• Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dishes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
  • Shop
    • Get Exclusive Discounts
    • Amazon Favorites
    • 360 Cookware
  • My Keto Blog
    • Keto Guide for Dummies: A Introduction to Keto
    • Recipe Collections
    • Product Reviews & Guides
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact

↑

Dr. Davinah's Eats

Keto & Low Carb Recipes for Foodies

  • Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dishes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
  • Shop
    • Get Exclusive Discounts
    • Amazon Favorites
    • 360 Cookware
  • My Keto Blog
    • Keto Guide for Dummies: A Introduction to Keto
    • Recipe Collections
    • Product Reviews & Guides
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact
Home » Recipes » Easy Cast Iron Pan-Seared Shrimp

Easy Cast Iron Pan-Seared Shrimp

Last Updated July 31, 2020. Published July 13, 2020 By Davinah

3.4Kshares
  • Share
Jump to Recipe
Pinterest image for Easy Whole30 Cast Iron Shrimp
pinterest pin for pan-seared shrimp

This post may contain affiliate links to products I use and highly recommend. You can read my full disclosure .

With only 3 ingredients and one-pan, this juicy and fresh Cast Iron Pan-seared Shrimp recipe is the perfect way to have a quick dinner. In this post, I include tips to season and sear your shrimp to get the crust on the edges. Plus, I recommend side dishes to save you time with meal planning. This main protein fits with those looking for shrimp, Whole30, Paleo, low-carb, and keto seafood recipes. 

close-up of pan-seared shrimp in a bowl with lemons

 

It should go without saying that I love seafood. And, you probably do too since some of my most popular recipes are copycat bang bang shrimp, seared scallops with cauliflower risotto, keto shrimp and grits, and shrimp scampi. One of the reasons that I love seafood is because it comes together in minutes. In fact, this pan-seared shrimp recipe takes less than 5 minutes.

Ingredients in Pan-Seared Shrimp:

One of the main ingredients is shrimp. I’m using jumbo (you get 8-12 shrimp per pound), but you can use whatever you have on hand.

Besides shrimp, I’m using this low-sodium fajita spice mix and salted butter (or ghee).

If you don’t have the spice mix, then no stress, you can substitute it with things like my cajun seasoning, homemade taco seasoning and spicy dry rub recipes. If you’re particularly sensitive to salt, use unsalted butter. You can always add a dash of salt at the end.

How to Make Cast Iron Seared Shrimp:

Making this dish is super easy. Simply toss the shrimp in the spices and preheat your pan. Next, add your butter and cook the shrimp for 1-2 minutes per side. You can see my note below about the type of pan to use.

Skillet or Cast Iron: Best Pan for Searing Shrimp

I regularly make this recipe with my traditional frying pan and cast iron skillet. Overall, you can get the same results with either as long as you have a hot pan.

But, many people prefer cast iron because once pre-heated, the heat distributes around all areas of the pan evenly. That’s why it’s an awesome tool to have in the kitchen for everything from these shrimp to strip steak, scallops, pan-seared halibut, surf & turf, and chicken.

Instead of limiting myself to one pan or another, I allow my butter to tell me when to add the shrimp to the pan. You can tell that your pan is hot enough once the butter starts to dance and sizzle.

One note, if your butter starts to turn brown immediately, your pan is too hot. Just remove the pan from the heat for 30 seconds to a minute. This way, your shrimp doesn’t burn too!

Keto Mexican Shrimp Salad with seared shrimp on top

What to Eat Cast Iron Shrimp With:

There are a few ways to turn this easy, seared shrimp dish into a meal. Some ideas are:

  • Make a Keto Shrimp Taco Salad: swap the shrimp for ground meat in Keto Taco Salad Supreme
  • Make Shrimp Lettuce Wraps: add the shrimp to slices of romaine or butter lettuce and top with your favorite salsa. If you like making your sauces at home, then one possibility is this Homemade Pico De Gallo recipe or this Restaurant Style Salsa.
  • Add a quick vegetable side dish: some quick options are sauteed asparagus, air fryer green beans, creamed spinach, and keto mushroom risotto.
  • Make a Shrimp Caesar Salad: Use these shrimp in my keto caesar salad recipe. I personally love this one because it has my Creamy Caesar Dressing poured all over it.
  • Make a Mexican-inspired Salad: add spring mix, Cojita cheese, sauteed peppers and onions, and the creamy cilantro dressing that I included in this Keto Mexican Shrimp Salad recipe.
close-up of pan-seared shrimp in a bowl with lemons

Cast Iron Pan-Seared Shrimp Recipe

Make delicious Pan-seared Shrimp in minutes with just 3 ingredients and a cast iron pan. Includes tips for getting a great sear & easy sides to make a meal.
Prep: 1 min
Cook: 4 mins
Ready in: 5 mins
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Servings: 2
Calories: 358kcal
Author: Davinah
Pin Rate Print

Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Shrimp, peeled & deveined
  • 1 tbsp Spicy Fajita Seasoning, this is low-sodium
  • 2 tbsp Ghee, or Butter

Instructions

  • Toss the shrimp in the seasoning mix and set aside.
  • Pre-heat a cast iron skillet for 2-3 minutes. That will allow it to get to medium-high heat.
  • Add the ghee or salted butter and allow it to coat the bottom of the pan. You know your pan is hot when the butter sizzles.
  • Add the shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes per side. I used jumbo shrimp so they took 2 minutes per side. However, if you are using smaller shrimp then it will cook faster. 

Recipe Notes

The fajita mixture that I used is low sodium. If you're using another spice mixture, then you should cut the amount used in half. You can always add more salt if needed after the shrimp are done. 

Nutrition Details

Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 609mg | Sodium: 1762mg | Potassium: 181mg | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin C: 9.3mg | Calcium: 329mg | Iron: 4.8mg

The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!

Share this RecipeIf you enjoy this recipe, share a link to it via email or Facebook, pin it, or leave a rating. Please don't copy/paste the instructions to other websites. Thanks for helping the website grow!

pinterest pin for pan-seared shrimp

Related Posts

  • Halibut on a plate with asparagus and chimichurri sauce
    Easy Pan-Seared Halibut Recipe
  • Pinterest image for Keto Fish & Seafood recipes
    The Best 40+ Keto Fish & Seafood Recipes
  • One plate of crispy skin salmon topped in a veggie salad
    Easy Crispy Skin Pan-Seared Salmon
  • Halibut on a plate with asparagus and chimichurri sauce
    Easy Pan-Seared Halibut Recipe

Subscribe for Free Recipes, Meal Ideas & Tips!

Join more than 8,000 people who get my top recipes, meal ideas & tips to their inboxes each week.

* indicates required

Filed Under: 5 Ingredients (or Fewer) Meals & Recipes, All Keto Recipes, All Paleo Recipes, Cast Iron Skillet Recipes, Clean Eating Recipes, Easy Beef Recipes, Easy Keto Recipes: 30 Minutes or Less, Keto Lunch & Dinner Recipes, Recipes, Seafood Recipes, Whole30 Recipes

close up photo of Davinah - the blogger behind Dr. Davinah\'s Eats welcome text that reads, \"I\'m Davinah\" I'm an educator & hardcore foodie who realized eating "all the things" couldn’t last forever. After getting my PhD in Education, I decided to make eating healthier my next big goal. Here, you'll find my collection of keto, low-carb and whole food comfort food recipes. Read More

Search this Website

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

Spring Favorites

a close up of keto lemon cake with lemons topped with a sugar-free white chocolate glaze on top of a brown cutting board

Keto Lemon Pound Cake [+VIDEO]

double layer low carb strawberry shortcake on a cake stand

Low Carb Strawberry Shortcake [+VIDEO]

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bites on a white plate with lemon slices

Keto Lemon Cheesecake Bites with Blueberry Sauce

Double layer Low Carb Carrot Cake on a white plate with a mint leaf on top

The Best Keto Low Carb Carrot Cake Recipe [+VIDEO]

Most Popular Recipes

keto coleslaw in a bowl with a fork

Easy Low Carb & Keto Coleslaw Recipe

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings on a plate

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings Recipe

Shrimp & Scallops with Cauliflower Rice Risotto

Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Rice Risotto

Ninja Foodi salmon in the crisping pan

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Herbed Salmon Recipe

close-up of Pressure Cooker Pot Roast in a bowl

Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Shrimp Scampi on a plate

Easy Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe [+VIDEO]

close-up on crispy baked chicken wings on a sheet pan

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

Air Fryer Drumsticks on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) Recipe

a close-up of an air fryer fried chicken wing on a white plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up of Keto Bang Bang shrimp in a bowl

Low-Carb Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe (Grain-free, No-Added Sugar)

Menu Planning Ideas

  • Ninja Foodi Recipes
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Side Dishes
a close-up of an air fryer fried chicken wing on a white plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up of a keto jalapeno popper on a plate

Keto Jalapeno Poppers (Air Fryer or Oven)

a close-up of honey sriracha chicken wings on a plate topped with green onions and sesame seeds

Keto Honey Sriracha Wings [Video Tutorial]

close-up of Pressure Cooker Pot Roast in a bowl

Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

turkey breast on a plate with gravy and cranberry sauce

Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe

Keto taco seasoning mix in a bowl

Homemade Gluten-free Keto Taco Seasoning Recipe

mushroom risotto

Creamy Keto Cauliflower Mushroom Risotto Recipe

a close up of bacon in an Ninja Foodi

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Bacon

sugar-free teriyaki sauce in a pot

Sugar-free Keto Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

a close up of two sliced chicken breasts on a cutting board

Easy Seared Cast Iron Chicken Breasts

a close-up photo of keto creamed spinach in a pot

Easy Keto Creamed Spinach Recipe [+VIDEO]

Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

a close-up of hard boiled eggs on a plate topped with chives and everything bagel seasoning

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

One bowl of mashed cauliflower topped with melted butter

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash

close-up of keto cranberry sauce

Keto Cranberry Sauce

Featured on:

list of magazines and online blogs that feature Dr. Davinah\'s Eats recipes

@DrDavinahs Follow On Instagram

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

By using this website, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures

Browse by Category

Recipes by Course

  • Recipe Index
  • Breakfast
  • Main Course
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Dip, Salad Dressing & Sauces

Recipes by Diet

  • Keto & Low-Carb Recipes
  • Paleo Recipes
  • Whole30 Recipes

About Davinah Policies Work With Us

Search this Website

Copyright ©2021, Dr. Davinah's Eats. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pin
  • Share

Get my top recipes to your inbox!

Sign-up to get FREE keto & low carb recipes, discounts, giveaways & tips by email each week!