Honey Lime Shrimp (Only 5 Ingredients!)

Published January 16, 2020

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Easy Honey Lime Shrimp made with only 5 ingredients! You get tender pan seared shrimp cooked with rich butter, vibrant garlic, bright lime, and sweet honey. It’s the perfect pairing of flavors and dinner doesn’t get much easier than this!

Shrimp with honey lime sauce in a black skillet.

Pan Seared Shrimp with Honey and Lime

Shrimp recipes are the best for easy weeknight meals. They can cook in minutes and you don’t need to add much because they already have a deliciously unique and buttery flavor.

This time around we add a Baja style flair with classic lime and honey in this simple shrimp recipe. You can also add another layer of flavor by adding minced cilantro too.

Pair it with leftover cooked rice and black beans and you’ll have the easiest dinner you can turn to again and again when you’re short on time.

What Ingredients are Needed for Honey Lime Shrimp?

The 5 ingredients you’ll need are:

  • Shrimp – you’ll want large or extra large shrimp.
  • Honey – no substitutes on this ingredient. Maple syrup wouldn’t work the same here.
  • Lime juice – you’ll need fresh limes because you’ll zest first and juice. They taste so much better than bottled anyway.
  • Garlic – if you want it extra garlicky feel free to add in an extra clove.
  • Butter – this brings a rich flavor to the sauce, it may be a small amount but it’s a must.
  • And you’ll also need salt and pepper

Ingredients to make shrimp with honey and lime shown here.

How to Make Honey Lime Shrimp

  • Make sauce: In a small mixing bowl whisk together honey and lime juice.
  • Saute garlic with butter: Melt butter in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.

Showing how to make shrimp with sauce. Whisking together honey and lime in a glass mixing bowl. Melting butter and garlic in skillet.

  • Pan sear shrimp with sauce: Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, pour in honey and lime mixture. Spread shrimp out into an even layer.
  • Cook until pink and opaque on bottom, about 1 1/2 minutes then flip and continue to cook until shrimp has cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes longer.
  • Garnish with zest: Sprinkle with lime zest. Serve warm over rice if desired spooning sauce over shrimp.

Cooking shrimp, honey and lime in skillet over stove top.

Can I Use Pre-Cooked Shrimp?

No. For this recipe only stick with the raw shrimp. If you were to use cooked it wouldn’t have any time to cook in this flavorful sauce and absorb some of the flavor.

Possible Variations:

  • add extra garlic
  • use lemon instead of lime
  • brown the butter
  • bake in the oven instead (it would take about 10 minutes at 350 in a 13 by 9-inch baking dish)

Close up image of shrimp with honey lime sauce in a black skillet.

 What to Serve with Honey Lime Shrimp?

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Close up image of shrimp with honey lime sauce in a black skillet.
5 from 7 votes

Honey Lime Shrimp

Easy Honey Lime Shrimp made with only 5 ingredients! You get tender pan seared shrimp coated with rich butter, bold garlic, vibrant lime, and sweet honey. It's the perfect pairing of flavors and dinner doesn't get much easier than this!
Servings: 4
Prep15 minutes
Cook5 minutes
Ready in: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small mixing bowl whisk together honey and lime juice. 
  • Melt butter in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.
  • Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, pour in honey and lime mixture. Spread shrimp out into an even layer.
  • Cook until pink and opaque on bottom, about 1 1/2 minutes then flip and continue to cook until shrimp has cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes longer.
  • Sprinkle with lime zest. Serve warm over rice if desired spooning sauce over shrimp.

Notes

  • Optionally top shrimp with 2 Tbsp minced cilantro after cooking for more flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Honey Lime Shrimp
Amount Per Serving
Calories 244 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 372mg124%
Sodium 226mg10%
Potassium 127mg4%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 175IU4%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 206mg21%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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14 Comments

  • Michael Barrett

    Im fixing this for the second time as both my wife and I LOVE this dish and I love how easy it is to make! Along with your recipe for coconut rice, it’s the perfect meal for a week night. Thank you for this recipe!

  • Emily

    My family loved this recipe. My husband said it was probably the best shrimp recipe he’s ever had, so thank you!! We will definitely make it again.

  • Maxine

    On our winter snowbird RV trip and bought some fresh shrimp for this easy recipe. What a fabulous change of flavors. My husband went crazy for this recipe so I think it will be on my weekly menu. Used cilantro addition.

  • Fran

    Made this tonight!!! Delicious! I served it over coconut brown rice with some steamed broccoli and a nice white wine! Fabulous:). Thank you

  • Rachel

    I made this for dinner for me and the hubby tonight. And oh my goodness! So good!! I decided to make your coconut rice recipe to go with it, and topped it all off with the lime zest and some chopped cilantro. IT WAS DELICIOUS!! And that’s an understatement! Just heavenly! Thank you for sharing!!

  • Brenda

    I bet this would be amazing with your coconut rice and avocado mango salsa!