
Florida is shrimp country. From the Mayport shrimp boats to the Apalachicola Bay, sweet Gulf shrimp are a way of life down here. This garlic butter shrimp recipe is the one you'll come back to again and again — it takes 15 minutes, uses pantry ingredients, and tastes like something from a waterfront seafood shack. Serve it as an appetizer, over rice, or with crusty bread to soak up every drop of that garlic butter sauce.
Pat shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and let it foam.
Add shrimp in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Cook 2 minutes per side until pink and curled. Remove to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic and red pepper flakes to the pan. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant — don't burn the garlic.
Pour in white wine and lemon juice. Scrape up browned bits. Let simmer 1 minute until slightly reduced.
Return shrimp to the skillet. Toss in the sauce, sprinkle with parsley, and cook 30 seconds.
Serve immediately over rice or with crusty bread. Spoon extra butter sauce over the top.
Garnish with lemon wedges and extra parsley.
Don't overcook shrimp — they go from perfect to rubbery in about 30 seconds. Look for the C-shape curl; if they curl into an O, they're overdone. Wild-caught Gulf shrimp are worth the extra cost over imported. If using frozen shrimp, thaw in cold water, not the microwave. For extra flavor, add a splash of hot sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika. The butter sauce is amazing on crusty bread — don't waste a drop.