Costa Rica Garlic Shrimp

This Costa Rica-inspired garlic shrimp is packed with bold flavor from fresh garlic, butter, and warm spices. It comes together quickly in one skillet and is perfect served with rice, fried plantains, black beans, and alongside a fresh salad.

Prep Time10

Cook Time12

Total Time22

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Costa Rican

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: garlic shrimp, skillet shrimp

Method: Stove Top

Servings: servings

Ingredients

For the garlic paste

2 heads garlic cloves peeled
1/4 cup olive oil

For the shrimp

12 ounces shrimp about 1 bag, peeled and deveined
3-4 tablespoons garlic paste divided
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
1/2 onion diced
1/2 bell pepper diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Make the garlic paste:

Add the garlic cloves and olive oil to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and paste-like. Set aside.

Marinate the shrimp:

Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. In a bowl, toss the shrimp with 2 tablespoons of the garlic paste, sea salt, paprika, and seafood seasoning. Set aside while preparing the vegetables.

Cook the vegetables:

Heat the olive oil or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Cook the shrimp:

Add the shrimp to the skillet in an even layer. Cook until opaque and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes total. After the first minute of cooking, add the butter and the remaining 2 tablespoons of garlic paste and stir to combine. You absolutely can use more garlic paste! More the better, for me! If too thick, add more butter!

Finish and serve:

Taste and adjust salt as needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

Storage: Once cool, transfer leftover garlic shrimp and veggies to an airtight container. They will keep fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water, broth, or butter to prevent the shrimp from drying out.

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