Quick and easy chili lime shrimp is an ideal choice when you want a fast, flavourful main dish. Toss peeled and deveined shrimp with a blend of chili spices and lime, pan-fry briefly, then finish with chopped cilantro for a fresh finish.
This recipe delivers bright lime, layered chili heat, and a punch of cilantro. It’s made from pantry staples and comes together in minutes—perfect for nights when you want something delicious without a lot of effort.
The sauce combines three chili elements—crushed red pepper flakes, chili powder, and a chili paste—giving the shrimp a lively, nuanced spice. Fresh lime juice adds brightness, and chopped cilantro brings a fragrant, herb-forward finish.
How To Make It
Place peeled and deveined shrimp in a bowl. Add avocado oil, lime juice, crushed red pepper flakes, chili paste, chili powder, minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Toss until the shrimp are evenly coated. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and arrange the shrimp in a single layer.
Cook the first side for about two minutes, until the shrimp are opaque halfway up, then flip and cook the second side for another minute or so. Shrimp cook quickly—watch closely to avoid overcooking.
Remove the skillet from the heat, add the chopped cilantro, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
What To Serve It With?
For a quick meal, serve these shrimp with a green salad or pair them with simple sides such as:
- Rainbow Thai Noodle Salad
- Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
- Parmesan Risotto
You can also use the shrimp as a filling for tacos with your favourite toppings—avocado, shredded cabbage, a squeeze of extra lime, or a drizzle of yogurt or crema work well.
Helpful Tips
Don’t overcook the shrimp. They only need to turn just pink to be done—overcooking makes them tough.
For extra brightness, squeeze fresh lime juice over the shrimp after you toss with cilantro.
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More Recipes You’ll Love!
If you like this chili lime shrimp, try other quick shrimp recipes such as:
-
Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta
-
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
-
Shrimp Fajitas
-
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
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Chili Lime Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients:
- 1 lb shrimp – peeled and deveined
- 2 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon sambal oelek (or other chili paste)
- 1 clove garlic – minced
- 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt and black pepper – each
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
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Mix the shrimp, avocado oil, lime juice, chili powder, chili paste, crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, black pepper, and minced garlic in a bowl.
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Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and arrange the shrimp in a single layer.
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Cook the first side for about 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute or so. Shrimp are done when they are no longer opaque.
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Remove the skillet from the heat and add the chopped cilantro.
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Toss well and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 5g
Protein: 24g
Fat: 10g
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.