Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
For the Sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
Optional Garnish
- Scallions
- Steamed rice
Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium heat with a bit of oil. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the shrimp and cook until about 70% of the way through.
- Pour in the dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and honey. Toss everything together and continue cooking until the shrimp are fully cooked and the sauce has reduced into a glossy glaze that clings to the shrimp.
- Serve over a fresh bowl of rice.
- Optionally garnish with scallions.
Video
Notes
- Cook the shrimp only about 70% of the way before adding the sauce so they finish in the glaze and stay tender.
- No cornstarch needed. The honey reduces into a sticky glaze on its own as the liquid cooks off.
- Keep the shrimp moving so the honey doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan.
- Swap the honey for brown sugar or maple syrup, or stir in a little sriracha for heat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Table of Contents
- Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- Introduction
- Why You’ll Love This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- Why the Sauce Matters In This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- What You’ll Need To Make This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- How to Make This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- What to Serve With This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- How to Store Honey Garlic Shrimp
- Reheating Instructions
- Substitutions for Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- What to Make Next
Introduction
If you’ve never made a Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe at home, you’ll probably be surprised by how quickly it can be made. Shrimp is one of the fastest proteins to cook, making this recipe perfect for busy weeknights when you want dinner on the table without spending a bunch of time in the kitchen. The garlic is cooked first to perfume the oil, the shrimp are quickly seared, and a simple combination of honey and soy sauce reduces into a glaze that coats every piece of shrimp. With just a handful of ingredients and about 15 minutes from start to finish, this is the kind of meal that’s easy to make whenever you need something quick.
Why You’ll Love This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
One of the best things about this Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe is how simple it is to cook. Shrimp cook so quickly that they only need a couple of minutes in the pan before the sauce is added. They finish cooking as the glaze reduces, helping them stay tender instead of becoming overcooked. As the honey simmers with the soy sauces, it naturally thickens into a sticky glaze that coats every shrimp without needing cornstarch or any other thickener. Serve everything over warm rice and let the extra sauce soak into every bite for an easy meal that comes together with very little effort.
Why the Sauce Matters In This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
The sauce is what brings this Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe together, and each ingredient has an important role. Light soy sauce provides most of the seasoning, while dark soy sauce deepens the color and adds richness without making the glaze overly salty. The honey balances the soy sauce and naturally thickens as it cooks, creating a smooth glaze that coats the shrimp without any additional ingredients. Once the sauce begins to simmer, keep the shrimp moving around the pan so everything cooks evenly. Stirring often helps prevent the honey from sticking or browning too much on the bottom of the pan and prevents those burned bits.
What You’ll Need To Make This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- Shrimp – Raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp cook quickly and is the perfect protein for this.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic creates the base of the sauce.
- The sauce – Honey, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce combine to make a glossy glaze with a balance of sweet and savory flavors.
- Optional toppings – Sliced scallions and steamed rice turn this into acomplete meal.
How to Make This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a small drizzle of neutral oil. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 to 60 seconds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden.
Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until they’re mostly cooked through and beginning to turn pink. They will finish cooking once the sauce is added.
Pour in the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and honey. Toss the shrimp until they’re evenly coated.
Continue cooking for another minute or two until the sauce reduces into a glossy glaze and the shrimp are fully cooked.
Serve immediately over steamed rice, spooning any extra glaze from the pan over the top.
Finish with sliced scallions if you’d like a little freshness.
What to Serve With This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe pairs well with a few simple sides that help make this a full meal. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Garlic butter broccoli – Steamed broccoli tossed with garlic butter and a little bit of salt pairs nicely with this shrimp.
- Cucumber salad – A simple cucumber salad with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt adds a refreshing contrast.
- Steamed jasmine rice – Warm rice is the perfect base for soaking up every bit of the honey garlic glaze.
How to Store Honey Garlic Shrimp
You can store the leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best texture, keep the shrimp and rice in separate containers until you’re ready to eat. As the glaze gets cold, it will naturally become thicker and firmer, and that’s completely normal, and you can loosen it up again with a splash of water as it reheats.
Reheating Instructions
- Stovetop (best method). Add the shrimp to a skillet over medium heat with about 1 tablespoon of water. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the glaze starts to loosen up and the shrimp are heated through.
- Microwave. Place the shrimp in a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely or with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, for about 2 minutes.
Substitutions for Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe
This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe is easy to substitutee with ingredients you may already have on hand.
- Brown sugar or maple syrup – Either can replace the honey. Brown sugar creates a slightly deeper caramel flavor, while maple syrup also adds sweetness.
- Chicken thighs or scallops – The same honey garlic glaze works well with bite sized chicken thighs or seared scallops. Simply adjust the cooking time based on the protein you’re using.
- Sriracha or red pepper flakes – Add a teaspoon of sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes if you’d like a little heat to balance the sweetness.
What to Make Next
Want more seafood? Try my Creamy Salmon Poke!
Craving that same sticky sweet glaze on chicken? You’ll love my Sticky Sweet Chicken!
Prefer pork instead? Cook my Sticky Sweet Pork Belly!
