• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Dinner-Mom
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • Plan Dinner
    • How to Meal Plan
    • Seasonal Produce Guide
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Plan Dinner
  • About
  • Fall Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Plan Dinner
    • About
    • Fall Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Seafood

    Rock Shrimp Recipe in Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

    By Marjory Pilley Published Jan 22, 2018 · Updated Feb 7, 2019

    • Share

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe
    Rock shrimp in a lemon butter garlic sauce in a serving bowl.

    Easiest ever Rock Shrimp Recipe! Sauté this lobster-like shrimp in Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce for a memorable meal that takes minutes to make.

    Sauteed Rock Shrimp Recipe in a bowl.

    We are pretty lucky! We live in sunny Florida. Not only is rock shrimp plentiful, but we're also able to enjoy this delicacy at Dixie Crossroads, where it's famous locally and beyond.

    If you live too far away for a visit or if you just happen to get a great deal on some as we do every so often, sautéing them on the stove-top is an easy way to prepare them.

    I'm partial to cooking shrimp on the stovetop because it allows easy control over cooking shrimp for the perfect length of time. Not to mention, you don't need to heat up the stove. Spicy Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits and Blackened Shrimp both use the skillet shrimp cooking method that will get dinner on the table...FAST.

    When you have just a few more minutes, incorporate the shrimp into Gourmet Rock Shrimp Mac and Cheese. It's divine!

    By the way, this lemon garlic butter sauce is outstanding with any type of seafood, from Argentine Shrimp and lobster to salmon and other types of fish.

    What is rock shrimp?

    Rock shrimp (Sicyonia brevirostris) is a member of the shrimp family. It has a hard, rock-like exterior and has the taste and texture of LOBSTER! Truly. It's not exactly like lobster...but it's really, really good.

    It wasn't until a machine was invented to remove the outer shell that it became more readily available commercially.

    Removing the shell manually requires cutting it with sturdy kitchen shears. This video by Wild Ocean will show you How to Split and Clean Rock Shrimp.

    Honestly, I always buy them with the shell removed. Spoiled rotten. I know.

    Rock shrimp are generally smaller than most shrimp cousins and cook very, very quickly. Pictured is one pound of peeled and deveined Florida Rock Shrimp. 🙂

    Picture of peeled and deveined rock shrimp.

    They are delicious broiled. And that would be my preference if they were split open with the shell in place. Once the hard outer shell is removed, this is my go-to rock shrimp recipe. Sautéing is quick and allows you to pluck them out of the pan when they are perfectly cooked.

    How to sauté rock shrimp in lemon garlic butter sauce

    The shrimp and lemon garlic butter sauce cook in the same pan. Melt and combine butter, olive oil, and garlic in a large skillet. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cook shrimp in a single layer so they are not crowded, and cook for about 3-4 minutes.

    Note if your pan is on the small size or it's just too stressful keeping track of the color of so many shrimp (me!!!), then cook them in batches, adding a little additional butter and olive oil to the pan if necessary.

    Also, keep a pair of tongs handy to pull out shrimp if they are not cooking evenly. Overcooked shrimp is rubbery and that's definitely not what we are going for here.

    The shrimp is done when the flesh is white and the outside is pinkish.

    Lemon Garlic Butter Rock Shrimp in a serving bowl.

    Once all the shrimp are removed from the pan to a serving dish, add additional butter, lemon juice, and broth to the pan. Stir and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken.

    Pour the sauce over the shrimp and sprinkle with parsley, if desired!

    For the calorie counters, don't lick up every last drop of the sauce, and you'll get a buttery, garlicky, lemony taste that should fit within your calorie budget.

    Otherwise, I highly recommend making pasta or one of the best side dishes for shrimp for a very memorable meal.

    More Shrimp Recipes to Try

    • Costco Copycat Cilantro Lime Shrimp in serving dish.
      Cilantro Lime Shrimp (Costco Copycat)
    • Marinated margarita shrimp that has been cooked on the grill.
      Margarita Shrimp Recipe (Grill or Oven)
    • Fingers holding a stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp with more on a plate below.
      Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Cream Cheese
    • Shrimp Egg Roll in a bowl with fork
      Shrimp Egg Roll in a Bowl (Easy, Low-Carb Recipe)

    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

    📋 Recipe

    Sauteed Rock Shrimp Recipe in a bowl

    Rock Shrimp Recipe and Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

    Easiest ever Rock Shrimp Recipe! Sautée this lobster-like delicacy in Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce for a memorable meal that takes minutes to make.
    5 from 4 votes
    Email Ingredients + Recipe
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 199kcal
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound Rock shrimp peeled and deveined
    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 garlic cloves pressed or minced
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoon vegetable broth

    Instructions

    • Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. 
    • Add olive oil and garlic to skillet and stir to combine.
    • Add shrimp to skillet and toss to coat with butter mixture then spread into a single layer. 
    • Cook shrimp for 3-4 minutes, stirring to make sure all sides are done. Shrimp are done when the flesh turns white and slightly opaque. Keep tongs handy to lift any out that are finished early. Remove shrimp to serving dish.
    • Once all of the shrimp are removed, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter in the skillet. 
    • Add lemon juice and vegetable broth and stir to combine. Allow sauce to simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes in order to thicken. 
    • Pour lemon butter garlic sauce over shrimp. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
    Grab 5 Low-Carb Saucesand get more easy, healthy recipes! JOIN HERE

    Nutrition

    Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 301mg | Sodium: 962mg | Potassium: 99mg | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 2.4mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

    More Seafood Recipes

    • Ladle lifting creamy crab corn soup out of a serving bowl.
      Creamy Crab Corn Soup Recipe
    • Parmesan Crusted Broiled Scallops lined up on a plate with minced parsley around them.
      Perfect Broiled Scallops with a Parmesan Crust
    • Easy lobster ravioli sauce in bowl topped with lobster ravioli, parmesan cheese, and strips of fresh basil.
      Lobster Ravioli Sauce Recipe (Creamy Pink Pasta Sauce)
    • Crab stuffed salmon on a red plate with a salad and fork next to it.
      Easy Crab Stuffed Salmon Recipe
    • Share

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Janie

      January 30, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      Big fan of Dixie Crossroads and wanted to tell you home much we like rock shrimp. Recipe is perfect for any type of shrimp.

      Reply
      • Marjory

        January 30, 2018 at 2:48 pm

        I'm so glad you like it! It's definitely great for any type of shrimp and scallops too!

        Reply
    2. Crab Dynasty

      February 21, 2018 at 4:18 am

      5 stars
      So good... How do you come up with such great dishes!!

      Reply
    3. Owens

      August 08, 2018 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      Looks amazing but would 5 mins really be enough time with pressure king cooker? Especially with natural release?

      Reply
    4. Bayou La Batre Boy

      September 24, 2020 at 9:01 pm

      One of the greatest sins is to overcook shrimp of any kind....with rock shrimp I'd try to fry them down in black iron and when ya got a good bit of the liquid out of the shrimp take off heat and pour the liquid out...add butter and minced garlic...refry quickly...and do no be afraid to add some Parmesan cheese than possible pour the shrimp and butter/cheese sauce over some pasta...add ya salt after it cooked IF it needs it.....

      Reply
    5. Chris

      April 28, 2023 at 6:31 pm

      5 stars
      Very nice recipe, and it seems very easy to get it right. I'm getting a pound of the little suckers, right now, even though I've never even HAD rock shrimp before. Your recipe convinced me to try them. So, thank you.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Rock shrimp in a lemon butter garlic sauce in a serving bowl.

    Thanks for stopping by! We're sharing easy, healthy recipes. . . many from the Meal Assembly Kitchens we owned. Most are low-carb too! Read more about us here.

    Grab the FREE Low-Carb Sauces Cheat Sheet and get easy, healthy recipes, and tips to be spectacularly organized in the kitchen!

    Popular Recipes

    • Three slices of turkey tenderloin on a plate with cauliflower rice and a fork.
      Easy Baked Turkey Tenderloin
    • Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
      Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
    • Slices of ground chicken meatloaf on a platter.
      Ground Chicken Meatloaf - Amazingly Delicious Recipe!
    • Whipped cottage cheese dessert cup topped with chocolate chips
      Whipped Cottage Cheese Dessert Cups {Low-carb}
    • Microwave Corn on the Cob being pulled from husk
      Microwave Corn on the Cob in Husk - No Messy Silk!
    • Crispy Cauliflower Bites in a bowl
      Parmesan Cauliflower Bites - Just 5 Ingredients!
    • Frozen cauliflower mash in serving bowl with wooden spoon.
      Frozen Cauliflower Mash - Easy, Creamy Recipe
    • Lemony Baked Basa - Quick and Easy!
      Lemony Baked Basa - Quick and Easy!

    Now Trending

    • Serving of crock-pot baked ziti with ricotta in front of a slow cooker.
      Crock-Pot Baked Ziti with Three Cheeses
    • Whipped cottage cheese dessert in a cup topped with chocolate chips with 2 pumpkins behind it.
      Whipped Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Dessert
    • Hand holding a healthy Greek yogurt pumpkin muffin with chocolate chips.
      Healthy Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Muffins
    • Beef shoulder roast topped with red wine mushroom sauce on a plate.
      Slow Cooker Beef Shoulder Roast
    • Keto chaffles on plate with Dash mini waffle maker behind it.
      Easy Keto Chaffle Recipe - Just 3 Ingredients!
    • Alice Springs Chicken topped with honey mustard and cheese on plate with mushrooms surrounding it.
      Alice Springs Chicken - Copycat Recipe

    Footer

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Rock shrimp in a lemon butter garlic sauce in a serving bowl.

    ^ back to top

    Unsubscribe at any time! Thank you for being part of the Dinner-Mom family!


    Privacy Policy
    Accessibility Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Dinner-Mom