Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli

This Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli Recipe is a quick, healthy, and flavorful 20 minute meal. Made with simple ingredients-shrimp, broccoli, and an easy savory garlic sauce making it a perfect weeknight meal. We hope you enjoy this garlicky shrimp and broccoli recipe as much as we do!

What is Broccoli and is it truly Healthy?

Broccoli is a fluffy looking nutrient-rich green vegetable that belongs to the cabbage family, known scientifically as Brassica oleracea. Featuring thick edible stalks and tightly clustered flower buds, often referred to as florets. This vegetable has a mild, slightly earthy flavor that becomes sweeter when cooked, making it versatile for stir-frying, roasting, steaming, or even enjoying it raw. It’s packed with essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and antioxidants, which supports immunity, digestion, and overall wellness. Popular in cuisines all over the world, broccoli is valued not only for its health benefits but also for its ability to add color, texture, and nutrition to a wide variety of dishes.

How is Shrimp relevant to Filipino Cuisine ?

Shrimp plays an important role in Filipino cuisine, especially in coastal regions and island provinces where fresh seafood is abundant. The Philippines, as an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, has a rich culinary tradition built around fish and shellfish ( like clams, mussels, crabs, and more ), and shrimp is a staple ingredient in many beloved traditional and modern dishes. It is featured in classics like Sinigang, which is a tangy tamarind-based soup often made with shrimp, pork, or fish ( steak cut or whole fishes like bangus); Kare-Kare, where the seafood version includes sautéed shrimp in a savory peanut sauce; and in Pancit, which is a festive noodle dish that is commonly topped with sautéed shrimp. Shrimp is also used in everyday home cooking—grilled, sautéed with garlic, or simmered in coconut milk—highlighting the Filipino’s love for bold flavors that also balances salty, sour, and savory notes. Its versatility, affordability, and availability makes shrimp a cherished and practical protein in Filipino households.

Why are Shrimp Broccoli Recipes Popular ?

Why try this Shrimp and Broccoli Stir fry in Garlic Sauce

If you’re looking for a meal that’s quick, flavorful, and healthy, then this Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry in Garlic Sauce is a must-try. A dish that only takes 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights, yet tastes like something you’d order at your favorite fast food chain or restaurant. There’s just nothing like tender, juicy shrimp paired perfectly with crisp-tender broccoli, all coated in a bold, savory deliciously garlic sauce that’s rich without being heavy. It’s naturally high in protein, packed with vitamins and fiber. It’s also easy to adapt to low-carb, gluten-free, or family-style meals with the addition of rice or noodles. This recipe has simple ingredients, big flavor, plus minimal cleanup. Making this dish a reliable go-to you’ll want to make again and again.

Shrimp with Broccoli in Garlic Sauce Ingredients :

• Shrimp – our main ingredient / protein.
• Salt and Pepper – to enhance the overall flavor.
• Broccoli – adds fiber, color, and a nice texture into the dish.
• Butter – gives the sauce a nice rich taste and silky smooth texture.
• Garlic – gives the sauce it’s main base flavor.
• All purpose cream – is the base of the sauce.
• Parmesan cheese – this can be substituted with cheddar cheese, quickmelt cheese, or your favorite type of cheese.
• Parsley – for garnish.
• Oil – for frying.

How to make Shrimp and Broccoli

Creamy Garlic Broccoli with Shrimp Recipe

Ingredients :

• 700 grams shrimp ( peeled )
• Salt and Pepper
• 100 grams broccoli

Shrimp and Broccoli Sauce

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic ( minced )
• 1 cup all purpose cream
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese
• Parsley for garnish
• Oil for frying

Steps :

1. Place the shrimps in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. In a pot of boiling water, blanch broccoli for 3 minutes. Set aside ( put in an ice bath to stop cooking ).

3. Heat some oil in a pan, fry the shrimp for 1 – 2 minutes on each side. Flip to cook evenly. Set aside.

4. In the same pan, melt butter. Saute in garlic until aromatic. Pour in all purpose cream and mix well. Add in parmesan cheese and cook until these have melted. 

5. Give it a taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Add in some parsley, add back the shrimp, and broccoli. Mix well before serving.

How to enhance this recipe for Shrimp and Broccoli in Garlic Sauce?

Enhancing this recipe is all about building deeper flavor, improving texture, and adding balance. Here are some simple upgrades:

1. Build a Stronger Garlic Base : for a really garlicky base, you can double the amount of garlic. Also, instead of just sautéing garlic briefly, try gently cooking it at low heat until really aromatic to develop a richer, slightly sweet flavor. Another option is to add minced onions / shallots for extra depth.

2. Marinate the Shrimp : Toss the shrimp in a quick 10–15 minute marinade of salt, pepper, soy sauce,  lemon juice ( optional ), and minced garlic or 1 tablespoon of garlic powder. This infuses flavor before cooking , it also keeps the shrimp juicy.

3. Boost the Sauce : Upgrade your garlic sauce by adding either :

• A tablespoon or so of Oyster sauce for savory umami.
• A splash or more of white wine for brightness.
• A drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of sugar for a sweet balance.
• Red pepper flakes or gochujang ( chili paste )  for some heat.
• Fresh lemon zest or squeeze half a lemon for a pop of freshness.
• Add a small spoonful of cornstarch or flour mixed with 2 – 3 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. This helps thicken the sauce so it coats everything beautifully.

4. Improve Texture Contrast : Why do you need to blanch or quickly steam the broccoli before stir-frying? It helps keep the vegetable vibrant and crisp-tender. If you do decide to add vegetables like chopped / sliced carrots, snap peas, or water chestnuts for extra crunch. Saute these after cooking the shrimps, adding these back at the end.

5. Finish with a Vibrant Garnish : Right before serving, sprinkle with either toasted sesame seeds, chopped green onions, or fresh dill or parsley. You can also give it a nice light squeeze of lemon at the end brightens the entire dish.

6. Serve It Creatively : Instead of plain rice, try serving over garlic fried rice, garlic butter noodles, jasmine rice, brown rice, multigrain rice, or cauliflower rice. You can even turn it into a shrimp and broccoli pasta bowl for a heartier meal.

With these simple enhancements, your shrimp and broccoli in garlic sauce will taste more vibrant, balanced.

Try our other Yummy Shrimp and Broccoli Recipes Variations :

Variations Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe

Here are some popular budget friendly examples:

• Easy Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli and Carrots – add more color, fiber, and nutrition into this dish by adding chopped carrots. It would be best to saute the carrots after the shrimps until lightly browned to ensure these are soft and easy to eat after.
• For a spicy kick add red pepper flakes at the end, or mix in sriracha or hot sauce into the garlic cream sauce.
• For a richer flavor, stir in a splash of oyster sauce or a touch of honey for sweet-savory balance. 
• You can also swap or add in the broccoli for vegetables like snap peas, bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms for different textures and flavor profiles. 
• For extra protein, saute in scallops or sliced chicken along with the shrimp.

You can easily customize this recipe to suit your taste preferences, dietary needs, budget, or whatever ingredients you have on hand. These simple variations make this dish versatile, family-friendly, and perfect for rotating into your regular meal plan.

How to enjoy this dish?

• Easy Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli and Pasta – For those looking for an easy date night recipe that can be done just in time before your significant other comes home then this simple recipe is for you. Top the cream sauce over al dente cooked pasta and it’s ready to be enjoyed.
• Easy Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli and Rice – turn this into a full meal by placing the shrimp over freshly cooked rice ( to make it heartier, serve it over brown rice or make it even more aromatic by serving this with jasmine rice), or keep it low-carb by pairing it with cauliflower rice. Place it on the side to store in your lunchbox and reheat the next day.

How to Cook Broccoli and Shrimp ( Tagalog )

Mga Sangkap :

• 700 gramo ng hipon (binalatan )
• Asin at Paminta
• 100 gramo ng broccoli

Shrimp and Broccoli Sauce

• 4 kutsara ng mantikilya
• 4 butil ng bawang ( tinadtad )
• 1 tasa ng all purpose cream
• ¼ tasa ng parmesan cheese
• Perehil pang dekorasyon
• Mantika pang prito

Paano Lutuin :

1. Ilagay ang mga hipon sa mangkok. I-season ng asin at paminta. Itabi.
2. Sa palayok na may kumukulong tubig, i-blanch ang broccoli ng 3 minuto. Itabi ( ilagay sa malamig na tubig na may yelo para itigil ang pagluto ). 
3. Uminit ng mantika sa kawali, iprito ang hipon ng 1 – 2 minuto bawat gilid. Pag Baliktarin para pumantay ang pagluto. Itabi.
4. Sa parehong kawali, tunawin ng mantikilya. Lutuin ang bawang hanggang bumango. Ibuhos dito ang all purpose cream at haluin ng mabuti. Haluan ng parmesan cheese at lutuin hanggang matunaw ito.
5. Tikman at lagyan ng asin at paminta kung kinakailangan. Haluan ng perehil, ibalik at shipon at broccoli. Haluin ng mabuti bago ihanda.