Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

This Easy Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe is perfect for those 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 seafood recipes!

It’s loaded with shrimp and broccoli, and once prepped the stir-fry is cooked in less than 15-Minutes! For more 15-minute dinner ideas try my 15-Minute Chicken Dijon or my 15-Minute Salmon Rice Bowl. 

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! 

Ingredients:

• Shrimp You can use fresh or frozen. I like to use shrimp with the tails on it because it will keep the shrimp moist and prevent them from drying out.
• White Onion They will be sweeter than a yellow onion. But you could also swap for a red onion of a large shallot too. 
• Broccoli Crowns can sometimes be fresher at the store, but if time is a consideration then use pre-cut broccoli florets. For another fantastic broccoli recipe, try my Easy Broccoli Salad with Apples and Raisins. 
• Soy Sauce I like to use low-sodium soy sauce because I find regular soy sauce to be too salty. If you don’t have low-sodium soy sauce sitting in the fridge you can dilute the regular soy sauce with a little bit of cold water. About 1 tablespoon.
• Toasted Sesame Oil This is this type of sesame oil that has all the flavor, so be sure it says “toasted” on the bottle; otherwise, it won’t have much flavor. You can also put it to good use in my “15-minute Feed Me Fast Chicken” stir fry recipe.
• Garlic: Always use fresh garlic, as opposed to anything crushed in a jar. You’ll get the best flavor from the fresh. 
• Red Pepper Flakes For a little bit of heat. You can also swap for a Sriracha sauce too. 

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 besides just the broccoli, you can also add mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus or carrots to this stirfry too! Add them in when cooking the onions, and then double the stir-fry sauce. 

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! 

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. 

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.

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, thaw the shrimp to make sure they are completely defrosted. Otherwise, the shrimp will release moisture when they hit the hot pan and dilute the sauce. 
• Pat the shrimp down with paper towels to remove excess moisture from thawed shrimp.
• Score the shrimp down the back to slice it open without cutting it in half. This will help plump up the shrimp as it cooks. I also use this technique in my shrimp scampi recipe, and it makes for a beautiful presentation. 

Step #3: Add the Broccoli

• After the shrimp is added, add the broccoli to the same pan and cover.
• There is no need to cook the broccoli first before stir-frying it. Once covered, the heat from the pan will create a steamy environment that will cook the broccoli further and make it tender. There’s no need to boil the broccoli first. This will make your stirfry too runny and the broccoli too soggy. 
• If you want to save even more time, use pre-cut broccoli florets. They cost more, but sometimes, what you save in time is worth the extra money!

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.

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 that it beautifully complements all these ingredients. 

To Make The Sauce:

• Add soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes to a small bowl, and whisk until well-blended. For even more flavor you can add 1/2 teaspoon of minced ginger. 
• 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

More Healthy Recipes!

• Roasted Tomato and Eggplant Soup
• Shrimp, Mango, and Avocado Salad
• Quinoa and Curried Vegetables
• Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

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