I love a good old shrimp appetizer with butter and lemon sauce, and today we’re going to make just that. This Lemon Pepper Shrimp recipe is a fantastic blend of tangy, zesty, and spicy flavors. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fancy weekend treat, these shrimp are sure to impress. So, let’s get cooking!
What you’ll need
Main Ingredients
– 12 shrimp
– ½ tbsp garlic powder
– ½ tsp seasoning salt
– ½ tsp onion powder
– ¼ tsp white pepper
– 1 tsp olive oil
– 1 tsp lemon zest
Batter
– ¼ cup rice flour
– ⅛ cup cornstarch
– Frying oil
Sauce
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– 3 tbsp butter
– 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
– ½ tsp red pepper flakes
– ½ tbsp honey
– ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
– Parsley, minced
How to
Preparing the Shrimp
- Start by cleaning the shrimp. Remove the intestine with a toothpick
- In a bowl, toss the shrimp with garlic powder, seasoning salt, onion powder, white pepper, olive oil, and lemon zest. Make sure each shrimp is well-coated with the seasoning mix. Let it marinate for about 15 minutes.
Preparing the Batter
- Combine the rice flour and cornstarch in another bowl. This combination creates a light and crispy coating that’s perfect for our shrimp.
- Dredge each marinated shrimp in the flour mixture, ensuring they’re evenly coated. Shake off any excess.
Frying the Shrimp
- In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the frying oil over medium-high heat. You can either shallow fry or deep fry the shrimp.
- Once the oil is hot (you can test it by dropping a small bit of batter into the oil – if it sizzles, it’s ready), carefully add the shrimp. Fry until they’re golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and drain on paper towels or a rack.
Making the Sauce
- In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the butter and let it melt. Once melted, toss in the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes, honey, and fresh lemon juice. Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Add minced parsley at the final step.
Serving
- Toss the shrimp with the sauce to coat evenly. Make sure each shrimp is generously covered in the sauce.
Tips to make the best lemon pepper shrimp
- I use white pepper in this recipe because of its strong flavor, which adds a nice punch to the dish.
- The rice flour and cornstarch batter give a light, crispy coating.
- Always use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. It makes a huge difference compared to bottled lemon juice.
Other recipes I think you might like
What can you pair with Lemon Pepper Shrimp
1. Rice
- Garlic Butter Rice: good old rice can never go wrong.
- Lemon Herb Rice: Add some lemon zest and fresh herbs to your rice for an extra burst.
2. Pasta
- Angel Hair Pasta: angel hair pasta tossed with olive oil, garlic, and a sprinkle of Parmesan is a great match.
- Linguine: if you like linguine, serve the shrimp over a bed of linguine with a drizzle of lemon butter sauce.
3. Vegetables
- Roasted Asparagus: Fressh, roasted asparagus pairs wonderfully with the tender shrimp.
- Grilled Zucchini: Lightly charred zucchini adds a nice contrast in texture and flavor.
4. Bread
- Garlic Bread: Crispy, buttery garlic bread with lemon pepper shrimp is a perfect combo. Bread is a great way to soak up that extra sauce.
- Crusty Baguette: is my favorate, I always mop up the delicious lemon butter sauce with baguette.
6. Quinoa
- Lemon Quinoa: Light and fluffy, lemon quinoa is a healthy and flavorful side that complements the shrimp well.
7. Potatoes
- Roasted Potatoes: Seasoned with herbs and garlic, roasted potatoes add a comforting touch to the meal.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a classic side that pairs beautifully with shrimp.
8. Couscous
- Herbed Couscous: Light and fluffy couscous with fresh herbs and a hint of lemon is a perfect pairing.
There you have it! A delightful Lemon Pepper Shrimp recipe that’s both easy to make and perfect for a quick appetizer. Give it a try, and let me know how it turns out. Happy cooking!

Lemon Pepper Shrimp
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 shrimp
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp seasoning salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Batter
- ¼ cup rice flour
- ⅛ cup cornstarch
- Frying oil
Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tbsp honey
- ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Parsley minced
Instructions
- Start by cleaning the shrimp. Remove the intestine with a toothpick
- In a bowl, toss the shrimp with garlic powder, seasoning salt, onion powder, white pepper, olive oil, and lemon zest. Make sure each shrimp is well-coated with the seasoning mix. Let it marinate for about 15 minutes.
- Combine the rice flour and cornstarch in another bowl. This combination creates a light and crispy coating that’s perfect for our shrimp.
- Dredge each marinated shrimp in the flour mixture, ensuring they’re evenly coated. Shake off any excess.
- In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the frying oil over medium-high heat. You can either shallow fry or deep fry the shrimp.
- Once the oil is hot (you can test it by dropping a small bit of batter into the oil – if it sizzles, it’s ready), carefully add the shrimp. Fry until they’re golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and drain on paper towels or a rack.
- In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the butter and let it melt. Once melted, toss in the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes, honey, and fresh lemon juice. Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Add minced parsley at the final step.
- Toss the shrimp with the sauce to coat evenly. Make sure each shrimp is generously covered in the sauce.






