Camarones al Ajillo | Garlic Shrimp Recipe

Camarones al Ajillo, AKA Garlic Shrimp, is a quick and flavorful Mexican Shrimp Recipe that can be ready in less than 20 minutes. Serve it with fluffy rice for the full family to enjoy.

This dish is a shrimp lover's dream. The creamy clarified butter combined with the garlic and just a little heat from the dried chilies is excellent. The shrimp is perfectly tender and has that lime touch with a little burst of herbiness flavor from the parsley. 

What is Camarones al Ajillo?

Camarones al ajillo is a quick seafood dish packed with Mexican flavors. It's cooked in garlic butter that is infused with guajillo chilies and fresh parsley. The result is tender, flavorful shrimp that can be enjoyed in many ways. We served it with steamed rice, but we also have a garlic shrimp tacos recipe that you may like.

Make extra for tomorrow's lunch or dinner. Wrap them in a Shrimp Burrito or cover a tostado shell with guacamole and pile the garlic shrimp on to make Shrimp Tostados.

I also love using the leftover Camarones al Ajillo for my Grilled Cheese del Mar Sandwich. It is a must to try!

Ingredients to make Garlic Shrimp

- Butter and olive oil are needed to make this recipe; they provide a nice, balanced flavor. However, you could use only one of them, and the recipe will work the same.

- Garlic cloves are a must in this recipe. They enhance the seafood taste, so don't skip them.

Guajillo chiles provide a mild spice kick; you can replace them with stronger Arbol chilies for a little more heat.

- Large or medium shrimp will work for this recipe. You'll need to shell and devein them before using them, or you can simply buy them ready to use.

- Salt: Use a good quality sea salt for best results.

- Fresh parsley provides a fresh touch to this flavorful shrimp.

- Lime: adds some tanginess that enhances the overall flavor of shrimp.

- Steamed rice pairs beautifully with garlic shrimp, is simple to make, and is a year-round staple.

How to make Camarones al Ajillo

Step 1- Start by prepping the dried chilies: cut off the stems, wipe them clean with a damp paper towel, then slice them in half lengthwise. Remove all the seeds and chop into small, uniform pieces. Set aside for later.

Step 2- Warm a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, melt the butter completely, then stir in the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about a minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Toss in the chopped chilies and cook for another 2 minutes or so. The oil will start to take on a reddish hue, and the chili pieces will begin to crisp up — keep an eye on the garlic to ensure it doesn’t brown too much.

Step 3 - Add the shrimp to the pan, making sure they’re in a single layer and not overcrowded. Let them cook for about 3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they turn opaque with a pinkish tone and feel firm (but not tough). Be careful not to overcook, or they’ll become rubbery. Remove the pan from the heat, season with a bit of salt (around ¼ teaspoon), and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Finish with a generous squeeze of lime juice and toss everything to coat.

Step 4- Serve hot over a bed of steamed white rice, paired with your favorite veggie or salad on the side. Dig in! (See below for more great ideas!)

Kitchen tips to make Garlic Shrimp recipe

- If you want to add a spicy touch, use Arbol chilies instead or a mix of them and Guajillos.

- You can add more garlic for a more pungent garlicky taste.

- I used frozen shrimp, which I defrosted. Additionally, I bought shrimp already shelled and deveined, which saves tons of time.

- Be careful not to over cook the shrimp. The shrimp only take three to four minutes for most shrimp, a minute or two more if they are large or in the shell. You can tell they a done when the get a light pink color and curl slightly to form a "C" shape. Remember that the shrimp will continue to cook in the hot pan for a few minutes when you take then off the heat.

How to Serve Camarones al Ajillo or Garlic Shrimp

Rice - Camarones al Ajillo is a versatile dish. It is quick and easy and can be served simply with some white, fluffy rice or Avocado Cilantro Rice also known as Green Goddess Rice.

Create a Garlic Shrimp Appetizer with thin baguette slices that are toasted with a little bit of garlic butter and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Stuff a chile or an avocado with the Garlic Shrimp for Roasted Shrimp Poblanos Rellenos dinner or a Stuffed Avocado and Salad for lunch.

Tools You Will Need for This Recipe

Luckily, this easy recipe does not need special tools to make it.

Skillet or sauté for cooking the shrimp- I use a light weight sauté pan because it is easier to control the heat in a thin pan. I just lift the pan off of the heat to cool it down. It is not like a cast iron pan that holds in the heat and may over cook the shrimp.
here is a link to one I use (affiliate link). like this one because it is easier to control the heat in a thin pan. I just lift the pan off of the heat to cool it down, it is not like cast iron that hold in the heat and may over cook the shrimp.

Garlic press- A garlic press is helpful for pressing the garlic into very small bits. No one wants a lump of garlic in their shrimp. You can smash the garlic on a cutting board before mincing it to get a smaller mince, but that can be kind of smelly. Here is a link to a garlic press that presses the garlic and also slices it. It is on my wish list.