This Steamed Shrimp and Broccoli recipe is a quick, healthy meal packed with lean protein and healthy vegetables. Perfect for busy days, it comes together in under 15 minutes with minimal prep work, making it a go-to for a light, easy dinner.
One of the easiest ways to cook frozen shrimp is steaming. Steamed shrimp is fat-free and flavorful and retains all its natural goodness without the need for added fats.
I like to steam the shrimp with fresh lemon juice to bring out its flavor. The size of the shrimp will determine the steaming time. Medium shrimp will cook in about a minute or two while larger shrimp will take a few more minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw frozen shrimp
- 1 pound broccoli florets (you can sub carrots or broccoli--cook for 6 minutes before adding the shrimp.)
- Parsley for garnish
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- Melted butter (optional dipping sauce)
Recipe
- Place frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes or until fully thawed. Remove the shells and devein the shrimp. Rinse and pat dry.
- Place a steamer basket in a medium pot. Add water, making sure it doesn't peak through the bottom of the basket. Bring the water to a boil, then add broccoli to the basket. Lower the heat a bit, cover the pot with a lid, and steam for 5-6 minutes until tender.
- Once the broccoli is done, add the shrimp to the same steamer basket in a single layer. Cover the pot and steam for 3 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and opaque.
- Remove the shrimp and broccoli from the steamer. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with fresh lemon wedges and melted butter.
How Many Shrimp Per Person?
Most shrimp recipes call for 3 or 4 ounces of shrimp per person.
In my house, we like big portions, and we love leftovers!
This recipe calls for a pound of broccoli and pound of shrimp. If you're famished after work during the week, most adults can definitely eat half a pound of shrimp.
If you have rice or potatoes on the side, or looking for smaller portions, you can feed four.
Check out Is Frozen Shrimp Healthy? for all the details on nutrition, benefits, and tips for choosing the best shrimp for your meals.
Serving and Storage
Serve steamed shrimp with melted butter or cocktail sauce.
Add a side of vegetables or a bed of steamed rice, and you've got a fantastic meal in minutes!
Store the cooked shrimp in an airtight container for a day or two.
FAQ
Steamed Shrimp and Broccoli has 212 calories per serving. WIth a tablespoon of melted butter, add 100 calories.
Jumbo shrimp take 23 minutes to steam. For large or XL shrimp, they should be ready in 2 or 2 1.2 minutes.
While small shrimp is usually reserved for salads, you can steam small shrimp. Add to a steamer placed over boiling water and steam no more than one minute.
More Quick Seafood Recipes
We're located in Key Largo and we prefer Key West Pink Shrimp. They are always sweet and crisp! The next time you're in town, you have to try them!
- Florida Keys Shrimp Cocktail
- Oven Roasted Mahi Mahi
- Fried Yellowtail Snapper
- Shrimp Tacos
- Crispy Pan Fried Mahi Mahi Recipe
- Peel and Eat Shrimp Recipe
For more high protein shrimp recipes, see our full collection of easy shrimp dinners and meal prep ideas.
Steamed Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- steamer basket
- paring knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen shrimp, defrosted and peeled
- 1 pound broccoli florets cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 1 lemon, sliced and squeezed into the water
- fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Place the frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes or until fully thawed. Remove from the water.
- To peel shrimp, gently pull off the shell starting from the legs and working your way around. You can choose to leave the tail on or pull it off. To devein, make a shallow cut along the back of the shrimp and use the tip of a knife or a toothpick to lift out the dark vein. Rinse and pat dry.
- Fill a medium pot with 1-2 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil.
- Add broccoli and cover pot. Lower heat to medium. Steam broccoli 3 minutes.
- Open the pot and scatter the shrimp over the broccoli. Cover the pot and steam for 3 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and are opaque throughout.
- Remove the broccoli and shrimp from the steamer, garnish with fresh parsley or your favorite herbs, and serve hot with fresh lemon wedges or a dipping sauce.
Notes
- Melted Butter
- Cocktail Sauce
Joey G says
My family loved this!
Andrew says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Gregg says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!