Easy Shrimp And Rice Skillet

Love a good shrimp dinner? Here’s one with your name on it: this tasty shrimp and rice skillet recipe! Succulent, juicy shrimp sit atop a bed of fluffy rice flavored with garlic, dill and spinach. Give it a good sprinkling of feta cheese and a few spritzes of lemon juice, and it’s a total homerun. We’re always in need of a good 30-minute weeknight meal, and this one hits the spot in so many ways. Our kids were big fans!

Ingredients in this shrimp and rice recipe

This shrimp and rice skillet recipe is full of bright, fresh flavors. The base of the rice is similar to this spinach rice recipe, with spinach, feta, garlic, onion and dill. It’s topped with seasoned shrimp, which you’ll place on top once the rice is done and steam on low heat until it’s just tender. Here’s what you’ll need for this flavor-packed recipe:

Protein: Medium shrimp, tail on Pantry: Olive oil, long grain white rice Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, cumin, cayenne, and kosher salt Fresh ingredients: Garlic, lemon, spinach Dairy: Feta cheese

Type of shrimp for this recipe

There’s a wide variety of options at the store when it comes to purchasing shrimp. Here’s what we find is best for this shrimp and rice recipe:

Medium shrimp: Medium is our favorite size for a dish like this shrimp and rice skillet. Avoid very small or very large shrimp here. Medium is labeled as 41 to 50 count (the number of shrimp per pound). Wild caught: Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms. For more, go to Seafood Watch Consumer Guide. Tail on or peeled: Tail on shrimp looks the best aesthetically in this skillet. But it can be messy and harder to eat! If you use tail-on, serve it with a bowl for the discarded tails. Fresh or frozen: Frozen shrimp can be as high quality as fresh, if it’s frozen as soon as it’s caught. Make sure to thaw the shrimp before starting the recipe.

Tips for making shrimp and rice

This shrimp and rice recipe is so simple to put together! There are just a few things to note to make this recipe a success:

Don’t use brown rice as a substitute. Brown rice has a much longer cook time and isn’t a good substitute here. (Is brown rice really healthier? Read more here.) Make sure the rice is fully cooked before adding the shrimp. You’ll want all of the water to be absorbed before adding the shrimp on top. Allow the seasoned shrimp to cook covered on low heat until pink and tender. This steams the shrimp, making them perfectly juicy. You’ll mix the shrimp with spices first, which adds just the right hit of savory flavor. Garnish with lemon wedges. Sprinkle it all with lemon juice, then serve with more lemon wedges. The bright yellow against the pink shrimp and green spinach really makes the dish pop!

And that’s it! Let us know if you have more questions on this shrimp and rice recipe below. If you’re in the mood for other options, see below!

More shrimp and rice recipes

Want more ideas for shrimp and rice recipes? This pairing of whole grain and seafood is common across many different types of cuisines. Here are a few options:

Try this Spanish Paella, a traditional Spanish recipe with arborio rice Go for Creamy Shrimp Risotto, an Italian classic Make a Shrimp Bowl with Cilantro Lime Rice, a Mexican-inspired spin on a burrito bowl Try a quick and simple Honey Garlic Shrimp and Rice Grab Shrimp Fried Rice, quick and simple with day old rice Go for a Thai-inspired Shrimp Curry, featuring coconut milk and red curry paste Serve classic Shrimp Scampi or Shrimp Stir Fry and serve both with rice