• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fine Foods Blog
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Work With Me
  • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Work With Me
    • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Tequila Butter

    Published: Aug 27, 2021 · Modified: Jan 19, 2023 · by Debra with 1 Comment · 1419 words. About 8 minutes to read this article. · This post contains affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cilantro lime shrimp is a great idea for an easy dinner. You'll love the flavor of the tequila in the buttery sauce, and it cooks in 15 minutes!

    Two shots of tequila and a napkin next to two plates and a casserole pan with cilantro lime shrimp.

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    Yes, I said tequila butter! I mean, can you think of anything that sounds better than that? Nope.

    This cilantro lime shrimp is a twist on a classic shrimp scampi - swapping the parsley for cilantro, the lemon for lime, and the white wine for tequila.

    The tequila adds an incredible aroma that blends perfectly with the other ingredients. It makes the butter seem more buttery and it's just a delightful surprise.

    And more news: we're going to use the cilantro stems in the sauce to get a lot of extra fresh flavor. Leave no stem behind!

    Cilantro lime shrimp is a quick and easy dinner with unique flavors!

    • Quick prep: Chop some garlic and cilantro, juice some limes.
    • Ready in 15 minutes, the shrimp only cook 2 minutes per side.
    • Tequila and butter are best friends—who knew?
    • It's gluten free!
    Jump to:
    • Cilantro lime shrimp is a quick and easy dinner with unique flavors!
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • Recommended tools and equipment
    • How to make cilantro lime shrimp
    • Tips for cilantro lime shrimp
    • What kind of shrimp should you buy?
    • Can you make cilantro lime shrimp ahead of time?
    • How to serve cilantro lime shrimp
    • More shrimp recipes
    • Recipe
    Glass bowls full of raw shrimp, olive oil, crushed red pepper, cilantro stems and butter, along with garlic cloves, limes and fresh cilantro.

    Ingredients you'll need

    • Peeled and deveined shrimp (tail on): You can absolutely buy frozen shrimp here, I did. FYI the shrimp in most grocery store seafood cases is previously frozen, they are just charging you for the convenience of thawing it for you.
    • Cilantro leaves and stems: Using the stems of cilantro gives this dish an extra punch of fresh flavor. Don't leave them behind! And we're using loads of the leaves. I lovelovelove cilantro and this recipe showcases it beautifully.
    • Limes: You'll need some for juicing and some to serve on the side.
    • Tequila: Use a white tequila (blanco) that you would drink, but nothing too expensive.
    • Garlic: This is a twist on shrimp scampi, after all, so you need lots of garlic.
    • Butter and olive oil: The sauce is super-buttery, but we also need a bit of olive oil for a higher smoke point when cooking.
    • Crushed red pepper: For a little smoky heat.

    Recommended tools and equipment

    • Chef's knife: To chop the cilantro and garlic.
    • Cutting board: A wooden cutting board is easier on your knife blade.
    • Large, deep skillet: We'll make the cilantro lime sauce and the shrimp all in one pan.

    How to make cilantro lime shrimp

    Adapted from a recipe by Justin Chapple via Food and Wine.

    Step 1: Season the shrimp

    Thaw the shrimp if frozen. Drain off any excess liquid. Place the shrimp in a bowl and add the salt. Toss to coat and set aside.

    A wooden cutting board with a knife, a measuring cup, and cut cilantro leaves and stems.

    Step 2: Prep the cilantro, lime, and garlic

    Use a good chef's knife and chop the cilantro stems finely. Give the leaves a rough chop.

    A juicer with a lime, a knife, and garlic on a cutting board.

    Finely dice the garlic and juice the limes.

    A blue casserole pan with olive oil, garlic and cilantro stems.

    Step 3: Make the tequila butter sauce

    Place a large deep skillet or casserole pan over medium high heat. Add butter and olive oil. Once butter is melted, add the cilantro stems, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Stir constantly until the garlic becomes fragrant, 1-2 minutes.

    Turn the heat off and remove the pan from the burner, then carefully pour in the tequila. CAUTION: The tequila could catch fire if you leave the burner on!

    Disclosure: am a member of the Lodge Cast Iron Blogging Partners Program. This enamel casserole was provided to me free of charge. All opinions are my own.

    alt=""

    Step 4: Cook the shrimp

    Place the pan back on the burner and turn the heat to medium high. Stir constantly until the tequila evaporates. Add the shrimp and cook about 2 minutes on each side, just until they are an opaque pink.

    Remove shrimp from heat and stir in the lime juice and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges on the side.

    alt=""

    Tips for cilantro lime shrimp

    • You'll want to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go, because this cooks quickly.
    • Be very careful when adding the tequila. Be sure to turn the heat off and remove the pan from the heat to avoid catching the liquor on fire.
    • You can use almost any kind of non-stick skillet, but don't use cast iron. Citrus juices have a little too much acid and can damage the pan's seasoning.
    • Once cooked, no alcohol remains in the dish, just the flavor of the tequila.

    What kind of shrimp should you buy?

    • Get any shrimp in the range of 21-35 per pound. You don't want any that are too large or too small, as that will affect the cooking time.
    • I usually buy shrimp that are already peeled and deveined, but if unpeeled shrimp is on sale and you don't mind doing it yourself, go for it!
    • You don't actually have to devein the shrimp. Eating the vein will not hurt you.
    • I almost always buy frozen shrimp. The shrimp in the seafood case has been previously frozen and thawed, and they usually charge more for it!

    Can you make cilantro lime shrimp ahead of time?

    No, this recipe cannot be made ahead. You'll overcook the shrimp if you try to reheat it. But it cooks so quickly, there's really no need to!

    How to serve cilantro lime shrimp

    • Serve over rice or with crusty bread to sop up the sauce.
    • Make cilantro lime shrimp as an appetizer or a main course.
    • I love to serve this with corn on the cob, because the sauce gets all over the corn. It's just another way to make sure you get every drop of it!
    • Make cilantro lime shrimp tacos!
    • Add a side of Mexican Black Beans.

    More shrimp recipes

    Shrimp is such an easy dinner because it cooks so quickly. Here are a couple more ideas for you.

    • How about we dump everything in a pot and call it dinner? That's a Low Country Boil.
    • You'll be whisked away to a tapas bar in Spain when you make Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp). Sooooo garlicky good!
    • For another twist on scampi, try Shrimp Scampi with Corn, Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil. It tastes like summer.

    Recipe

    A pan of cilantro lime shrimp with a gold spoon in it.

    Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Tequila Butter

    Cilantro lime shrimp is a great idea for an easy dinner. You'll love the flavor of the tequila in the buttery sauce, and it cooks in 15 minutes!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: cilantro lime shrimp, tequila shrimp
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 316kcal

    Equipment

    • 12" non-stick skillet
    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • silicone spatula

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound shrimp
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 6 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro stems
    • ⅓ cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
    • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
    • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
    • 2 tablespoon tequila (blanco)
    • 2 tablespoon lime juice
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Thaw the shrimp if frozen. Drain off any excess liquid. Place the shrimp in a bowl and add the salt. Toss to coat and set aside.
    • Use a good chef's knife and chop the cilantro stems finely. Roughly chop the leaves. Finely dice the garlic and juice the limes.
    • Place a large deep skillet or casserole pan over medium high heat. Add butter and olive oil. Once butter is melted, add the cilantro stems, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Stir constantly until the garlic becomes fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
    • Turn the heat off and remove the pan from the burner, then carefully pour in the tequila. CAUTION: The tequila could catch fire if you leave the burner on! Place the pan back on the burner and turn the heat to medium high. Stir constantly until the tequila evaporates.
    • Add the shrimp and cook about 2 minutes on each side, just until they are an opaque pink.Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges on the side.

    Notes

    • You'll want to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go, because this cooks quickly.
    • Be very careful when adding the tequila. Be sure to turn the heat off and remove the pan from the heat to avoid catching the liquor on fire.
    • Once cooked, no alcohol remains in the dish, just the flavor of the tequila.
    • You can use almost any kind of non-stick skillet, but don't use cast iron. Citrus juices have a little too much acid and can affect the seasoning. I used my Lodge enamel casserole pan, it's so pretty it can go from stovetop to table. 
    • Be sure to check out the post above for more info on choosing ingredients and step by step photos. 
     
    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1014IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Seafood Recipes

    • A piece of salmon topped with creamy dill sauce and garnished with fresh dill and lemon zest.
      Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce
    • A low country boil spread out on newspaper.
      Low Country Boil
    • Baked salmon with peas and radishes on a white plate.
      Salmon with White Wine Sauce, Peas and Radishes
    • Salmon with roasted tomatoes topped with basil yogurt sauce on a blue plate.
      Salmon with Tomatoes and Basil Yogurt Sauce

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda Cummings

      September 02, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      Love this combination of flavors.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

    Subscribe To My Enewsletter

    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

    Gluten Free Recipes

    • Pimento cheese dip in a red bowl on a round wooden tray, surrounded by butter crackers, carrot sticks, and corn chips. A gold spoon is on the lower left, a red and white striped towel is on the upper left.
      Pimento Cheese Dip
    • Vietnamese caramel chicken topped with cilantro and red chilis in a pan with blue handles. A gold spoon rests in the pan sauce toward the bottom right.
      Vietnamese Caramel Chicken
    • Spicy asian broccoli on a white plate drizzled with a spicy sauce that is reddish-brown in color.
      Asian Broccoli
    • Chicken and cabbage with onions roasted on a sheet pan.
      Roast Chicken and Cabbage

    Search more gluten-free recipes

    Trending Recipes

    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • Chicken thighs topped with a caper lemon sauce on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
    • Two campari and soda cocktails with orange slices, a plate of nuts and two bottles in the background
      Campari and Soda
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs with mushrooms and white wine sauce in a blue casserole pan. Some fresh thyme is in the bottom right corner.
      One Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and White Wine

    Chocolate Recipes

    • Gluten free triple chocolate cookies on a baking sheet.
      Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookies
    • A gluten free chocolate ganache tart topped with flaky sea salt on a pink plate.
      Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Tart
    • Three white ramekins of chocolate mousse.
      Chocolate Mousse Recipe
    • Gluten free brownies with ganache icing dusted with cocoa powder on a white surface.
      Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts salad with blue cheese, pears, and pecans on a white and gray plate.
      Romaine Hearts Salad with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
    • Mussels in white wine sauce with lemon wedges and parsley in a blue pan with a spoon in it.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Moules Marinières)
    • French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.
      French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
    • Several servings of eggs en cocotte with spinach and bacon in small cast-iron skillets and serving dishes are displayed on a wooden surface.
      Eggs en Cocotte (Baked Eggs)

    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

    Subscribe To My Enewsletter

    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

    Gluten Free Recipes

    • Three chocolate pots de creme with whipped cream on top. Chocolate wafers are on the left, a spoon with chocolate on it is on the right.
      Chocolate Pots de Crème
    • Holubtsi—Ukranian cabbage rolls—topped with sour cream and fresh dill in a round pan. A wooden spoon is on the right.
      Ukranian Cabbage Rolls (Holubtsi)
    • A plate of fresh cranberry orange relish with orange zest on top and a gold spoon on the left side.
      Fresh Cranberry Relish
    • Tricolore salad in a white bowl with gold utensils.
      Tricolore Salad

    Search more gluten-free recipes

    Trending Recipes

    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • Chicken thighs topped with a caper lemon sauce on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
    • Two campari and soda cocktails with orange slices, a plate of nuts and two bottles in the background
      Campari and Soda
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs with mushrooms and white wine sauce in a blue casserole pan. Some fresh thyme is in the bottom right corner.
      One Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and White Wine

    Chocolate Recipes

    • Gluten free triple chocolate cookies on a baking sheet.
      Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookies
    • A gluten free chocolate ganache tart topped with flaky sea salt on a pink plate.
      Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Tart
    • Three white ramekins of chocolate mousse.
      Chocolate Mousse Recipe
    • Gluten free brownies with ganache icing dusted with cocoa powder on a white surface.
      Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts salad with blue cheese, pears, and pecans on a white and gray plate.
      Romaine Hearts Salad with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
    • Mussels in white wine sauce with lemon wedges and parsley in a blue pan with a spoon in it.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Moules Marinières)
    • French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.
      French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
    • Several servings of eggs en cocotte with spinach and bacon in small cast-iron skillets and serving dishes are displayed on a wooden surface.
      Eggs en Cocotte (Baked Eggs)

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Fine Foods Blog