This spicy Chipotle Lime Shrimp takes just 10 minutes to make and cooks together in one skillet. A no-fuss dish that packs a huge flavor-punch!
Sometimes I’ll spend hours, even days perfecting a recipe. Other times, I’ll throw a bunch of stuff in a pan and come up with a new family favorite in just a few minutes. This dish is one of those happy accidents. I had some chipotles in adobo sauce that was going to go bad soon and shrimp in the freezer, so Chipotle Lime Shrimp was born. There’s so much flavor packed in this dish that it’s hard to believe it takes barely 10 minutes to make.
How to MAKE Chipotle Lime SHrimp
- Have your ingredients ready: The morning that I plan to make this, I take my shrimp out of the freezer to thaw in the refrigerator. I tend to buy shrimp when they’re on sale and freeze them immediately, so I always have them on hand. The only ingredient that I usually DIDN’T have around is the chipotle peppers in in adobo. Since we make this a lot now, I always keep a can of those around
- Use a large skillet: You’ll want one large enough so all of your shrimp will fit in a single layer. Of course, you could work in batches if your skillet is on the smaller side, but it will take a little longer.
- Taste as you go: We love spicy food! If you’re a little timid about the spice level, start by adding half of a chipotle pepper and tasting a piece of shrimp before adding more. It’s actually pretty hard to determine how how your chiptoles will be, as every can is different. Have you ever tasted a jalapeno that wasn’t that spicy at all, but the next one your try is incredibly spicy? Well, canned chipotles are just smoked jalapenos in sauce, so the same is true here. This is the brand I used, and one chipotle was just right. We tried two chiptoles in this recipe once, and though it was delicious, it was almost too spicy for me (which is saying a lot).
If you’re not sure what to do with the leftovers in your can, you can do what I learned from Rachael Ray years ago. Free the leftovers in a ziploc bag. Then, when you want to make this again, just grate the the whole frozen chunk. Genius! I would say you could grate about 1-2 tablespoons to get the amount needed for this recipe.
How to serve chipotle lime shrimp
Honestly, this dish is fantastic with just a side of rice and a veggie. We really like it with my Simple Rice Pilaf. I get the pilaf going first, then cook the shrimp while the pilaf is doing its thing. When the shrimp is done, I’ll saute or microwave some green beans. I can put this together in just 30 minutes. And is only 6 Freestyle SmartPoints total for a super filling dinner!
These are also PERFECT for tacos. I’ll serve them with my Easiest Refried Beans and I’ll throw together my Pineapple and Watermelon Salsa during the summer. Refreshing and a great way to use up extra fruit!
I’ve also used cold leftovers to top a salad. Use my Light Caesar Salad Dressing recipe, and you’ve got a delicious Chipotle Shrimp Caesar. Yum! Chipotle Lime Shrimp is also the perfect appetizer. If your weather permits, you could even use the sauce as a marinade and grill the shrimp. This is a truly versatile recipe!
Iβd love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Donβt forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I donβt get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I wonβt see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so Iβll see it there!
Chipotle Lime Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
- 2 tsp adobo sauce (from the same can)
- 2 tbsp lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 2 tsp brown sugar
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil then place shrimp in a single layer in the oil. Sprinkle garlic, salt, and pepper over shrimp. Cook on one side until shrimp is getting a little pink on the bottom, about 1-2 minutes. (Actual time depends on the size of your shrimp.)
- Flip shrimp, cook for another minute, then add in remaining ingredients. Mix everything around and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until shrimp are done.
- Serve immediately. They are fantastic warm, room temp, or cold.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe photos updated 7/15/22. Originally published on 10/16/19.
Kim says
Do you think already cooked shrimp would work?
Geri says
Sure, but I would saute all of the other ingredients together for like a minute before adding the shrimp in. Just let the cooked shrimp mingle with the sauce for an extra minute so it doesn’t overcook.
Teri says
Geri this recipe is FANTASTIC π€©
Such a low point (for those on WW) left plenty of wiggle room to add plenty of sides. Very filling too!! My family likes spicy so I added an extra minced chipotle pepper. ππΌππΌ