This creamy lemon garlic parmesan shrimp recipe comes together in about 20 minutes and has the most amazing cream sauce!
This recipe is based on my popular Easy Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Recipe. It's cooked in a similar way, and it's equally delicious! Lemon, garlic, cream, and parmesan cheese. Hmmm... it sounds like something straight out of the Salt & Lavender playbook. 😉
This recipe is easy enough for a weeknight but tasty enough for company!
What kind of shrimp to use?
I use raw frozen shrimp and thaw them by running them under cool water in a colander. Shrimp cook fast, so I don't like buying pre-cooked shrimp since double cooking them can turn them rubbery. I used 31-40 count size, but you could use slightly larger or slightly smaller shrimp if you wish.
Recipe notes & tips:
- I strongly recommend using the suggested heavy cream. Something with a lower fat content is likely to get curdled by the citrus in this recipe. If you must sub, try coconut milk, but I can't guarantee results will be as good (and it'll have a slight coconut flavor).
- Feel free to take the tails off the shrimp! I mostly leave them on for photos so there's more contrast.
- As always, I recommend keeping a wedge of parmesan in your fridge and grating it yourself (it tastes and melts much better than the pre-grated kind!). I use this cheese grater.
- I use my Microplane zester/grater to zest the lemon.
Love garlic cream sauces? Try my Creamy Garlic Chicken.
What to serve with creamy lemon garlic parmesan shrimp?
Try mashed potatoes, pasta (or egg noodles), or rice.
More tasty shrimp recipes to try:
- Easy Shrimp Alfredo
- Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
- Cajun Shrimp and Chicken Alfredo
Will you give these creamy garlic shrimp a try? Questions? Let me know in the comments below. Tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you've made one of my recipes.
Creamy Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp (I used 31-40 count size) thawed & peeled
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 4-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice + zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the shrimp (run them under cool water if they're frozen). You can remove the tails if you want. Pat them dry with paper towel.
- Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Stir in the flour and cook for about a minute.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the lemon juice + zest, cream, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add the shrimp and cook for around 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until they're cooked through and the sauce has thickened up a bit (be careful not to overcook the shrimp). Reduce the heat a bit if it's bubbling like crazy/thickening too fast.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and parsley, then take the skillet off the heat.
- Season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- I do NOT recommend subbing the cream for half-and-half or milk because there is a very good chance the lemon juice will curdle the sauce.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Doug H. says
I made this tonight and it was AMAZING!! So easy to make, and the flavor is incredible! We thought the lemony flavor was a nice compliment to the creamy garlic-parmesan richness of the sauce. This is a new staple in our household! I think I'm going to try this recipe next using chicken instead of shrimp.
Natasha says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Doug! Thanks for your review. 🙂
Izzy says
Deeeeeelicious!!!! I eat this with a nice salad and my lunch is the envy of everyone! Super easy as well. Thank you!!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
You're welcome, Izzy! We're thrilled you enjoyed it!!
Dawn says
Delicious. Easy peasy thank you
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
You're welcome, Dawn! Thanks so much for trying it!
Arlinda (lynnbug) says
Creamy lemon parmesan shrimp. Made this tonight.so easy and delicious😋
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Excellent! 🙂
Katie says
I have made this dish three times now and it’s one of our favorite meals! We absolutely love this sauce! It’s so easy to pull together on a weeknight. I have made several of your recipes and they are always a hit! Thank you for sharing!
Natasha says
That's so nice to hear, Katie!! 🙂 Glad you're enjoying the recipes. I appreciate your review! XO
Margaret Prowse says
This was my first time making this and served it to company (I normally never do that...always use tested recipes first). As we are watching our waistlines, I changed the cream to 1/2 and 1/2, and cut the parmesan cheese down to 3/4 cup. This meal was VERY creamy and rich....you wouldn't have wanted it any richer. I also bumped up color and interest by adding 1 cup asparagus tips, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 1 cup sliced spring onions, 1 sliced shallot. I cooked all additions except for the asparagus with the garlc and oil, but added the asparagus when I added the shrimp. I did not find this overly lemony as some comments suggested....it was perfect. Fabulous meal I will definitely make again. Everyone asked for the recipe so that's a good sign of a winner.
Natasha says
Glad it was a hit, Margaret!! 🙂
Irene Weatherfield says
Made this for dinner last night and it was a huge success. Wish I had made enough for leftovers today. Each bite that my husband took was followed by a "yum".
So easy too.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! 😀 I'm so glad it was a hit.
Brenda Grammer says
Loved this simple recipe. Followed it faithfully. Really delicious. Only made really enough for two people. Need to double for leftovers. Served over wild rice. Perfect. I could not find the larger shrimp, so got the mini's; perfect for a spoon. Lots of flavor!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Brenda! Thanks for your review. 🙂
S.burnham says
Simply Amazing. I used limes instead of the lemons and heavy cream. Enough for leftovers 🥰 This, as my husband puts it, is a do over!
Natasha says
Yay!! That's great.
Amanda says
Delicious!! I didn't have lemon/zest (just lemon juice) and it still turned out amazing! I served it over pasta. I will definitely make this again! Your recipes never disappoint!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe, Amanda!! Thanks so much. Really appreciate you following along and taking the time to write me a review. 😀
Terry B. says
Great recipe - quick easy and very flavorful adding to the mix of doing this recipe again!!!
Natasha says
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it.
Arielis says
This is definitely a recipe I will take with me forever. So easy to make and so delicious. Thank you so much !!!
Natasha says
Aww I'm thrilled to hear that! 🙂
Karen Krause says
I’ve made this recipe twice and it’s so good!
Today I tried subbing coconut milk for the heavy cream and it was still delicious!
Thanks for the great recipe
Natasha says
Wonderful! You're very welcome. I am sure the coconut milk tip will help other readers.
Kathy says
Just made this it was deeeeelicious! I love lemon and garlic. It was light, I made half the recipe as it was just me . Would definitely make again perhaps with scallops or chicken! #saltandlavender
Natasha says
Fantastic!! So glad you liked it. Thank you for leaving me a review! 🙂