Description
A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner featuring tender shrimp in a sweet, salty, and garlicky pineapple sauce. This recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a restaurant-quality meal in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs large shrimp (frozen or fresh, thawed and patted dry)
- 6–8 cloves garlic (fresh, minced)
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (low-sodium or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (canned in juice, drained)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vinegar (rice or apple cider)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 stalks green onions (chopped, for garnish)
- Steamed jasmine rice or crusty bread (for serving)
Instructions
- Prep the shrimp: If using frozen, thaw under cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels. Remove tails if desired.
- Mince the garlic cloves until fine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes until pink, then flip and cook for 1 more minute. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the sauce mixture and let it bubble for 1 minute.
- Stir in the drained pineapple chunks.
- Return the shrimp to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until shrimp are fully cooked and sauce has thickened slightly.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and serve immediately over steamed rice or with crusty bread.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure proper searing rather than steaming. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. The sauce can be made in advance. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a pan to avoid rubbery texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp, quick shrimp recipe, budget dinner, weeknight meals, pineapple shrimp, easy seafood, gluten-free option