Succulent shrimp with fluffy quinoa, shredded zucchini and funky feta all cooked in ONE PAN and in 30 minutes or less! This One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa is perfect for busy weeknight dinners!
Hi there, friends!
I hope the week is treating you well!!
I’m actually feeling all sorts of under the weather, so today’s post is going to be the shortest post in the history of this here blog.
Did you just applaud?
I can’t say I blame you. 😇
I know I’m normally terribly long winded and ridiculously rambly.
So you can consider today’s lack of wordy nonsense a small gift.
Just don’t say I never gave you anything. 😉
Quick Navigation - Table of Contents
One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa
Aka a little shrimp skillet sensation for YOU.
Plump, succulent shrimp lovingly nestled in fluffy, nutty quinoa packed with delicate, shredded zucchini, herbaceous parsley and pungent red onion; finished with salty, funky feta, crunchy pine nuts, and generously drizzled with a luscious, spicy butter mixture.
Basically this is how you win at life.
Or at least at weeknight dinner.
Because ONE PAN.
But also, Shrimp. Quinoa. Veggies. And BUTTER.
PLUS your face.
I mean, it’s a no brainer. Right?
How to make One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa:
You’ll start by searing the shrimp in a smidgen of butter until they are just BARELY cooked. Remove them to a plate and set them aside.
Then, heat a bit of oil in the same pan until it’s shimmering. Add in the onions, sprinkle ‘em with paprika, some salt and pepper. Add in the garlic and sauté everything until fragrant.
Add in the quinoa and broth, bring everything to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pan and let the quinoa cook until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy.
Meanwhile, melt some butter and season it with a few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set it aside.
Stir in the zucchini and add the shrimp back to the pan.
Spruce it up with a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice and a generous dose of fresh parsley.
Drizzle everything with ALL that butter.
Garnish it with some pine nuts and feta cheese, because you deserve it.
Grab a large shovel and chow down.
Notes, Tips & Tricks for One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa recipe:
- I left the tail on my shrimp for aesthetic purposes only. You can leave the tail on, or remove it, just make sure you peel and devein the shrimp!
- The recipe calls for large (16/20 count) shrimp, but you can use smaller, or jumbo, shrimp depending on your preference. Simply scale the cook time, down or up respectively, when you are partially cooking the shrimp in recipe step #1.
- When cooking the quinoa you can either use vegetable broth, chicken broth or chicken stock. I personally used vegetable broth, but use whatever you have on hand or prefer!
- The easiest way to shred zucchini is using a box grater. I used the large holes on the box grater so the zucchini is slightly hidden (for picky kids), but not completely disintegrated (for us adults). 😉
- For the butter sauce, you can either melt the butter in the microwave, or melt it on the stovetop over medium heat. Personally, if you are looking to save time and energy, I’d go with simply melting it in the microwave on 50% power.
Just because the work week is hectic and complicated, it doesn’t mean your dinner has to be! Add this One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa to your dinner rotation and start winning at supper.
Until next week friends, cheers – to one pan wonders!
Craving MORE? Follow all the deliciousness on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!
How to make One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa at home👇
One Pan Lemon Butter Shrimp & Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Large Shrimp – peeled and deveined*
- 5 TBS Unsalted Butter , divided
- 1 TBS Olive Oil
- ½ Red Onion – diced (about 1 cup)
- ¾ tsp Sweet Paprika
- ½ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes , divided
- 2 cloves Garlic – minced
- 1 Cup Quinoa – rinsed
- 2 Cups Vegetable Broth or Chicken Broth/Stock
- 1 large Zucchini – shredded* (about 2 cups)
- 1 Lemon – juice and zest, divided
- 2 TBS Fresh Parsley – chopped, or more to taste
- Kosher Salt and Pepper , to taste
Optional Garnishes: Pine Nuts, Crumbled Feta Cheese, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, Lemon Wedges, Cherry Tomatoes
Instructions
- Partially cook the shrimp: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 12’’ skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the pan and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp are pink on one side, about 2 minutes, and then flip and continue to cook until JUST BARELY cooked, about 1 additional minute. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside, tenting very loosely to keep warm.
- For the quinoa: Heat oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add in the onion, paprika and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add in the quinoa and broth, and bring contents to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
- Remove the lid and stir in the zucchini and shrimp. Cook until just warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest, ½ the juice, and parsley. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, melt remaining 4 tablespoons of butter* and season with remaining ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes and remaining lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside for drizzling finished dish.
- To Serve: Top the shrimp and quinoa with pine nuts, feta cheese and additional optional garnishes. Drizzle with butter. Enjoy!
This one is a 10! I customized it slightly to suit my taste – I used shallots instead of red onion, and Parmesan instead of feta. I also stirred in some spinach to wilt near the end for extra green goodness. This is a really delicious meal I will be making again for SURE!
Hi Kayleigh,
I’m so happy to hear you were able to customize the recipe to your taste! Your substitutions sound absolutely delicious – I’m going to have to try them next time I make this!! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how everything went over! Cheers!
I hope you’re feeling better, Cheyanne!
Always need more delicious one-pan meal ideas like this for busy weeknights. And why do I always forget about quinoa? Must try this…
Dude, I love a one pan wonder and this dish does not disappoint! I’m digging the quinoa with the shrimp and cleverly hidden zucchini. Hope you are feeling better! Xo
So good! I love how easy and delicious you make this. I want it now!
You are killing me Larry! So funny I like those fast easy ingredients too – even my face can get in on the action, brilliant! No truly, if you can create this feeling under the weather, I feel like a numnut! Your creations are incredible as always.
This is brilliant, Cheyanne – I never think of cooking quinoa with other ingredients but you’ve totally inspired me – such an easy and tasty dish! Hope you are having a fun weekend!
I SO did not applaud!! What can I look forward to this week, if not my bestie’s delightful chatter? 🙂 Ah well, at least we have these gorg-balls photos to drool over. 🙂 I hope you feel better soon. Perhaps the warmer weather will cheer you up too? Wishing you a weekend of relaxation and fun Spring activites! Meanwhile, I’m, of course, drooling over that lovely bed of quinoa and zucchini. And my momma would speed up those adoption papers if you were to make this shrimp dish for her! 😉 Hugs! Sending you feeling better vibes. xoxo
I hope you start to feel better soon!! I think lemon and shrimp are of the best flavor combos. This looks so yummy and delicious. Take care.
hope you feel better soon!! xoxo The dish sounds really flavorful!!
I can totally appreciate your short post. I hope you feel better soon my friend! I actually got pretty excited when I saw this post because it contains a few of my FAVORITE things: shrimp. quinoa. ONE PAN. etc. etc. It’s all amazing. This is definitely something I’ll try for my fam. At least it’s Friday tomorrow!!
Wait, WHAT? You’re never long-winded and rambly! I love your posts and always leave here giggling :). This shrimp looks totally magnificent! Sorry you’re not feeling well though; that’s never fun. I hope you get some rest this weekend and start feeling better soon!
Hey beautiful – I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling under the weather. No fun now that the weather is finally improving. Hope you are feeling all kinds of better by now. This dish is gorgeous – loving the one dish and the quinoa. I made quinoa for the first time a couple years ago and our whole family really loved it. It is easy to make, gluten free – tastes great, nutritious. What’s not to love? But pair it with shrimp….now you’re talking…..Thanks for another stunning dish my friend, I hope all is well with you and Boy and that you are on the mend soon. XOXO
Healthy, full of goodness and in just one pot!! I am all in! I love all the flavors in this recipe and with summer just around the corner, this is so perfect!
Love this idea for dinner, looks so fresh and satisfying – just how I like my meals! Hope you rest up over the weekend and feel better soon! XO.
You give us something wonderful twice a week and then some! Feel better quickly, my dear! No fun feeling under the weather especially now that the weather is getting nicer! This dish is a keeper! My family will love it! Cheers! xoxo
YES to one pan meals, especially when they’re so light and fresh like this! My family loves shrimp and I don’t make it enough, so I need to add this to the rotation. Gorgeous dish!
What a wonderful one pot pan. Those shrimps look perfect and I like it that you think about hiding the zucchini in case kids are going to eat. 🙂
Chey, I do love your short posts. Not because I don’t like the long ones – it’s just a good excuse for me. It’s like “If Chey doesn’t feel like writing a long post today, I’m going to have a super mini post as well”. Note, the reason ain’t me being lazy – I simply like to support my buddy:) This one pan dish looks fabulous! Quinoa and shrimp make a fantastic combo. Definitely, I need this ASAP.
One pan dinner for the win! And healthy two so extra points for that! Hope you feel better soon, Chey! Take this weekend to relax 😉 xo
I just happen to have some lovely shrimp in my freezer right now, so this needs to happen here this weekend! Hope you’re feeling better soon 🙂
This is my kind of summer dish Chey! Of course, you know I’ll have to leave out the zucchini for you know who. But I love each and every ingredient on the list. So easy too which is perfect for summer entertaining. Hope you’re feeling better soon! It’s almost the weekend!
I’m so sorry to hear you’re feeling under the weather! I hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead of you so you can get better! As for this lemon butter shrimp and quinoa, this is definitely a no-brainer and definitely winning at weeknight dinner! I love ALL the parts of this dish my friend. And that butter on top and the pine nuts and feta at the end – well that just takes it over the top! Pinned! XO
I ADORE fuss free one pan meals! This looks not only delicious, also very healthy, Chey. Don’t you just love those succulent and fresh shrimp??!!