In my parents’ Chinese restaurant, Shrimp and Broccoli was one of the most often-ordered dishes. With the combination of healthy broccoli and luxurious shrimp, it’s not surprising!.
Shrimp and Broccoli is usually made with a white sauce that has garlic in it, but most people changed the order to say “make it with brown sauce!”
After making it a few times this past week, I can see why. Nobody can resist that richly-flavored dark brown sauce over their steamy white rice.
Shrimp and broccoli is a classic combination that makes for a fast flavorful weeknight dinner. The tender shrimp and crisp-cooked broccoli pair beautifully. best of all this dish comes together in just 20 minutes.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the easy steps for how to cook shrimp and broccoli. I’ll also share my favorite simple sauce ideas, serving suggestions, tips for buying shrimp, and more recipe ideas to try. Let’s get cooking!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Cooking Shrimp and Broccoli
Cooking shrimp and broccoli takes only a few easy steps Here’s what you’ll do
Prep the Ingredients
- Shrimp – Buy frozen shrimp if you don’t have access to fresh. Thaw if using frozen. Peel and devein if needed.
- Broccoli – Wash and trim broccoli. Cut into bite-size florets.
- Aromatics – Mince garlic. Grate fresh ginger. Slice onions if using.
Make the Sauce
Whisk together sauce ingredients like soy sauce, vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, chili-garlic sauce, etc. depending on the recipe. Reserve a bit for later.
Cook the Broccoli
Heat oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add broccoli and aromatics if using. Cook for 5-6 minutes until broccoli is crisp-tender. Remove and set aside.
Cook the Shrimp
Add a bit more oil to the pan if needed Add shrimp in an even layer and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until opaque
Finish the Dish
Return broccoli to the pan. Add reserved sauce and toss everything together. Cook for 1 minute more.
That’s it! For extra flavor, finish with toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions, lime wedges, etc.
Sauces and Seasonings for Shrimp and Broccoli
The sauce is what really makes this dish sing. Here are some easy sauce ideas:
-
Soy Sauce and Rice Vinegar: A simple sauce of soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Sweet, salty, tangy.
-
Honey Garlic: Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sweet and sticky.
-
Lemon Butter: Melt butter with lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. Rich and bright.
-
Chili Garlic: Sriracha, garlic, and lime juice packs a punch.
-
Coconut Curry: Coconut milk, red curry paste, and lime juice. Creamy and aromatic.
Flavor it up with extras like sesame oil, sriracha, chili-garlic sauce, parsley, cilantro, green onions, etc.
How to Serve Shrimp and Broccoli
Shrimp and broccoli is versatile. Serve it over rice or noodles, stuff it into tacos, or enjoy it on its own!
Over Rice
Start rice before cooking shrimp and broccoli. White and brown rice both pair well. The leftover sauce mingles deliciously with the rice.
Over Noodles
Boil or soak noodles like ramen, udon, or soba. Toss with a bit of sesame oil before topping with the shrimp and broccoli.
In Tacos
Warm tortillas on the skillet. Stuff with the shrimp and broccoli mixture and add desired taco toppings like avocado, cheese, lime juice.
On its Own
You can enjoy shrimp and broccoli as is, though a starch helps soak up the sauce. Drizzle the finished dish with extra sauce if you like.
Tips for Buying Shrimp
Follow these guidelines when purchasing shrimp:
-
Buy frozen shrimp – Frozen shrimp is flash frozen at peak freshness so it may be better quality than “fresh” shrimp.
-
Check for sustainability – Opt for wild-caught or US shrimp when possible. Avoid imported.
-
Look for freshness signs – Fresh shrimp should smell like the ocean, not fishy. Shells should be firm.
-
Get peeled to save time – Buy peeled shrimp to skip this step. Deveining is still required.
-
Pick your size – Larger shrimp (16-20 count per pound) work well. Adjust cook times for smaller shrimp.
Following these tips will help you select high-quality shrimp for the perfect shrimp and broccoli dinner.
More Delicious Shrimp Recipes
If you love shrimp and broccoli, try these other amazing shrimp dishes:
-
Garlic Butter Shrimp – Buttery, garlicky goodness in minutes.
-
Coconut Shrimp Curry – Creamy red curry coconut sauce.
-
Shrimp Scampi – Lemony, garlicky shrimp over pasta.
-
Shrimp Fried Rice – Takeout taste made easy.
-
Shrimp Tacos – With zesty cilantro cream sauce.
-
Baked Lemon Pepper Shrimp – Crispy baked shrimp with lemon and herbs.
-
Cajun Shrimp and Sausage – Spicy and hearty one-pan meal.
-
Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil – Easiest shrimp boil ever.
The possibilities are endless when cooking with succulent shrimp! The quick cook time and versatility of shrimp makes it perfect for easy weeknight meals.
How Do You Prepare Shrimp and Broccoli?
A good Shrimp and Broccoli stir-fry is much easier than you think!
- Clean, peel, and cut the shrimp into butterfly shapes (or use shrimp that has already been cleaned).
- Cut up and wash your broccoli, or buy broccoli that has already been cut up and washed.
- Mix your sauce.
- Blanch shrimp and broccoli.
- You have everything ready for the wok, and in less than 10 minutes, you have a hot, tasty dish that is probably even better than the Chinese takeout near you!
To make it really simple, we’ve outlined some key tips and steps for cooking this dish below.
How Do You Prepare Shrimp for Stir-fry?
First, use frozen shrimp. I think these are best, as they’re flash frozen soon after they’re caught. There’s nothing worse than shrimp that has been thawed and left on ice for days or frozen and thawed more than once!
You can buy shrimp with the shells on, pre-cleaned, shelled, and/or deveined. I tend to buy shrimp with the shells-on and heads removed. My logic is that the less processing the shrimp underwent before freezing, the better!.
To butterfly the shrimp, take off the shell and tail, being careful not to lose the tail meat. Then, take off the vein and sand track.
If you bought shrimp that had already been deveined, shelled, and butterflyed, you should cut the backs a little deeper so that the shrimp open up and keep their shape after they’re cooked.
While this is a standard way to make most stir-fries, some, like Cantonese Salt and Pepper Shrimp or Shanghai Stir Fried Shrimp, need to be prepared in a different way.
BETTER THAN TAKEOUT – 15 Mins Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe
How do you cook shrimp in a broccoli Pan?
Put the whole tray in the oven and let the broccoli roast for about 10 minutes. While that’s roasting, toss the shrimp with the remaining olive oil, garlic, parmesan, basil, and red pepper flakes. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Remove the broccoli pan from the oven and give it a shake.
Can I eat raw shrimp?
Eating raw shrimp is not recommended. Raw shrimp can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is also a good source of purines, which can trigger gout attacks. If you want to eat shrimp, cook it thoroughly to reduce the risk of food poisoning and to help prevent gout attacks. Cook shrimp until it is opaque and pink to ensure that it is safe to eat.
How to cook garlic butter shrimp with Broccoli?
Garlic butter shrimp with broccoli is a delicious dinner in 30 minutes and one pan. Perfect for a busy night. 1. In a large skillet on medium-high heat, pour a large drizzle of olive oil. (about 2-3 seconds) Once hot, add the broccoli to the pan with a large sprinkle of salt and pepper. 2.
What is the fastest way to eat shrimp & Broccoli?
The fastest serving suggestion for shrimp and broccoli is using rice noodles or soba noodles. Many rice noodles don’t even require boiling on the stove: instead, just pour boiling water over the noodles! Most brands are gluten-free (check the package).