Easy 20-Minute Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

Quickly sauté shrimp with fresh veggies and a homemade garlic sauce for a complete meal ready in just 20 minutes! Serve as is or on top of rice.

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2021 and has been republished with all new photos.

I love a great stir fry for dinner because they’re fast. But not only that, they can be so very flavorful.

And let’s not forget how easy it is to create a stir fry using what you have on hand. If you have a protein and a fresh veggie you can always create something incredible. I am always excited about an easy dinner for busy weeknights!

This shrimp stir fry is especially speedy since you only need 5 minutes for the most perfectly cooked and tender shrimp. Green beans and bell pepper give this meal some crunch. The quick 5-ingredient garlic sauce adds the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. It is dreamy!

Ingredients for Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

• Olive or avocado oil: A little bit of oil helps us sauté the veggies. I recommend extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil but you can use any oil you’re comfortable cooking with.
• Fresh green beans: Fresh green beans are the vegetable of choice in this quick stir fry recipe.
• Bell pepper: Bell peppers come in several colors and you can use whichever you prefer. Orange, yellow, and red bell peppers are slightly sweeter than green. I like to use half a red bell pepper and half an orange or yellow bell pepper for this easy recipe because the color variety is beautiful. Use whichever you like!
• Garlic: Minced garlic has a pungent and delicious flavor. You can mince your own fresh garlic or use a jarred variety.
• Coconut aminos or soy sauce: Coconut aminos is a great soy sauce substitute. It adds a little sweetness to our sauce and contains a lot less sodium than soy sauce.
• Sesame oil: Sesame oil has a rich, almost nutty taste that’s a fantastic addition in stir fries. A small amount goes a long way.
• Shrimp: For this stir fry we’re using peeled and deveined raw shrimp. I recommend large shrimp so they’re not totally overwhelmed by the veggies. You can use frozen shrimp if you thaw it first.
• A few simple seasonings: Garlic powder, ground ginger, salt, and black pepper are the only seasonings you need to flavor this quick stir fry.

How to Make Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

Sauté the green beans and bell pepper in a large skillet with a little oil on medium-high heat. We want to keep them a bit crunchy with some blistered spots. Add the minced garlic to get it beautifully golden in color.

Add sauce ingredients to the skillet. Season the shrimp and add it to the skillet too. Let everything cook together until shrimp is pink. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like!

Can You Use Frozen Shrimp in Stir Fry?

Do not add frozen shrimp directly to the skillet. You’re welcome to use frozen shrimp but you’ll need to thaw it first. There are two ways to do this:

Place the bag of frozen shrimp in a bowl in the refrigerator to thaw naturally.

If you’re short on time, an alternative method for thawing is to run cold water (never warm or hot water) over the bag of shrimp. Shrimp thaws quickly so you’ll only need to wait about 10 to 15 minutes to thaw them this way.

What Size Shrimp is Best for a Stir Fry?

I suggest opting for larger shrimp so you’re more likely to avoid overcooking. Shrimp cook quickly and it’s easy to go too long if you’re not paying attention!

Should You Leave the Tails on the Shrimp?

Leave the tails on or remove them. It’s really just a matter of personal preference.

Is This Stir Fry Spicy?

Not at all. If you want to add some heat, use a little sriracha in your sauce or top everything with crushed red pepper flakes.

How to Get Crispy Stir Fry Veggies

One of the most important parts of a great stir fry is that crunch you get from the fresh vegetables. So we don’t want to overcook the green beans. The goal is to blister them on a fairly high heat (we’re using medium-high) so we see some browned spots. Do this for about 5 minutes and no more. Keep in mind that the green beans will continue to cook with the shrimp and sauce.

How to Store Leftovers

I love this stir fry for meal prep. Leftovers of this easy garlic shrimp stir fry can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

This entree also freezes, thaws, and reheats beautifully. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just add it to a skillet (after thawing) on the stove over medium to medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Add a splash of water as it’s cooking if you notice that it’s sticking to the pan.

How to Serve Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

I love a veggie-loaded stir fry like this one on a bed of white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice (if low carb). To make it look extra impressive add a sprinkle of fresh parsley, chopped green onions, or sesame seeds before serving.

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