Honey Garlic Shrimp

We all have all kinds of food goals, whether it be hitting protein goals, sticking to a grocery budget, or trying to find meals that are ready quickly that everyone will love. This recipe for honey garlic shrimp is protein packed, has plenty of veggies, and is served over rice for carbohydrates for energy. An added bonus? It’s ready in under 30 minutes and is so delicious I could eat it every day. I have a rotation of recipes that I make when I don’t know what to cook and this easy dinner recipe is now added to that rotation. I use carrots and snap peas as my veggies here, but you can add different ones if you want to. Bell peppers, mushrooms, green beans, and broccoli will all work as options for you to serve with your honey garlic shrimp. The sauce is so good, this recipe easily doubles.

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Shrimp

• Shrimp: I get raw whole shrimp. They are easy to peel and devein at home, and I think this makes them taste fresher. Shrimp is a great option for a quick-cooking protein. If my husband wasn’t allergic to it, I would eat it every week!
• Honey: I love the sweet garlic sauce for this recipe; it would be great on just about anything. Honey is such a great sweetener to use because it’s naturally sticky and as it thickens in the sauce it coats the shrimp and veggies beautifully.
• Garlic: I always say to measure garlic with your heart. I’m using 6-7 large cloves in this recipe, but you can certainly use less if you want for a less pungent flavor.
• Soy sauce: The savory umami flavor of the soy sauce cuts the sweetness of the honey so well, for a sauce that’s so simple but also so delicious.
• Sesame oil: For a flavor punch, I like to cook the shrimp in sesame oil. Olive oil will also work just fine, but the toasted sesame flavor in sesame oil really adds great flavor to the sauce.
• Salt: I like to salt the shrimp as they cook, and you can decide if you want to add more after you taste the sauce.
• Vegetables: Snap peas and carrots are my veggies of choice in this dish, but you can add anything! Broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, green beans, and bell pepper all work here.
• Rice: You will definitely want some rice as a base to soak up every bit of that sauce! I am using jasmine rice here, but you can use your favorite.
• Sesame seeds for serving: These are optional, but not only are they a nice garnish, sesame seeds have health benefits too. Sesame seeds are rich in healthy fats, plant-based protein, fiber, B vitamins, and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper. We don’t want to miss out on those!

How to Make Honey Garlic Shrimp

• First, start cooking your rice. You can use a microwave rice packet as well to save on time, but if you’re cooking rice using a traditional stovetop method it’s likely the rice will take longer to cook than the shrimp!
• Next, peel and devein your shrimp and pat dry with a paper towel. Extra moisture on the shrimp means we won’t get those crispy edges that are so tasty. Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet and place the shrimp in, cooking for a few minutes before flipping to cook through. Do not crowd the pan, work in batches if you need to. It’s easy to tell when shrimp is done because it turns opaque.
• Add a little more oil to the pan and then the garlic. In a small bowl or measuring cup mix together the honey, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Add to the pan along with the snap peas and carrots and stir to coat it all.
• The sauce will begin to thicken and can burn if you don’t keep an eye on it, so keep the heat on medium low and stir frequently. Cook until the veggies are crisp-tender and serve over rice, topping with sesame seeds!

Questions?

• What do I do with leftovers? We didn’t have any leftovers because this was gobbled up, but leftovers are best enjoyed the next day. You can certainly make this in advance for a quick lunch, but I personally don’t love having leftover fish sit in my fridge for long periods of time and find it tastes best when enjoyed within a day or so.
• Can I double the recipe? You sure can! You may need a bigger skillet but absolutely, yes.
• Can I use another protein? A honey garlic salmon with salmon cut into bites would also be delicious. I would recommend cooking the salmon, removing it from the pan, then adding the veggies. Salmon is bit more delicate and could fall apart while stirring. You can also use chicken, or even ground turkey or chicken for a super budget friendly option.