Getting a healthy dinner on the table takes just about 20 minutes with this Honey Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli Recipe. It’s one of those go-to meals that’s bursting with flavor but won’t have you stuck in the kitchen forever.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I can’t tell you how many times this recipe has saved my busy weeknights. The combination of sweet honey, punchy garlic, and savory soy sauce creates a sauce that clings perfectly to tender shrimp and crisp-tender broccoli. Plus, it's so simple you’ll want to make it again and again.
- Quick & Easy: Everything comes together in about 20 minutes, making it ideal for busy evenings.
- Flavorful Sauce: The sweet and savory honey garlic sauce hits all the right notes without being overpowering.
- Healthy Ingredients: Shrimp and broccoli make this a protein-packed, nutrient-rich meal that still feels light.
- Highly Customizable: You can tweak spice levels or swap sides to make it fit your tastes perfectly.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe is all about balancing sweet, salty, and savory elements while keeping it fresh and simple. Each ingredient plays a role in creating that lip-smacking sauce and tender texture you’ll appreciate.
- Honey: Provides natural sweetness and helps thicken the sauce as it cooks.
- Low sodium soy sauce: Adds salty umami flavor without overwhelming the dish.
- Fresh grated ginger: Brightens up the sauce with a zesty kick that complements the garlic.
- Minced garlic: Essential for that signature garlic punch.
- Red pepper flakes: Adds just a hint of heat to balance the sweetness.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce for a nice glossy finish.
- Shrimp: I love jumbo shrimp for this, but use any size you like—but watch cooking time to avoid toughness.
- Butter: Creates a silky richness that elevates the sauce to another level.
- Broccoli: Adds color, crunch, and loads of nutrients.
- Olive oil: Helps cook broccoli evenly and keeps it tender-crisp.
- Salt & pepper: Enhances all the flavors beautifully.
Make It Your Way
I love experimenting with this dish depending on what mood I’m in or what’s in my kitchen. Feel free to swap broccoli for snap peas or add a handful of chopped green onions at the end for freshness. It’s all about making it your own.
- Variation: One time, I tossed in some thinly sliced bell peppers and mushrooms—it brought a fun texture and color pop that my family adored.
- Spice it up: If you like heat, add extra red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha for a playful kick.
- Make it gluten-free: Just swap soy sauce for tamari, and you'll be all set.
- Carb swap: Instead of rice or pasta, serve over cauliflower rice for a lighter option.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli Recipe
Step 1: Whisk Together Your Sauce Magic
Start by combining the honey, soy sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. This is where all the flavors come alive. Give it a good stir so everything melds together nicely before marinating the shrimp.
Step 2: Marinate the Shrimp
Pop your peeled and deveined shrimp into a bowl, then pour in about one-third of the sauce mixture. Toss the shrimp around to coat well and let it sit for about 10 to 30 minutes if you have time. Trust me, it amps up the flavor big time!
Step 3: Prep Your Broccoli
Heat up your skillet or wok on high and add olive oil. Toss in the chopped broccoli, season with salt and pepper, and stir-fry for 5 to 6 minutes until it’s crisp-tender. You want the broccoli cooked but still vibrant and a little crunchy. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
Step 4: Cook the Shrimp
Add butter to the now-empty skillet on medium-high heat. Add the marinated shrimp (discarding any leftover marinade) and cook for about 2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Be careful not to overcook here—shrimp can go from perfect to rubbery quickly.
Step 5: Thicken the Sauce
Whisk the cornstarch into the remaining sauce mixture and pour it into the skillet with the shrimp. Bring the heat down to medium-low and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and beautifully coats the shrimp.
Step 6: Bring it All Together
Add the cooked broccoli back into the skillet and toss everything together so the sauce clings to both shrimp and veggies. Give it a minute or so until everything is heated through, then you’re ready to serve!
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve discovered a few small tricks that really make this dish sing and ensure your Honey Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli Recipe turns out perfect every time.
- Don’t skip marinating: Even 10 minutes lets the shrimp soak up the sweet-savory flavors, but 30 minutes is ideal when you can wait.
- High heat is your friend: Stir-frying broccoli quickly keeps it bright green and crunchy — lower heat makes it soggy.
- Watch the shrimp cook time: Overcooked shrimp get tough fast, so keep an eye on them and remove as soon as they turn pink.
- Thicken with cornstarch: Adding cornstarch to the reserved sauce is what gives it that lovely glossy finish.
How to Serve Honey Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a sucker for a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds on top—it adds a nice nuttiness and a bit of crunch. A few chopped scallions or fresh cilantro leaves also lend a bright fresh contrast that makes the dish pop.
Side Dishes
I usually serve this over steamed jasmine or basmati rice to soak up all that saucy goodness. Sometimes I swap in egg noodles or even cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option. It’s also great alongside simple stir-fried greens if you want extra veggies.
Creative Ways to Present
For a dinner party, I like to plate the shrimp and broccoli over a nest of thin rice noodles, topped with sliced red chili and a drizzle of chili oil to impress guests. You can even serve it in little lettuce cups for a fun appetizer or light meal twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
This dish stores really well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I like to separate the shrimp and broccoli from rice or noodles to keep everything fresh and prevent sogginess.
Freezing
I’ve frozen leftovers a couple of times. The texture softens a bit after thawing, but it’s still tasty in soups or fried rice. Just defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating gently on the stovetop.
Reheating
Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or broth to prevent drying out. Avoid microwaving if you can, as it tends to make shrimp rubbery.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Just thaw the shrimp completely and pat them dry before marinating and cooking for the best results. This keeps the sauce from diluting and ensures your shrimp cook evenly.
You can increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the sauce or add a dash of chili garlic sauce or sriracha when tossing the shrimp and broccoli. Adjust gradually to suit your heat preference.
Definitely! Snap peas, green beans, or bell peppers work wonderfully in this recipe. Just adjust cooking time slightly based on the vegetable to maintain a crisp-tender texture.
You can marinate the shrimp for as little as 10 minutes for a quick boost of flavor, but up to 30 minutes is best for deeper flavor soak-in. Avoid marinating longer than 30 minutes as the acid in soy sauce could start to "cook" the shrimp and change the texture.
Final Thoughts
This Honey Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli Recipe has quickly become one of my absolute favorites—not just because it’s fast and delicious, but also because it feels like a little reward after a hectic day. I hope you find yourself reaching for this one when you want something that’s nourishing, comforting, and oh-so-satisfying. Give it a whirl, invite your favorite people to the table, and enjoy every bite—you’ll be glad you did.
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Delicious Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp & Broccoli recipe is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender shrimp with crisp broccoli, all coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic butter sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it’s easy to prepare and pairs wonderfully with rice or pasta.
Ingredients
Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled, deveined and tails removed if desired
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups chopped broccoli
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, fresh grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Mix well until fully combined.
- Marinate the shrimp: Place the peeled and deveined shrimp into a bowl and add one-third of the prepared sauce. Toss to coat and let marinate for at least 10 minutes for best flavor.
- Prepare the thickening sauce: Whisk the cornstarch into the reserved marinade (the remaining two-thirds of the sauce) and set aside.
- Cook the broccoli: Heat a skillet or wok over high heat. Add olive oil, then add the chopped broccoli along with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-6 minutes until the broccoli is just tender. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the shrimp: Add butter to the same skillet and discard any remaining marinade from the shrimp bowl. Add the shrimp and cook about 2 minutes on each side until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
- Thicken the sauce: Pour in the reserved sauce with cornstarch and bring to a low-medium simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens.
- Combine broccoli and shrimp: Return the cooked broccoli to the skillet and toss everything together until heated through and well coated in the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the honey garlic butter shrimp and broccoli over rice or pasta for a complete meal.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, marinate the shrimp for 30 minutes instead of 10.
- Jumbo 16/20 size shrimp are recommended, but any size will work; smaller shrimp will cook faster.
- Keeping shrimp tails on adds flavor and presentation appeal but can be removed based on preference.
- Use fresh broccoli for best texture, but frozen broccoli is acceptable if thawed and patted dry before cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 638 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
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