This Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry is a weeknight hero that comes together in minutes. The sweet, sticky honey garlic sauce clings to plump shrimp and crisp-tender vegetables for a perfect balance of flavors. It’s incredibly versatile and delivers maximum satisfaction with minimal fuss.
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Why You’ll Love This Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
- Incredibly fast: Ready in about 20 minutes from start to finish.
- Perfect flavor balance: Sweet honey and savory garlic with a subtle kick.
- Fridge-cleanout friendly: Adaptable to whatever veggies you have on hand.
- Light yet indulgent: Feels like a treat but is fresh and vibrant.
Ingredients & Tools
- 450 g large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tbsp honey
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small yellow onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or vegetable oil, divided
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Tools: A large wok or a 12-inch skillet, a set of tongs or a sturdy spatula, a small whisk or fork for the sauce.
Notes: Using large, raw shrimp is key to prevent overcooking. Sesame oil added at the end provides a nutty aroma.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories: | 320 kcal |
| Protein: | 28 g |
| Fat: | 10 g |
| Carbs: | 32 g |
| Fiber: | 5 g |
Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Storage & Freshness Guide
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended; shrimp and vegetables become watery upon thawing.
- Reviving: Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat to restore texture.
Serving Suggestions
Complementary Dishes
- Cauliflower Rice — It’s the perfect low-carb vehicle to soak up every last drop of the delicious sauce without weighing you down.
- Simple Sesame Cucumber Salad — The cool, crisp, and slightly tangy salad provides a refreshing contrast to the warm, savory-sweet stir-fry.
- Steamed Edamame — A light, protein-packed starter sprinkled with sea salt that gets everyone happily munching while you put the finishing touches on the main event.
Drinks
- Iced Green Tea with Lemon — Its clean, slightly bitter notes help cut through the richness of the honey and cleanse the palate between bites.
- A Crisp Pinot Grigio — This light, dry white wine has enough acidity to balance the sweetness and enhance the delicate flavor of the shrimp.
- Sparkling Water with Lime — Sometimes simplicity is best; the effervescence is wonderfully refreshing and highlights the dish’s vibrant flavors.
Something Sweet
- Fresh Berry Salad with Whipped Coconut Cream — A bowl of mixed berries is light, tart, and sweet, providing a perfect, simple finish that doesn’t overshadow the main course.
- Dark Chocolate Square with Sea Salt — Just one or two squares of high-quality dark chocolate offers a rich, bittersweet endnote that contrasts beautifully with the meal.
- Chia Seed Pudding — A make-ahead dessert that’s creamy and satisfying, often flavored with vanilla or a hint of citrus to keep things light.
Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes
- Pat your shrimp completely dry. This is the single most important step for getting a good sear instead of steaming them. Any excess moisture on the shrimp will create steam in the pan, preventing that beautiful, light browning we’re after.
- Have everything prepped and within arm’s reach. Stir-frying is a fast-paced cooking method. Once you start, there’s no time to stop and mince more garlic or slice another vegetable. This “mise en place” makes the process smooth and stress-free.
- Don’t skip the toasting of the sesame seeds. If you have raw sesame seeds, take a minute to toast them in a dry pan until golden. It unlocks a deep, nutty flavor that store-bought toasted seeds sometimes lack, and it elevates the final dish immensely.
- Use a high-smoke-point oil. Since we’re cooking over high heat, an oil like avocado or vegetable oil is perfect. Save your extra virgin olive oil for another dish, as it can burn and become bitter at these temperatures.
How to Make Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
Step 1: Prep the Shrimp and Veggies. Start by ensuring your shrimp are thoroughly patted dry with paper towels—this is non-negotiable for a good sear. Set them aside. Then, chop your broccoli into bite-sized florets, slice the bell pepper into thin strips, and slice the onion. Mince the garlic finely and slice the green onions for your garnish. Having everything ready to go is the secret to a seamless stir-fry.
Step 2: Whisk the Sauce. In a small bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Use a small whisk or a fork to blend it all together until the honey is fully dissolved into the liquid. You’ll notice it will be quite thin—that’s perfect, as it will thicken beautifully when it hits the hot pan later.
Step 3: Cook the Vegetables. Place your wok or large skillet over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of the oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the broccoli florets. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes until they turn bright green. Then, add the sliced bell pepper and onion. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp. You want a little bite left in them. Remove the veggies from the pan and set them aside on a plate.
Step 4: Sear the Shrimp. Increase the heat to high and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the now-empty pan. Once the oil is very hot, carefully add the shrimp in a single layer. Let them cook undisturbed for about 1 minute to get a nice sear on one side. You should hear a confident sizzle. Then, flip them and cook for another 30-60 seconds, just until they turn pink and opaque. They cook incredibly fast, so don’t walk away!
Step 5: Create the Glaze. Push the seared shrimp to one side of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the empty space. Sauté for just 30 seconds until fragrant—be careful not to burn it! Now, pour your pre-mixed sauce into the center of the pan. It will bubble and sizzle immediately. Let it simmer for about a minute, stirring constantly, as it reduces and thickens into a glossy, sticky glaze.
Step 6: Combine and Finish. Return the cooked vegetables back to the pan, tossing everything together to coat it evenly in that gorgeous honey garlic sauce. Let it all heat through for a final minute. Turn off the heat, and this is when you drizzle in that one precious teaspoon of sesame oil. Stir it through—the aroma that wafts up is just incredible.
Step 7: Garnish and Serve. Immediately transfer your stir-fry to a serving platter or divide it among bowls. Generously sprinkle with the sliced green onions and toasted
Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
Make this easy Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry in just 20 minutes! Sweet, savory, and loaded with crisp veggies. Get the quick & delicious recipe now!
Ingredients
For the Shrimp and Vegetables
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450 g large raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
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1 large head broccoli (cut into florets)
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1 medium red bell pepper (sliced)
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1 small yellow onion (sliced)
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2 tbsp avocado oil or vegetable oil (divided)
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2 green onions (sliced, for garnish)
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1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
For the Sauce
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3 tbsp honey
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4 large cloves garlic (minced)
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2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
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1 tbsp rice vinegar
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1 tsp sesame oil
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1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Instructions
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Start by ensuring your shrimp are thoroughly patted dry with paper towels—this is non-negotiable for a good sear. Set them aside. Then, chop your broccoli into bite-sized florets, slice the bell pepper into thin strips, and slice the onion. Mince the garlic finely and slice the green onions for your garnish. Having everything ready to go is the secret to a seamless stir-fry.01
-
In a small bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Use a small whisk or a fork to blend it all together until the honey is fully dissolved into the liquid. You’ll notice it will be quite thin—that’s perfect, as it will thicken beautifully when it hits the hot pan later.02
-
Place your wok or large skillet over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of the oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the broccoli florets. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes until they turn bright green. Then, add the sliced bell pepper and onion. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp. You want a little bite left in them. Remove the veggies from the pan and set them aside on a plate.03
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Increase the heat to high and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the now-empty pan. Once the oil is very hot, carefully add the shrimp in a single layer. Let them cook undisturbed for about 1 minute to get a nice sear on one side. You should hear a confident sizzle. Then, flip them and cook for another 30-60 seconds, just until they turn pink and opaque. They cook incredibly fast, so don’t walk away!04
-
Push the seared shrimp to one side of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the empty space. Sauté for just 30 seconds until fragrant—be careful not to burn it! Now, pour your pre-mixed sauce into the center of the pan. It will bubble and sizzle immediately. Let it simmer for about a minute, stirring constantly, as it reduces and thickens into a glossy, sticky glaze.05
-
Return the cooked vegetables back to the pan, tossing everything together to coat it evenly in that gorgeous honey garlic sauce. Let it all heat through for a final minute. Turn off the heat, and this is when you drizzle in that one precious teaspoon of sesame oil. Stir it through—the aroma that wafts up is just incredible.06
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Immediately transfer your stir-fry to a serving platter or divide it among bowls. Generously sprinkle with the sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.07
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