🍤 Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet
If you love buttery seafood with bold seasoning, this Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet is going to become a favorite! Juicy shrimp are quickly cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce seasoned with classic Old Bay, fresh lemon juice, and parsley.
This easy Old Bay shrimp recipe comes together in just 15 minutes and requires only one skillet. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, an easy seafood lunch, or a flavorful meal served over rice, pasta, or crusty bread.
Why You’ll Love This Old Bay Butter Shrimp
- 🍤 Ready in about 15 minutes
- 🧈 Rich and flavorful garlic butter sauce
- 🌿 Bold Old Bay seasoning
- 🍋 Fresh lemon adds brightness
- 🍳 Made in one skillet
- 🧄 Plenty of garlic flavor
- 🍚 Delicious with rice or pasta
- ⏰ Perfect for busy weeknights
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup chicken broth or seafood broth
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges, for serving
How to Make Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet
Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
Season the shrimp with Old Bay seasoning, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Toss gently until evenly coated.
Because Old Bay already contains salt, additional salt usually isn’t necessary.
Step 2: Heat the Skillet
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
Once hot, arrange the shrimp in a single layer.
Step 3: Cook the Shrimp
Cook the shrimp for about 1–2 minutes per side, or until they turn opaque and are cooked through.
Transfer the shrimp to a plate and set aside.
Avoid overcooking them so they stay tender and juicy.
Step 4: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce
Reduce the heat to medium.
Add the remaining butter to the same skillet.
Once melted, add the minced garlic.
Cook for approximately 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly until fragrant.
Step 5: Add Broth and Lemon
Pour in the chicken or seafood broth and fresh lemon juice.
Scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen all those flavorful browned bits.
Stir in any remaining Old Bay seasoning if desired.
Let the sauce simmer for about 1–2 minutes.
Step 6: Return the Shrimp
Add the shrimp back to the skillet.
Toss gently until every shrimp is coated in the buttery Old Bay sauce.
Cook for another 30–60 seconds to warm everything through.
Step 7: Garnish and Serve
Remove the skillet from the heat.
Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.
Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
What Does Old Bay Butter Shrimp Taste Like?
This shrimp skillet is buttery, savory, garlicky, citrusy, and full of classic seafood seasoning flavor.
Old Bay gives the shrimp a distinctive blend of herbs and spices, while butter creates a rich sauce. Fresh lemon juice brightens everything and keeps the dish from feeling too heavy.
The final result is tender shrimp coated in a flavorful garlic butter sauce with bold Old Bay seasoning.
Tips for the Best Old Bay Shrimp
Use Large Shrimp
Large shrimp are ideal because they are easy to cook evenly and stay juicy.
Pat Shrimp Dry
Dry shrimp sear much better than wet shrimp and help prevent the skillet from becoming watery.
Watch the Cooking Time
Shrimp cook quickly. Remove them as soon as they are opaque and cooked through.
Don’t Add Too Much Salt
Old Bay is already seasoned, so taste the sauce before adding any additional salt.
Use Fresh Lemon
Fresh lemon juice adds a bright flavor that pairs beautifully with butter and seafood seasoning.
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
Yes! Frozen shrimp are perfect for this recipe.
Thaw them completely before cooking and pat them dry before seasoning.
Can I Use Shell-On Shrimp?
Yes. Shell-on shrimp can add extra seafood flavor, although peeled shrimp make the finished dish easier to eat.
Easy Old Bay Butter Shrimp Variations
Spicy Old Bay Shrimp
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for extra heat.
Garlic Old Bay Shrimp
Increase the fresh garlic for a stronger garlic butter flavor.
Old Bay Shrimp with Corn
Add cooked corn kernels or small pieces of corn on the cob for a fun seafood-boil-inspired variation.
Old Bay Shrimp with Sausage
Add slices of cooked smoked sausage for a hearty skillet meal.
Old Bay Shrimp with Vegetables
Add bell peppers, zucchini, asparagus, or broccoli for a colorful one-pan dinner.
What to Serve with Old Bay Butter Shrimp
This easy shrimp skillet pairs well with:
- Steamed white rice
- Jasmine rice
- Garlic butter pasta
- Angel hair pasta
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Crusty bread
- Garlic bread
- Steamed broccoli
- Corn
- Green beans
- Fresh garden salad
Crusty bread is especially delicious because it can soak up the flavorful Old Bay butter sauce.
How to Store Leftovers
Transfer leftover shrimp and sauce to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently in a skillet over low to medium heat until warmed through.
Avoid cooking the shrimp for too long during reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Old Bay seasoning?
Old Bay is a classic American seafood seasoning blend commonly used with shrimp, crab, fish, and other seafood. It adds a distinctive savory, herby, and slightly spicy flavor.
Is Old Bay Butter Shrimp spicy?
Old Bay provides some seasoning warmth, but this recipe is not extremely spicy. Add red pepper flakes or cayenne if you want more heat.
Can I make this recipe without Old Bay?
The signature flavor comes from Old Bay, but if you don’t have it, you can use another seafood seasoning blend.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes. Replace the butter with a dairy-free butter alternative or additional olive oil.
Can I make this shrimp recipe with smaller shrimp?
Yes. Smaller shrimp can be used, but reduce the cooking time because they cook faster.
Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet Recipe Card
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup chicken or seafood broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry.
- Season with Old Bay, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet.
- Cook shrimp for 1–2 minutes per side.
- Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Add remaining butter to the skillet.
- Sauté garlic for 30–60 seconds.
- Add broth and lemon juice.
- Simmer for 1–2 minutes.
- Return shrimp to the skillet and toss in the sauce.
- Cook for another 30–60 seconds.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
Final Thoughts
This Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet is proof that a delicious seafood dinner can be incredibly simple. With juicy shrimp, rich butter, fresh garlic, bright lemon, and bold Old Bay seasoning, you get restaurant-style flavor using just one skillet.
Serve it over rice, toss it with pasta, or pair it with crusty bread to soak up the buttery sauce. It’s a quick, flavorful, and satisfying shrimp dinner that’s perfect for any night of the week.
SEO Keywords
Primary Keyword: Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet
Secondary Keywords:
Old Bay shrimp recipe, Old Bay butter shrimp, garlic butter shrimp, Old Bay shrimp skillet, easy shrimp skillet, shrimp with Old Bay seasoning, seafood skillet recipe, easy shrimp dinner, buttery shrimp recipe, lemon garlic shrimp, one-pan shrimp dinner, quick seafood dinner
Meta Description:
This easy Old Bay Butter Shrimp Skillet features juicy shrimp cooked in garlic butter, bold Old Bay seasoning, fresh lemon, and parsley for a delicious 15-minute dinner.