• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
KITCHEN @ HOSKINS
  • Halloween
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Halloween
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Halloween
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Shrimp

    Spicy Chili Lime Shrimp (20 Minute Recipe)

    Published: May 10, 2022 · Modified: Jun 17, 2023 by Maria Doss · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    • Share!
    Jump to Recipe

    Easy Chili Lime Shrimp - Juicy and succulent shrimp in a flavorful spicy lime sauce is a quick and easy dinner recipe that comes together in about 20 minutes.

    cast iron skillet with spicy shrimp in chili lime sauce.

    Chili Lime Shrimp Recipe

    A delicious combination of chili lime sauce tossed with sautéed prawn and finished with cilantro. It is ready in under 20 minutes, made with simple pantry ingredients, packed with so much flavor from lots of garlic, lime juice, chili powder, cayenne and red pepper flakes. When I’m craving savory flavors, this recipe is sure to satisfy!

    My favorite part of this recipe is that it is made without wine, making it perfect for kids to enjoy! It can served in many ways making it a great to-go recipe to enjoy with whatever you have at home like this air fryer shrimp.

    We begin by seasoning the seafood with a homemade spice blend and then cooked at a low temperature and then finished with freshly squeezed lime juice and chopped cilantro. It’s the perfect quick weeknight dinner.

    Why you'll love this recipe?

    • Flavorful - Made with warm spices and paired with fresh, tangy citrus, it is nothing short of flavor.
    • Easy dinner idea - It is ready in about 20 minutes making it perfect for weeknights.
    • One skillet meal - No need of the oven, grill or air fryer and the clean up is a breeze.
    • Serve as you please - These are amazing paired with plain white or brown rice, made into tacos or lettuce wraps.

    What is chili lime sauce made of?

    The sauce is a perfect balance of spice blend like chili powder, cayenne pepper powder, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, salt and fresh lime juice with the pan juices and olive oil. It is loaded with so much flavor that your family and loved ones are going to love this!

    What kind of shrimp to use?

    Use raw, cleaned variety with tails removed or intact. We love frozen ones, since it is always stocked in the freezer and thaws in minutes, unlike other protein.

    How to clean shrimp?

    We like to use frozen cleaned and deveined prawns for convenience. However, it is easier to clean them at home. Cut a shallow incision along the top of the prawn all the way down to the tail, using a small paring knife. Now with the tip of the knife, lift out the black vein running in the middle. Discard the shells and veins. Rinse with clean water and dry with paper towels.

    How to serve?

    Cook over low heat to create a sauce that is perfect served with cooked white rice, cauliflower rice or Cilantro lime Rice.

    Cook over medium heat to be made into lettuce wraps, salad or tacos.

    Ingredients

    This easy recipe comes together with few ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand. Look for detailed measurements in the recipe card below:

    1. Shrimp – We used peeled and deveined frozen prawns like in air fryer breaded shrimp recipe.
    2. Seasonings - Chili powder, cayenne, red pepper flakes and salt.
    3. Lime juice – Fresh squeezed is a must to get the best lime flavor.
    4. Garlic – Use freshly chopped garlic cloves.
    5. Olive oil – Balances out the citrus and helps coat the prawns.
    6. Cilantro - Fresh chopped cilantro and lime just go together perfectly.

    Pro Tips for Success

    Adjust the heat - Cook over low heat for a sauce if serving with rice or medium heat of making tacos or lettuce wraps.

    Don't overcook - Seafood gets tough and chewy when overcooked. Take off heat when they curl up into a c-shape and the tail ends are pinkish in color.

    Adjust the spiciness - Adjust the cayenne and red pepper flakes based on your spice level.

    HELPFUL TIP -Don't over cook! Prawns cook faster than you might think they do and only need to have JUST turned pink to be ready to eat.

    ingredients needed to make spicy lime shrimp.

    tossing shrimp with spices in a glass bowl.

    How to make?

    1. Marinade - Toss minced garlic, spices and salt along with prawns, let marinade for 15 minutes, if possible.
    2. Cook marinated prawn in olive oil over low heat, until it is curled and cooked. Remove pan from heat and stir in lime juice and cilantro.

    How to store?

    Refrigerate leftovers in air tight containers for 3 to 4 days. Microwave to re-heat. We love to assemble with white rice in meal prep containers, so we have dinners ready to go in the fridge.

    Can you freeze?

    We recommend not freezing the dish, since the texture and consistency of sauce changes.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you use frozen shrimp?

    Yes, you can use frozen variety, just be sure to thaw them and dry them completely before adding them to the marinade. Remove any excess moisture with kitchen paper.

    How long to marinade ?

    Seafood don’t need long to marinade. We like to marinade them for about 15 minutes on the counter or cooked right away if pressed for time.

    How many calories?

    One serving contains 236 calories with 26 grams of protein, 0 grams of sugar and 4 grams carbs.

    stir frying shrimp and spices in a cast iron skillet.
    spoon with cooked shrimp in a chili lime sauce.

    spicy shrimp in a skillet garnished with lime and cilantro.

    More Shrimp recipes to make for dinner tonight-

    • :Garlic Butter Pasta
    • Indian Butter Shrimp 
    • Shrimp Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
    skillet with shrimp in chili lime sauce.

    Spicy Chili Lime Shrimp (20 Minute Recipe)

    Easy Chili Lime Shrimp - Juicy and succulent shrimp in a flavorful spicy lime sauce is a quick and easy dinner recipe that comes together in about 20 minutes.
    4.9 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 236kcal
    Author: Maria Doss

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
    • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika optional
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder use according to your spice level
    • ½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes use according to your spice level
    • ⅛ teaspoon sugar
    • 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice
    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add shrimp, minced garlic, chili powder, paprika, salt, cayenne, red pepper flakes and sugar in a medium bowl and toss until evenly combined.
    • Add olive oil into a medium skillet and place over low OR medium heat - Cook over low heat if serving with rice OR medium heat if making tacos or lettuce wraps.
    • Add seasoned shrimp, cook, stirring occasionally until shrimp is curled and cooked through ( 4 to 9 minutes). Over cooking shrimp will make them chewy, so remove from heat when the tails are pink and curled to get a c-shape.
    • Remove pan from heat and immediately stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro.
    • Serve with rice or make into tacos/lettuce wraps.

    Notes

    ADJUST THE HEAT
    Cook over low heat to create a sauce that is perfect served with cooked white rice, cauliflower rice or Cilantro lime Rice.
    Cook over medium heat to be made into lettuce wraps, salad or tacos. Top with avocado crema, cilantro lime sauce or chopped avocado.
    Don’t overcook – Seafood gets tough and chewy when overcooked. Take off heat when they curl up into a c-shape and the tail ends are pinkish in color.
    Adjust the spiciness – Adjust the cayenne and red pepper flakes based on your spice level.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 239mg | Sodium: 1510mg | Fiber: 1g

    Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.

    Did you make this recipe?Mention @KitchenAtHoskins or tag #kitchenathoskins!

    Did you make this recipe? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment or review below or snap a photo and share on Instagram.

    All contents and images are my original work, unless and otherwise mentioned. Please do not use my recipes or images without linking back to www.kitchenathoskins.com. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite in your own words and don’t forget to include a link back to the original recipe.

    Some of the links above are affiliate links, which pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for supporting kitchenathoskins.com

    « Strawberry Lassi
    Almond Butter Truffles »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi I'm Maria, the recipe developer, photographer, and videographer behind this food blog. Here you’ll find simple everyday recipes that pack in serious flavors, with a sprinkling of creative twists to familiar dishes. I also focus on including an overview of why the recipe works, valuable tips, step-by-step photos, and videos to guide you along the way.
    About Maria ->

    Halloween recipes

    • one skull shaped chip half immersed in salsa, placed in a small black bowl.
      Halloween Chips
    • Halloween pop tarts in the shape on ghosts placed on a black plate.
      Halloween Pop Tarts
    • two sandwiches in the shape of owls on a black board.
      Halloween Sandwich
    • no bake halloween chocolate pumpkins on a board.
      No Bake Halloween Pumpkins

    New Recipes

    • a white pot with mashed potatoes along with a black spoon.
      Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
    • cooked pumpkin cake topped with chocolate chips in a white mug.
      Pumpkin Mug Cake
    • sliced pumpkin cake topped with chopped pecans on a white tray.
      Pumpkin Cake
    • sweet potato biscuits on a white tray along with a small white bowl with butter.
      Sweet Potato Biscuits
    • a hand swirling mashed potatoes in a white bowl using a black spoon.
      Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • a hand pouring syrup on 3 pancakes on a white plate.
      Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

    Footer

    Copyright © 2022 CANDY GINGER LLC  Privacy policy

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    16 shares