Honey Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli
This easy and simple honey garlic shrimp with tender broccoli makes for a super easy dinner that packs a wallop of flavor with simple, common ingredients.
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Table of Contents
About Honey Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli
There are two (really cool) things about this recipe:
One, it includes shrimp. Because, shrimp. Shrimp is life. I don’t know about you, but I could seriously live off of shrimp.
And for two, this is a complete one-pan meal made in a classic cast iron skillet.
You simply can’t get more “perfect weeknight dinner” than that!
Can you use frozen shrimp?
Since the shrimp are the showcase of this recipe, I usually purchase mine from the deli as opposed to using frozen. I found I enjoyed this dish much more when I’ve shelled out the extra few bucks for the freshest seafood I can find.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use frozen shrimp. You certainly can. Just be sure to thaw, rinse, and pat them dry before cooking.
Can you use frozen broccoli?
A few readers have asked whether you need to use fresh or frozen broccoli for this dish.
Unlike the shrimp, I tend to use frozen broccoli with this dish. I thaw it out by running lukewarm water over it, pat it dry, and then use it like normal.
So to answer this question, feel free to use either fresh or frozen broccoli. As long as the broccoli is room temperature and dry before cooking, then you’re good to go.
Notes & tips for this honey garlic shrimp recipe
- If you don’t already own a trusty piece of cast iron, I highly recommend picking one up. A good piece of cast iron will last you ages. I still use (and love!) this reasonably priced 10-inch cast iron skillet.
- Many will tell you that cast iron is hard to take care of, but I think the biggest challenge is just knowing how to do it. This post about the truth about cast iron has some great tips and tutorials!
- Don’t want to (or don’t have) a cast iron skillet? That’s okay! Just make this recipe with the cookware you have. Cast iron is a great cooking tool but it’s not required for this recipe.
- Cooking shrimp can be very tricky. To a trained eye, you can see that even the shrimp in these photos are a tad overcooked (the unfortunate result of trying to work a video camera while I cook.) If you’re looking for some helpful pointers on cooking crustaceans, be sure to check out this guide on How to Cook Shrimp and Mistakes to Avoid.
Other great seafood recipes
How to make honey garlic shrimp
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – In a large bowl, mix together garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey, then whisk them well to combine.
Step 2 – Place shrimp in a large Ziploc bag (gallon sized), then pour about 1/3 of the honey garlic sauce inside. Seal the bag and gently toss the shrimp to coat with the sauce.
Step 3 – Place the shrimp in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour. While shrimp marinates, cover and save the remaining honey garlic sauce (you’ll be using it later).
Step 4 – Heat up a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add about two tablespoons of the honey garlic sauce. When sauce starts to sizzle, add broccoli to skillet and cook until warm and tender, about 5-8 minutes. Once cooked, transfer broccoli to a plate.
Step 5 – Add more honey garlic sauce to skillet, then add in shrimp. Do about 5-10 shrimp at a time, cooking for one minute on each side (or until the shrimp bodies are curled and browned). Use a pair of tongs to gently rub the shrimp into the caramelized sauce in the bottom of the plan, then transfer cooked shrimp to a plate. Repeat this step until all of the shrimp have been cooked.
Step 6 – Return the broccoli and shrimp to the skillet and toss together. Cook for a few minutes until all ingredients are an even, hot temperature.
Step 7 – Serve honey garlic shrimp and broccoli immediately with more honey garlic sauce drizzled on top!
Honey Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, uncooked, medium size, shelled and deveined
- 1 1/2 cup broccoli
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic, ginger, honey, and soy sauce. Set aside.
- Place raw shrimp in a Ziploc Bag (gallon sized). Pour 1/3 of the honey garlic sauce in the bag, then massage the bag to coat shrimp. Seal bag and let shrimp marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Keep the remaining honey soy sauce covered and at room temperature.
- Warm a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of reserved honey garlic sauce to pan and let heat until steaming. Toss broccoli in skillet and cook until warm and tender, about 5-8 minutes. Remove broccoli from skillet and set aside.
- Remove shrimp from Ziploc bag and discard the bag and marinade. Place 5-10 shrimp in the skillet at a time and cook for 1 minute on each side or until shrimp bodies are curled and browned. Before removing from pan, use tongs to rub shrimp into the caramelized sauce on the bottom of the skillet.
- When the shrimp are cooked, return all shrimp and broccoli to skillet. Heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing to catch any remaining caramelized sauce on the bottom of the skillet.
- Serve immediately with remaining honey garlic sauce drizzled on top.
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
