If you love the rich, savory taste of garlic butter shrimp but want a method that is even faster and more hands-off than a skillet or slow cooker, oven baking in a glass casserole dish is the ultimate solution.
As shown in your photo, nesting raw peeled shrimp directly in a glass baking dish with fresh lemon wheels, melted butter, garlic, and herbs creates an instant roasting bath. In just 12 to 15 minutes at high heat, the shrimp turn sweet, plump, and juicy while generating a vibrant, dip-worthy garlic lemon butter sauce right in the pan.
Why You’ll Love Oven-Baked Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Hands-off cooking: No standing over a hot stove flipping individual shrimp or worrying about oil splattering your countertop.
- Built-in sauce pan: The glass baking dish catches every drop of melted butter, fresh lemon juice, and roasted garlic, creating a silky sauce perfect for dipping.
- Beautiful presentation: Baked with bright lemon wheels and chopped herbs, it goes straight from the oven to the dinner table as a stunning family-style meal.
- Fast weeknight prep: Prep takes less than 10 minutes, and dinner is on the table in under 20 minutes total.
Structured Recipe Overview
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 to 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 4 to 6 servings
- Category: Main Course / Seafood
- Cuisine: American / Coastal Comfort
- Cooking Method: Oven Baking (400°F / 200°C)
What You’ll Need
Gather these simple kitchen essentials to make this dish:
Ingredients
- Large or Jumbo Raw Shrimp (2 pounds): Peeled and deveined (tails on or off). Ensure they are patted dry before baking.
- Unsalted Butter (1/2 cup / 1 stick): Melted.
- Fresh Garlic (2 tablespoons / 6 to 8 cloves): Finely minced.
- Fresh Lemons (2 whole): 1 lemon thinly sliced into wheels (to layer in the dish) and 1 lemon juiced (for the butter mixture).
- Italian Seasoning or Dry Italian Dressing Mix (1.5 tablespoons): Provides a fragrant blend of garlic, oregano, basil, and savory herbs.
- Kosher Salt (1/2 teaspoon) & Black Pepper (1/4 teaspoon): Simple base seasoning.
- Fresh Parsley (1/4 cup, finely chopped): Sprinkled over top right before serving for fresh contrast.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional): A small pinch for background warmth.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1.Preheat oven and prep the baking dish:Timing: 5 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray or a thin coat of olive oil.
2.Whisk the garlic lemon butter sauce:Timing: 3 minutes.
In a glass measuring cup, whisk together 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1.5 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until fully combined.
3.Arrange shrimp and lemon slices:Timing: 3 minutes.
Arrange 2 pounds of peeled, deveined raw shrimp in a single layer across the bottom of the glass baking dish. Nestle 6 to 8 thin lemon wheels throughout the dish between and over the shrimp.
4.Pour sauce and sprinkle herbs:Timing: 1 minute.
Pour the warm garlic butter sauce evenly over the shrimp and lemon slices. Sprinkle half of the chopped fresh parsley and optional red pepper flakes over the surface.
5.Bake until pink and tender:Timing: 12 to 15 minutes.
Bake uncovered at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes (checking at the 12-minute mark). The shrimp are perfectly cooked as soon as they turn opaque white, blush pink on the outside, and form a loose “C” shape.
6.Garnish and serve warm:Timing: 1 minute.
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the remaining fresh parsley, and serve immediately straight from the baking dish alongside crusty bread or over pasta!
Pro Tips for Culinary Success
- Don’t overcrowd the dish: Ensure the shrimp are arranged in a loose single layer so the hot oven air roasts them evenly instead of steaming them.
- Use fresh lemon wheels: Baking lemon slices alongside the shrimp releases citrus oils from the peel into the butter, giving the sauce an incredible depth of flavor.
- Keep an eye on the clock: Shrimp cook quickly in a hot 400°F oven! Remove them as soon as they turn pink and opaque to ensure they stay tender and sweet.
What to Serve with Baked Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Crusty Artisan Bread: Slices of French baguette or garlic bread are essential for dipping directly into the glass dish’s pool of butter.
- Pasta or Grains: Serve over a bed of angel hair pasta, linguine, fluffy jasmine rice, or buttered egg noodles.
- Fresh Greens: Pair with a crisp green salad or roasted asparagus.
Oven-Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 4 to 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 lbs large raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp fresh minced garlic
- 2 fresh lemons (1 sliced into wheels, 1 juiced)
- 1.5 tbsp Italian seasoning (or dry Italian dressing blend)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Red pepper flakes for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish.
- Arrange raw shrimp in an even single layer in the baking dish and nestle lemon wheels throughout.
- Whisk melted butter, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Pour garlic butter mixture evenly over the shrimp and lemon slices.
- Bake uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot straight from the dish with crusty bread or pasta.