Garlic Shrimp, Food Truck Style:
This amazing shrimp is inspired by the food trucks in Hawaii, these shrimp are big and juicy, and have the perfect amount of garlicky butter goodness. Peeled and deveined shrimp cooked in a garlic butter sauce.
You know how much we love to travel, and how much we love Hawaii. In fact you can read all about our travels across Maui and Kauai here:
As you can see we love the islands and are pretty obsessed with going there. We recently took the family to Oahu, and one of our favorite parts of the vacation besides the great company was the food. I love island food. All that pineapple, the fresh fish, the lovely produce. It is almost enough to make me move there. And don’t even get me started on the malasadas.
We of course had to stop at the several shrimp trucks around the island. We always ordered the garlic shrimp, and had fun comparing the various truck’s version of this delicious dish. While we enjoyed every bite, the $13 a plate for truck food, times the 6 of us means the shrimp trucks get pricey. That plus the fact that we weren’t going to be on vacation forever (sadly), made me want to create my own version of Garlic Shrimp, Food Truck Style.
Besides, there is no easier food on the planet when it comes to quick and delicious. My version of Garlic Shrimp, Food Truck Style is probably too simple, but it was seriously good. Plus, I shelled the shrimp first, which makes it far easier for the kids to eat than the shell on shrimp truck version. If you want to make your work even easier, you can simply buy your shrimp already shelled and deveined.
Garlic Shrimp, Food Truck Style Tips
- The jumbo shrimp is ideal for this recipe, but if you can’t find them, or don’t want to pay for them, then go ahead and get medium or large.
- Don’t let the amount of butter in this scare you. It is what makes it delicious, and you don’t actually consume it all. Of course you can lighten it up and use less. But don’t cut it out all together, it is part of what makes that garlic flavor so amazing.
- When cooking the garlic, you want to saute it so it browns, but not too dark. It quickly can go from sweet and amazing to bitter if you burn it. And that would ruin the dish. If you happen to cook it too long, dump it and start again so you don’t waste your shrimp! I usually buy my garlic in a large bottle that is ready to go but you can use a garlic press for fresh garlic.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with parsley if you want to add a pop of freshness and some green to your dish!
Garlic Press
Other shrimp recipes you might love:
- 30 Min Cheesy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo (reader favorite)
- Asparagus Shrimp Pasta Dinner
- Baked Coconut Shrimp
- Sheet pan shrimp fajitas

Garlic Shrimp- Shrimp Truck Style (But Shelled)
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1/2 cup minced garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1.5 lbs of jumbo shrimp
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start with a small pad of butter and your garlic in a medium fry pan. I uses my Anolon Frying Panwhich I absolutely love because it heats evenly, is metal utensil safe, and can be used in the oven up to 400 degrees.
- Saute your garlic for a minute or so.
- Add in the onion powder and paprika
- Add in the rest of your butter, and let it melt.
- Clean, devein, and shell your shrimp
- Add shrimp into pan of melted butter and garlic, keep on medium heat.
- Stir, flip, and help shrimp cook evenly, cook until pink through.
- Pepper to taste
- Serve with slaw, rice, etc.
Notes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
Pin to your Seafood board on Pinterest:
laura@motherwouldknow says
Love a quick shrimp dish like this one. Great weeknight meal. We’re going to Hawaii (first time) this fall, so I’ll keep an eye out for delicious shrimp dishes.
Rachael says
Laura, Have so much fun! Depending on the island you visit, you will likely see a lot of them! Ask a local which ones are the best.
javascript obfuscator says
Great recipe!
Joscelyn Booker says
I have been starting to cook with curry and I’m really enjoying it. This recipe was great and so simple to follow. Thank you