Blackened Shrimp with Butter Sauce Recipe

Blackened Shrimp with Butter Sauce is a one-pan keto dish, so easy to make, and I promise you'll be eating these right out of the pan. I use fresh wild Key West shrimp, a homemade blackening seasoning blend, some lemons, and a few tablespoons of unsalted butter.

We eat a lot of shrimp in Key Largo. The shrimp are harvested right off the coast of South Florida. They're wild-caught, sweet, plump, and with very little effort, I make delicious low-carb meals like this in minutes.

A Great Dish Starts with Great Shrimp

Most shrimp sold commercially are from farms where an artificial environment is created. Key West shrimp are harvested right off the coast of the Florida Keys. The shrimp live at the bottom of the sea and dine on sea animals, algae, and other marine food. They're really fresh!

What is Blackening Seasoning?

Blackening is a cooking style that has its roots in Cajun cuisine. The spices used to coat the shrimp are bold and include cayenne pepper, chili powder, and sweet paprika. I use a small amount of onion powder for sweetness. Blackened shrimp is a popular dish at many southern restaurants.

Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?

Absolutely! Defrost the shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 15 to 30 minutes and then proceed. Make sure you are buying raw shrimp. Cooked shrimp are not going to work with this recipe.

How Many Shrimp Per Person?

I buy size Large shrimp, which run from 16-20 shrimp per pound. Shrimp are graded by their size. For this dish, a pound of shrimp would be two dinner servings for low-carb dieters. A pound would feed three adults if you're eating a lot of starch with it, such as potatoes or pasta.

How To Peel and Devein The Shrimp

Before making blackened shrimp, decide whether you want to keep the tails on, or not. The shrimp look better on a dinner plate with their tails. However, if you're making shrimp tacos, remove them. If you have kids, pay close attention to getting all the shells off, including the tail, to avoid choking hazards.

Shrimp are easy to peel. You can do this with a paring knife or a pair of scissors.

• Rinse shrimp and pat dry
• Pull off the legs
• Peel back the shell
• If you want to keep the tail on, when you peel back the shell, hold on the top of the tail to keep it intact.
• Cut a shallow incision in the back of each shrimp and lift out the dark vein with the tip of the knife. It really easy once you get the hang of it.

The vein of the shrimp is the shrimp's digestive tract. Some shrimp have a dark vein and in others, it's hardly noticeable.

How to Make Blackening Seasoning

Here's a quick recipe for homemade blackening seasoning. Of course, you can buy it in a jar, but isn't it always better to make everything yourself? Measure these ingredients into a small screw-top jar or small bowl and mix well.

• Paprika (sweet or smoked)
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Cayenne Pepper
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Salt
• Pepper

(see recipe card for quantities)

Can I Use Old Bay Blackening Seasoning?

Old Bay Seasoning is a pantry staple in the USA. It comes in many flavors and it tastes good. I can easily season most fish with a little Old Bay and cook it on the grill or in a pan with a little oil. They make Blackening seasoning too! It's good!

How to Blacken Shrimp

• Peel and devein the shrimp. Rinse under cold water; pat dry.
• Add shrimp to a mixing bowl. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and mix to coat all the shrimp.
• Add the blackening spices; toss.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and two or three crushed garlic cloves to the oil for additional flavor.
• Add shrimp in a single layer. If they don't all fit, you can do two batches.
• Cook the shrimp on the first side until they are no longer opaque, about 2 minutes, depending on their size.
• Flip and cook another minute or two. Squeeze half a lemon over the shrimp; toss. Remove to a plate.
• Wipe out the pan with a paper towel. Add another tablespoon of oil. Repeat with second batch.

How To Make The Butter Sauce

• Add half a stick of Kerrygold (my favorite) unsalted butter to the hot pan after you remove the shrimp. Whisk it with the brown bits left on the pan from the shrimp. Season with a little salt and pepper. Add the shrimp back to the pan; toss it all together and serve.
• Pour the sauce over the shrimp. Serve hot.

What Goes with Blackened Shrimp?

• You can make a Keto Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad—my favorite! Use this shrimp recipe with a homemade Caesar salad and you'll be so happy.
• The shrimp can be served with warm tortillas (I like Siete grain-free tortillas), diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce or cabbage for blackened shrimp tacos! Just remember to take off the tails if you're stuffing tacos.
• Or, just eat it over the stove, out of the pan. It's that good!
• One more, for people who aren't always on a diet like me, a big scoop of fresh mashed potatoes, would be a wonderful cradle for the shrimp.

Try These Recipes Using Fresh Florida Seafood

• Blackened Swordfish
• Pan Fried Yellowtail Snapper
• Florida Keys Shrimp Cocktail
• Oven Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce
• Key West Pink Shrimp Salad
• 15 Grilled Healthy Shrimp Recipes from Around the USA