This is the best Chinese garlic shrimp recipe, pan-fried and ready in under 30 minutes. It’s the perfect dinner for busy weeknights that’s packed with flavor from an insanely good garlic sauce!
🍚 Ingredient tips and substitutes
- Shrimp Use a large variety like tiger prawns or whiteleg shrimp. I recommend keeping the heads on to get that rich, flavorful oil when frying.
- Tempura flour Gives the shrimp a light, crispy coating. You can substitute with cornstarch if needed.
- Garlic Use plenty!
- Soy sauce Adds saltiness and umami to the garlic sauce.
- Oyster sauce Thick, savory, and slightly sweet.
- Sugar Just a touch to balance out the salty ingredients.
- Sesame oil Adds a nutty aroma and finishes the sauce with a smooth, toasted flavor.
- Water Used to thin the sauce slightly so it coats the shrimp evenly.
- Oil Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like canola, sunflower, or vegetable oil to pan-fry shrimp.
🍤 More Asian shrimp recipes to try
This Chinese shrimp with garlic sauce recipe needs to be on your weekly rotation if you love garlic as much as I do. It’s better than takeout, quick to make, and full of flavor. Let me know in the comments if you give it a try!
Chinese Garlic Shrimp Recipe
This Chinese garlic shrimp recipe is quick, easy, and packed with flavor. Crispy shrimp coated in a bold garlic sauce that’s so addictive!
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Small bowl for stirring the sauces
- Mixing bowl to toss shrimp with tempura flour
- Large nonstick or stainless steel skillet
- Tongs or spatula
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cooking oil
- 8 shrimp deveined, heads-on
- 3 tbsp tempura flour or cornstarch
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ tsp sugar
Instructions
- Mince the garlic and set aside. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the heads on.
- Pat the shrimp dry and coat with tempura flour or cornstarch.
- Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, water, and sugar in a small bowl.
- Heat the cooking oil in a pan.
- Fry the shrimp until golden and crispy on both sides. Transfer shrimp to your serving dish and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic in the same pan until golden, then add the sauce and stir briefly.
- Pour the sauce over the shrimp, top with fried garlic and sesame seeds if desired, and serve hot!
Video
Nutrition Facts
Chinese Garlic Shrimp Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
443
% Daily Value*
Fat
27
g
42
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
8
g
Monounsaturated Fat
16
g
Cholesterol
129
mg
43
%
Sodium
1598
mg
69
%
Potassium
320
mg
9
%
Carbohydrates
32
g
11
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
19
g
38
%
Vitamin A
1
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
89
mg
9
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notes
- Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and should be considered approximate.
🦐 How to make Chinese garlic shrimp
- Start by mincing your garlic and set it aside for later. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the heads on. This adds extra flavor into the sauce later.
- Pat the shrimp dry and coat them in tempura flour or cornstarch. This helps them crisp up when fried.
- In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, water, and sugar to create the sauce.
- Heat your cooking oil in a pan.
- Once it’s hot, fry the shrimp until they’re golden and crisp on both sides, then remove and set them aside on your serving dish.
- Add the minced garlic to the same pan and sauté until golden and fragrant. Pour in the sauce mixture and stir briefly to heat it through.
- Spoon the glossy garlic sauce over the shrimp. Top with fried garlic and sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately while hot!
