Get ready for a flavor-packed delight with my Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice! Crafted with succulent shrimp and aromatic garlic, this dish takes shrimp fried rice to a whole new level with the addition of Old Bay seasoning, creating a heavenly plate bursting with flavor! It’s the perfect side dish to complement any seafood-centered meal, and with its ease of preparation and delicious taste, you’ll want to make it again and again!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Let me share why this Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice recipe holds a special place in my recipe collection! With its effortless preparation, vibrant flavors, and versatility to accompany a range of side dishes, it’s a delightful fried rice infused with bold Cajun-inspired seasoning, cooked alongside tender shrimp bathed in garlic butter using my proven fried rice cooking method from my Lime Chicken Fried Rice and Garlic Butter Vegetable Fried Rice!
Crafted with my love for the flavors of Old Bay Cajun seasoning, this dish is my own creation, designed to pair perfectly with my Cajun Shrimp Boil – Boiling Crab Copycat recipe. With each bite, you’ll savor the Cajun flavors blended with the savory notes of garlic butter shrimp, making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a simple yet sensational side dish to elevate their seafood-inspired meal. Don’t wait any longer—dive into the flavors of my Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice now!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Shrimp – fresh or frozen peeled and deveined.
- Rice – rice of choice.
- Garlic – minced or finely chopped.
- Neutral Oil -no taste or flavor with high cooking temperature. Some choices are sunflower oil, peanut oil, sallower oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil.
- Butter – salted or unsalted.
- Old Bay Seasoning – Old Bay Seasoning, a mixture of celery salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, and other spices. Commonly used with seafood.
- Black Pepper – ground.
- Parsley – finely chopped for garnish.
- Veggies – add fresh vegetables if preferred.
🍚 Rice Note
For optimal results, use Leftover Cold Rice or Day-Old Cooked Cold Rice. This technique efficiently reduces excess moisture, ensuring your fried rice maintains its texture.
Essential Kitchen Equipment
- Wok or Deep Large Skillet
Directions
☑ Before Getting Started
For best results, use a Wok or Deep Skillet. This choice of cookware enables you to retain maximum heat during the cooking process, ensuring that your fried rice turns out perfectly.
Step 1 Heat a pan or wok over medium-high and cook the shrimp until they turn pink, then set them aside.
Step 2 Next, cook rice in the same pan under high heat for 2-3 minutes until your desired tenderness is attained.
🍚 Fried Rice Pro Tip
Avoid Overcrowding the pan to ensure there’s enough space for all the rice to cook evenly under high heat and within the correct temperature range. If making a large serving, it’s better to Cook in Batches instead.
Step 3 Add butter, the cooked shrimp, Old Bay seasoning, and black pepper. Stir-fry everything until well combined and the butter is melted.
🌿 Garnishing Pro Tip
Finish by topping the dish with Chopped Parsley.
Recipe Variations
Transform my fried rice dish into Garlic Chicken Fried Rice by adding chicken and extra garlic butter. Alternatively, try Japanese Beef Fried Rice by swapping shrimp for beef. For a taste of the tropics, make Spam Fried Rice using spam instead of shrimp.
Pairing Recommendations
Pair this flavorful fried rice as a side dish with your seafood feast, complementing mains such as my Cajun Seafood Boil – Boiling Crab Copycat, my vibrant Shrimp Asparagus Stir Fry or my bold and spicy Pan Fried Cajun Shrimp! For a heartier meal, consider serving it alongside my indulgent Seafood Gratin Bake!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Yes, you can! Just make sure to thaw them properly before cooking.
How do I know when the shrimp are cooked through?
You'll know the shrimp are cooked through when they turn pink and are no longer opaque.
Storage Tips
To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. These leftovers will remain fresh for approximately 3 to 5 days when properly stored.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Pan Seared Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Honey Garlic Shrimp
- Shrimp Cakes with Garlic Aioli
- Old Bay Pan Fried Shrimp
Watch How To Make It
Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1/2 lbs Shrimp peeled
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil neutral, no flavor or taste
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 Cups Rice rice of choice
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Prepare shrimp by deveining, peeling, drying off any liquid with a paper towel. Cut shrimp into 1/2 inch pieces as shown below.
- Mince garlic and chop parsley as shown below.
- In a frying pan, add 1 tbsp of neutral cooking oil and minced garlic on medium heat. Once the garlic becomes fragrant, about 30-45 seconds, add in chopped shrimp. Cook for 1-2 minutes until pink throughout. Remove from heat and transfer to holding bowl.
- In a large fry pan, add rice and cook for 2-3 minutes or until preferred tenderness is attained. Add butter and mix until melted.
- Add back in the cooked shrimp from step 4), mix in Old Bay seasoning and black pepper. Cook for an additional 45-60 seconds and transfer to a serving bowl. Top with chopped parsley and enjoy hot!
Nutrition
*Values Based Per Serving
