Easy cilantro lime shrimp ready in 15 minutes! Jumbo shrimp cooked in a zesty cilantro lime sauce. Serve cold, with pasta, in salad, or in lettuce wraps for a quick meal.
Tender jumbo shrimp tossed in a bright cilantro-lime sauce—this recipe is fast, flavorful, and low carb. Ready in about 15 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or an easy appetizer.
Inspired by Costco’s cilantro lime shrimp, this version boosts the herb flavor with plenty of fresh cilantro, garlic, olive oil, lime, and a few pantry staples. The resulting sauce is fresh, herbaceous, and versatile.
The sauce is easy to adapt: swap or add herbs like basil or parsley, adjust the lime for more tang, or add a touch of heat with jalapeño or red pepper flakes. It also works great as a marinade or dipping sauce.
This is a go-to recipe whenever I need to use up herbs in the fridge. Cilantro and parsley brighten so many dishes, and the sauce comes together quickly in a food processor.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Start by making the cilantro-lime sauce. Combine the sauce ingredients (except the olive oil) in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture becomes a smooth, saucy consistency. Set aside.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add oil for cooking. When the pan is hot, add the shrimp and cook until they begin to turn pink, about 1–1½ minutes. Add the cilantro-lime sauce to the pan and sauté with the shrimp until fully cooked, another minute or two. Serve immediately with extra sauce and lime wedges.
Serving Suggestions
This shrimp is versatile and works as the centerpiece of many meals. It’s keto-friendly and gluten-free, and pairs well with:
- Tacos
- Wraps
- Pasta
- Salad
- Low-carb lettuce wraps
- Cold appetizer platters
- Rice or grain bowls
Have leftover cilantro lime sauce?
- Use it as a marinade for seafood, chicken, or beef—note: don’t marinate seafood for more than 30 minutes or the lime will begin to “cook” it.
- Whisk it with extra oil and a splash of vinegar for a bright salad dressing.
- Mix with mayo or sour cream to make a creamy dip.
- Drizzle it over grilled proteins or roasted vegetables.
- Stir a spoonful into cooked rice for quick cilantro lime rice.
- Add to sandwiches, burritos, or scrambled eggs for extra flavor.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Fresh herbs will mellow over time, so the dish is best the day it’s made.
I hope you enjoy this simple, flavorful recipe!
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15 Minute Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Rate
Ingredients
- 1 lb jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil, for cooking
Cilantro Lime Sauce
- 1 bunch cilantro, about 1 ½ to 2 cups including stems
- ¼ medium onion, about ⅓ cup
- 4 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ juice and zest of half a large lime, add more depending on taste
- salt to taste
Optional Sauce Ingredients:
- pinch of red pepper flakes, optional for spice
- 1 large jalapeno, deseeded, optional for spice
- a handful of any other herbs – basil, parsley, scallions, chives, etc, about ¼ to ⅓ cup
Instructions
Make the Cilantro Lime Sauce
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Place the cilantro, onion, garlic, lime juice and zest, and any optional herbs or chiles into a food processor. Pulse several times until finely chopped. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth sauce. Season with salt to taste and set aside.
Cook the shrimp
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Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the cooking oil. When the pan is hot, add the shrimp and cook until they start to turn pink, about 1–1½ minutes. Add the desired amount of cilantro-lime sauce and sauté until the shrimp are fully cooked, about another 1–2 minutes.
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Serve immediately with extra sauce and lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Fresh herbs will mellow over time, so this is best eaten the day it’s made.
- Leftover Shrimp?
- Make tacos or burrito bowls
- Try low-carb lettuce wraps
- Toss into a salad
- Serve chilled as an appetizer
- Leftover Cilantro Lime Sauce?
- Use as a marinade
- Drizzle over grilled proteins or vegetables
- Turn into a dressing by adding oil and vinegar
- Mix with mayo or sour cream to make a dip
- Add to sandwiches for extra brightness
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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