When you want a luxurious steakhouse surf-and-turf dinner on the table in just 20 minutes, this One-Skillet Garlic Butter Steak and Shrimp is pure culinary magic. Juicy, caramelized beef steak bites with tender pink centers and plump, succulent jumbo shrimp are seared to perfection and tossed in a rich, foaming garlic herb butter sauce with fresh lemon and parsley.
Cooking steak and shrimp together in a smoking-hot cast iron skillet allows each protein to develop a deep, caramelized crust while retaining mouthwatering juiciness. The pan drippings then become the aromatic base for a luscious garlic butter glaze that coats every single bite with restaurant-grade elegance.
Why Youu2019ll Love This 20-Minute Surf and Turf
- 20-Minute Gourmet Speed: 10 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of active stovetop cooking produces a five-star date night or family feast.
- High-Protein & Naturally Low-Carb: Pure wholesome beef and fresh seafood provide clean, nourishing fuel with zero heavy fillers.
- One-Skillet Cleanup: Everything sears and glazes in a single skillet, leaving virtually zero dishes behind.
- Versatile Pairing: Pairs gorgeously with roasted baby potatoes, steamed jasmine rice, or crisp charred asparagus.
Key Ingredients & Smart Swaps
- Sirloin or Ribeye Steak: Top sirloin steak offers outstanding beefy flavor and tenderness at an affordable price point. Ribeye or tenderloin filet also work exquisitely. Cut into uniform 1-inch cubes so they sear evenly.
- Large Jumbo Shrimp: Opt for 16/20 or 21/25 count shrimp, peeled and deveined. Keeping the tails on adds elegant restaurant presentation.
- Unsalted Butter & Olive Oil: Combining high-smoke-point olive oil with creamy butter prevents scorching during high-heat searing while delivering that rich butter-basted finish.
- Fresh Garlic: Six whole cloves of freshly minced garlic create an aromatic, sweet nutty pan sauce. Avoid jarred pre-minced garlic for the best clean flavor.
- Fresh Lemon & Herbs: Fresh lemon juice balances the rich butter fat, while flat-leaf parsley and Italian herbs add vibrant herbal aromatics.
Step-by-Step Cooking Walkthrough
Step 1: Prep & Season Proteins. Pat both the steak cubes and peeled shrimp thoroughly dry with paper towels to ensure a crisp sear. Season the steak with salt, black pepper, and Italian herbs. In a separate bowl, toss the shrimp with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
Step 2: High-Heat Steak Sear. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the steak bites in a single layer without crowding. Sear undisturbed for 2 minutes, then flip and sear for 1 to 2 minutes more until a dark golden crust forms. Transfer to a resting plate.
Step 3: Sear the Shrimp. Add remaining olive oil to the pan. Add shrimp in a single layer and sear for 90 seconds per side until opaque and pink. Transfer shrimp to the plate alongside the steak.
Step 4: Make Foaming Garlic Butter Glaze. Turn heat down to low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the savory skillet drippings. Once foaming, stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes for 60 seconds until fragrant. Remove skillet from direct heat and stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley.
Step 5: Toss, Glaze & Serve. Return the seared steak cubes and shrimp along with any resting meat juices into the pan. Toss and spoon the warm garlic butter all over both proteins until glossy. Serve hot directly from the skillet!
3 Chef Secrets for Perfect Results
1. Dry the Meat and Seafood Thoroughly: Moisture is the enemy of a golden sear. Moisture creates steam rather than caramelization. Pat both the beef cubes and shrimp aggressively dry with paper towels right before seasoning.
2. Cook in Separate Batches: Steak bites and shrimp have different cooking rates. Searing them in separate rapid batches guarantees tender medium-rare beef and snappy, never-rubbery shrimp.
3. Add Garlic Off Direct High Heat: Cast iron retains extreme heat. Lower the heat before adding minced garlic and butter so the garlic blooms gently into fragrant sweetness rather than scorching bitter.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Steak and Shrimp
- Crispy Herb Roasted Potatoes: Golden baby potatoes tossed in sea salt are heavenly when dipped into garlic butter pan juices.
- Grilled Lemon Asparagus: Tender-crisp spears charred on the grill provide fresh, vibrant balance to rich surf and turf.
- Garlic Butter Rice or Cauliflower Mash: Fluffy rice or low-carb cauliflower puru00e9e soaks up every drop of aromatic pan sauce.
Storage, Freezing & Reheating Guidelines
- Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Gentle Reheating: Seafood and steak can easily overcook during reheating. Warm gently in a skillet over low heat with a small pat of butter for 3 to 4 minutes just until heated through, or enjoy cold sliced over a crisp Caesar salad!
- Freezing: Because shrimp texture softens after freezing once cooked, this dish is best enjoyed fresh or from the refrigerator within 3 days.
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One-Skillet Garlic Butter Steak and Shrimp
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Tender seared beef steak bites and plump juicy shrimp drenched in foaming garlic herb butter. Gourmet 20-minute surf and turf made in one skillet!
Ingredients
1.25 lbs sirloin steak or ribeye, trimmed and cut into 1-inch bite-sized cubes
1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off)
4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp Italian herb seasoning (dried thyme, rosemary, oregano)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional for gentle heat)
3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
Pat steak cubes and peeled shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Season steak cubes in one bowl with half of the salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Season shrimp in a second bowl with remaining salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat until smoking hot. Add steak bites in a single uncrowded layer and sear without moving for 2 minutes to develop a deep brown crust. Flip and sear for another 1 to 2 minutes until medium-rare to medium (135u00b0F / 57u00b0C). Transfer steak bites to a clean plate.
Add another tablespoon olive oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned shrimp in a single layer and sear for 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink, opaque, and slightly caramelized. Transfer shrimp to the plate with the steak.
Reduce skillet heat to low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan drippings. As the butter melts and begins to foam, add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sautu00e9 gently for 60 seconds until fragrant, swirling the pan to infuse the butter without burning the garlic.
Remove the skillet from direct heat. Stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley, scraping up any delicious browned pan fond from the bottom.
Return seared steak bites and plump shrimp along with any resting juices back into the skillet. Spoon the foaming garlic herb butter generously over the steak and shrimp until glossy and evenly coated.
Serve immediately straight from the sizzling skillet with extra lemon wedges and warm crusty artisan bread for dipping!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min