces) per pound. This will ensure that the shrimp does not overcook quickly when sauteed.
Jumbo size also gives a nice two-bite piece for a heartier entree. Feel free to remove the tails to make it easier to eat. Frozen shrimp can also be used, run them under cool water until the ice melts, or defrost them the night before and drain well.
How long do you cook the shrimp?
When the shrimp are no longer pink in color and is taking on more of an opaque white color, is when I would consider them done. You do want to keep an eye on how white they do get and assure they do not overcook.
Keeping an eye on size reduction in the shrimp as well is a great way to watch how “done” your shrimp are getting. I like to leave the tails on the shrimp when cooking them. It does add extra flavor; however, if you prefer to peel the whole shrimp or purchase them that way, that is fine too.
Can you overcook shrimp?
The exterior of the shrimp should be pink with red tails and the flesh is slightly opaque and a little “white” in color. If it is too bright white in color, then the shrimp may be overcooked.
Looking for more Shrimp recipes?! Here are some!
- Shrimp and Asparagus Skillet
- Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp
- Sweet and Sour Shrimp
- Easy Shrimp Tacos
- Fiery Shrimp Diablo
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 small Lemon Juice from lemon
- 1 pound Large Shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- Green Onions for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic and lemon. Add half of the sauce to the shrimp and let marinate for 30 minutes.
- In a medium sized skillet add the butter. Add the shrimp and save marinade. Season with salt and pepper.
- Turn the heat to medium high. Cook until the shrimp turns pink about 2 minutes each side.
- Add the reserved marinade and pour over shrimp. Cook until the sauce starts to thicken and coats the shrimp. Garnish with green onions.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have made this 3 times. The flavor is great. It never thickens or gets sticky. What am I doing wrong?
It may take a few extra minutes for it to thicken and get sticky.
I also made this, following the recipe exactly and the sauce never thickened or got sticky. Do you have any tips for this because if you leave the shrimp in too long they will be over cooked.
I normally cook the shrimp for a couple of minutes, then remove them to further cook the sauce until thickened, then add back the shrimp.
Why do I get a blank page when I hit the print button?
Hello Julia,
I have tried it a few times now and it seems to be working fine on my end. Maybe try it again and if it is still an issue, it may be a player issue with your computer or printer. I am sorry for the trouble. Thanks for following along!
Wondering if I can use frozen pre-cooked shrimp? Would like to try tonight.
Yes, that sounds great!
Great recipe. I made it as written. Will probably add ginger, red pepper flakes and a sprinkle of sesame seeds
What’s a good side? Pasta / rice ?
Yes! Both of those work great or mashed potatoes or any veggie.
Made this tonight and it is so delicious!
Made this for dinner. I have 4 kids, ages 12-7 and they loved this and requested more of it!!
Absolutely delicious. To insure that the sauce thickens in the pan be sure to use a large fry pan. We will use this again for sure. Thanks for sharing
Sticky honey garlic butter shrimp is way overcooked, following your instructions.
Removing thc shrimp from the pan while the sauce starts to thicken then returning them to to be coated mostly alleviates the rubbery shrimp problem.
I think that is a good solution. Thanks will do when I make tonight!
Oh I love this recipe! It looks so good, my wife and I would both love this haha thank you!
I made this recipe tonight. Had broccoli for a side dish. I must say it was very good. The flavor was a lil spicy and sweet. I will be making it again. Thanks for the recipe..
Sticky shrimp wording error step 2 a medium sized skillet at the butter. Should read add the butter
Thank you! I changed that now. XOXO
I wanted the receipt for the coconut cake, but I missed it, the one with the coconut milk & cream cheese frosting. Can I please get it.
Here are my recipes on my site with coconut cake recipes: https://therecipecritic.com/?s=coconut+cake. Hope that helps! XOXO
Just want to point out that in step one you say to discard the marinade, but in step two one reintroduces it to the pan. Those who rush and don’t read through a recipe (not me, will be trying this tonight), may be upset when they realize they need the marinade they just discarded. Would change to “set aside” or “reserve” for clarity. Looks like a great recipe otherwise, very much looking forward to giving it a whirl! Going to be adding some Chile paste and a touch of housing while reducing the honey and maybe subbing some molasses (we buy expensive honey and I’m too cheap to use a half cup’s worth).
It says marinate I half the sauce and that is what you discard. You use the remaining half in the skillet.
Sean, Glad you caught that. Thank you for the heads up. I always read the comments, glad I did.
Just want to point out, if you can’t comprehend what you read, you shouldn’t stick your two cents in. It clearly says to marinate shrimp in half the sauce. You will be adding the other half later.
There’s no need to be rude to anyone Gina. No-one requires you to point anything out to them. It’s a recipe. Easy mistake.
You are suppose to marinade your shrimp in half of the marinade, and discard that portion, then use the other half of the marinade as the sauce at the end.
Sean,
At a quick first glance over the recipe I also thought that too. It is a very simple mistake anyone could’ve made if not comprehending the recipe while reading. I agree it could be fixed with a quick switch of wording.
Sean….it says discard half. It is evident you in fact did not read the recipe.
TODAY I TRY RECIPE SO I ADD SPYCY
Reallyeasy to make! Can’t wait to hear what my family thinks when they taste it.?