Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

This Easy Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe is perfect for those who are strapped for time. It’s healthy, quick, and delicious! There are just a few ingredients in it and it comes together in a flash making it one of my favorite weeknight meals!

Shrimp Stir Fry on a white plate

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s so easy and budget-friendly but feels kind of fancy at the same time.
  • Sometimes I think of “budget-friendly” in terms of saving both time and money.
  • So if this is a week you are strapped for time, it can be worth a few extra dollars to buy pre-cut broccoli and peeled and deveined shrimp.

No shrimp lovers in the family? Try my Easy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry Recipe! Just as delicious, quick, and easy! 

Recipe Variations:

  • For an even easier dinner, replace the Stir Fry Sauce with hoisin sauce. It will have a sweeter flavor profile, but hoisin sauce is so flavorful, you can use it straight out of the bottle. Start with 1 tablespoon and increase by 1 tablespoon increments until desired.
  • For additional vegetables, you can also add mushrooms, and carrots to this stirfry too! Add them in when cooking the onions.

A person holding a piece of broccoli

Watch How to Make My Easy Shrimp Stir Fry Below

 

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Step 1: Sautee the Onions

In a deep, medium-sized skillet add olive oil and heat. I like this recipe because it can easily be made in a deep skillet, no need for a wok! 

Adding olive oil to pan

Cooking the Onions

Then, add sliced onions and season with salt and pepper. Saute until the onions become translucent and fragrant. The onions become sweeter as they cook so it’s best not to rush this step. If you don’t have white onions you could also use red onions or shallots too. 

Onions in pan cooking while metal tongs stir them

Step#2: Add the Shrimp

Cook the shrimp for just a few minutes before adding the broccoli. If you are trying to stay within budget, use frozen raw shrimp instead of fresh. Just defrost them under cold running water first and pat dry with a paper towel.

If you want to save even more money, buy a bag with the shells still on. It’s a little more work to peel them, but it does save a few extra dollars.

Raw shrimp on a blue cutting board mat

Tips for Cooking Raw Shrimp:

  • Leave the tails on because it will help the shrimp retain its flavor and moisture. I also think it looks prettier on the plate.
  • If you are cooking with frozen shrimp, make sure the shrimp is completely defrosted. Otherwise, the shrimp will release its moisture when it hits the hot pan and dilute the sauce. 
  • Pat the shrimp down with paper towels to remove excess moisture from thawed shrimp.

Step #3: Add the Broccoli

After the shrimp is added, add the broccoli to the same pan and cover. If you want to save even more time, but pre-cut broccoli florets. They cost more but sometimes what you save in time is worth the extra money!

Broccoli florets in bowl

Tips for Cooking Broccoli:

  • Steam the broccoli for about 3-5 minutes until bright green and fork-tender.
  • Do not overcook the broccoli. Not only does it lessen the nutritional punch but the crisp broccoli is a good match against the soft, succulent shrimp.
  • I also find crisper broccoli can be more filling too.

cooking Broccoli florets in pan

Step#4: Add the Stir Fry Sauce

This may be the easiest sauce ever, and I bet you have most of these ingredients sitting in your fridge and pantry. It’s such a flavorful sauce and complements all these ingredients beautifully. 

To Make The Sauce:

  • Add soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes to a small bowl, and whisk until well-blended.
  • Pour the sauce over the shrimp and vegetables in the pan, and cook for about one minute. Serve this dish as is, or with a side of brown rice.
  • This sauce also makes a great pot-sticker sauce. These pot-stickers are a fun weekend project that can be frozen to last throughout the week. 

Sesame Oil vs. Toasted Sesame Oil

  • Make sure you buy the toasted sesame oil instead of the regular sesame oil.
  • It’s the toasted sesame that has all the flavor. Regular sesame oil doesn’t have much taste to it

Adding red pepper flakes to a bowl of stir fry sauce

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Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

An easy Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe that makes for a great weeknight meal! Easy, fast and delicious!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
  • 1 white onion, sliced in half moons
  • 1 lb (450g) frozen shrimp, tails on (defrosted)
  • 2 cups (300g) broccoli florets
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) soy sauce
  • ½ tsp (2.5ml) sesame oil
  • 1 shake red pepper flakes
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper flakes and garlic. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a sauté pan. Place onions in pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook onions until soft and fragrant.
  3. Add shrimp, cook both sides until just turning pink. Add broccoli. Cover and cook for 5 mins until broccoli fork tender and bright green.
  4. Pour sauce over the stir fry and cook for 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe goes even quicker if you can but pre-cut broccoli and already cleaned shrimp

Keeping the tails on prevents the shrimp from drying out and will keep them tender and succulent

Recipe Variations:

  • For an even easier dinner, replace the Stir Fry Sauce with hoisin sauce. It will have a sweeter flavor profile, but hoisin sauce is so flavorful, you can use it straight out of the bottle. Start with 1 tablespoon and increase by 1 tablespoon increments until desired.
  • For additional vegetables, you can also add mushrooms, and carrots to this stirfry too! Add them in when cooking the onions.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 214Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 285mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 5g
Brownie cake scooped into a mug with ice cream

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17 Comments

  1. Hi Beth, I love your YouTube channel and blog! For this recipe, can I use frozen broccoli? How? Thank you!
    Maritza

  2. Hello Beth, this recipe was delicious, I did double the sauce, it’s really easy and quick. Thank you I look to your weekly recipes 😊

  3. You can also defrost the shrimp at the last minute by running cold water over them in a colander on the sink, or by soaking the frozen shrimp in cold water in a bowl. It takes just minutes. Of course, you will need to drain them and pat them dry, as shown in the video, before using.

  4. hi,Beth,
    This past week I made your no bake cheesecake with the fruit for our sons birthday, big hit!,
    Also your spinach quiche I added some mushrooms it was gone the next day yum!, thank you for all your great recipes another big hit was your puff pastry roll ups with the ham,cheese and aspargus over the CHristmas holiday

  5. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker
    who had been doing a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch due to the fact that I found
    it for him… lol. So let me reword this….
    Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks
    for spending the time to talk about this topic here on your
    blog.

  6. We tried your shrimp broccoli stir fry tonite. It was fantastic and so easy to fix. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to find some of your other recipes

  7. My sister is coming in town for the weekend, I plan on making this dish. Will let you know how it turned out

  8. My 12 yr old grandson loves to cook and we are big fans of Beth’s recipes. Already made sausage and peppers. Grampa loved it. Can’t wait to make this.

    1. YAY! So glad it was a hit! Keep me posted on the Shrimp! I hope you (and Grandpa!) enjoy!

      1. It’s a keeper! Shrimp and broccoli were great. Sauce too easy. Aidan (my grandson) made it. God bless you Beth you are our favorite. Found you when looking for a Madeleine recipe for granddaughter’s French class. Tres bon.

        1. YAY! So glad it was a hit! Isn’t it easy! And so funny you found me through the Madeleine Recipe, I remember when I was in school having to make all sorts of things for my French class too! ha!

  9. Omg! Amazing recipe totally in love with your cooking cant wait for the Caesar Salad recipe <3 <3 <3