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Spicy Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp with Parmesan Corn Polenta…a delicious bowl of late summer comfort food. This simple brown butter corn and parmesan polenta is creamy, perfectly buttery, and swirled with sweet corn. The shrimp is cooked in butter with spices and garlic, then finished with lemon…so flavorful and delicious! Especially when spooned over bowls of creamy polenta. A great under 30 minutes dinner.
Sometimes recipes are just a little more special. They might be more delicious, simpler to prepare, or just prettier. And while I know this shrimp might not seem oh so special or better than any other shrimp, I promise you it’s delicious.
Extra special as I love to say.
The only reason this recipe came to be is simple. My brother Red and his girlfriend, Hailey, are in town for the week. Whenever I have brothers in town I usually try to make something they love. But Red and Hails are even more fun because they’re down to try pretty much anything, and they love seafood.
I love cooking for others, so I used these two as a good excuse to make something they’d love. Since Hailey is really into shrimp I started with that, then built this quick recipe.
It’s spicy shrimp in a crazy delicious lemon butter sauce with creamy polenta.
Here are the details – start with the polenta
You need lots of corn, butter, and quick cooking polenta.
Start by cooking the butter and corn together until the butter browns and the corn begins to pop. Stir in a little milk and then the polenta.
The key here is to stir the polenta for five minutes until it gets creamy, then cover, and let it sit while you make the shrimp.
Once the polenta has been sitting for a bit, stir in lots and lots of parmesan cheese.
Now make the shrimp
It’s pan seared in butter with cajun seasonings until both sides are browned. I love to make my own homemade cajun spice mix, but if you’re in a pinch, store bought works too.
When the shrimp has crisped, add the garlic and fresh thyme. Then remove the shrimp from the heat and add the lemon juice. It takes maybe five or ten minutes from start to finish – tops.
Simple, but so much flavor from all the spices, garlic, and lemony butter pan sauce.
Finish it up
Spoon the creamy polenta into bowls, then spoon the shrimp and sauce overtop. I top with lots of fresh basil, and serve with crusty bread and a big arugula salad from the garden.
So quick and simple – so delicious.
The shrimp is definitely the star here, but it really can’t be the star without it’s supporting actor, the polenta. So be sure to make them both. Trust me, you’re going to love it!
Looking for other shrimp recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Honey Garlic Shrimp, Corn, and Avocado Bacon Salad
Spicy Southern Style Shrimp with Lemon Basil Orzo
Sheet Pan Jalapeño Pineapple Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Garlic Sauce
Lastly, if you make this Spicy Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp with Parmesan Corn Polenta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Spicy Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp with Parmesan Corn Polenta
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 434 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Parmesan Corn Polenta
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 ears corn – kernels removed from the cob
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup dry polenta
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- kosher salt and black pepper
Shrimp
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 1/2 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
Instructions
- 1. To make the polenta. In a medium pot, melt together the butter and corn. Cook 5-8 minutes, until the butter browns around the corn. Add 2 cups water and the milk. Bring to a low boil, then whisk in the polenta, stirring until the polenta is soft and thick, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Turn the heat off, cover the pot, and let the polenta sit 5 minutes.2. Meanwhile, make the shrimp. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, shrimp, cajun seasonings, and a big pinch of pepper. Cook on both sides until seared, about 2-3 minutes per side. Stir in the garlic and thyme and continue to cook until the garlic is fragrant. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and basil. 3. Spoon the polenta into bowls, then spoon the shrimp and sauce over the polenta. Eat and enjoy!
Notes
Homemade Cajun Seasoning: mix 2 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon black pepper. Makes 3/4 cup.
This looks delicious! What do 3 ears of corn equal in a cup measurement? Thank you!
Hi Kathryn,
I would say about 3 cups:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this dish! xx
Hi, Tieghan! I am super excited to try this recipe, but I could only find precooked polenta in the grocery store. How should I adjust?
Hi Jenn,
I would just follow the package instructions on the polenta and add some parmesan and corn as desired:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This meal is delicious! Both my husband and I loved it and will definitely make it again!
Hey Jenn! Thanks for trying out the recipe! So glad you enjoyed it! xT
Really delicious. Very easy to make. The recipe makes a large amount of polenta. I probably could cut the amount in half. I also would cut way back on the ingredients for the butter sauce. It made so much!
Hi Martha,
Amazing!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a winner! xx
This was so delicious and easy!
I love your recipes!
Hi Debra,
Happy Wednesday!!🫐🍒🍓 I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and your feedback! xT
This was super yummy! I don’t eat shrimp but my hubby loves it so I made it. Soooo good!
Hi Kim,
Happy Friday!!🫐🍓 I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for your comment and making it! xT
I never have salted butter so wondering how much salt should I add to make up for it?
Hi Michelle,
I would just add 1/4 teaspoon:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Your recipe has milk only for the polenta but instructions show water and milk. Am I missing something 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Hi Susie,
You can follow this recipe as written, I never include water in the ingredient list as it is not something that needs to be purchased. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Susie did you make this recipe. I too am confused about the water and milk. The tik tok video of this recipe doesn’t include water and the article above just says add milk but then this comment says water and milk. Seems like a lot of liquid for 1 cup of polenta! Help!
It’s both water and milk:)
Loved the recipe so easy to make and delicious!
I think next time I would make half of the polenta, way to much!
Thanks so much Teri!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you making it! Happy Friday!
Just made this. Fantastic!
Hi Leah,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was a hit! Have a great weekend😎
12 adverts + all of your pictures + an advert video playing over the top just to scroll down to this comment box. Incredibly frustrating and off-putting.
Delicious! I cut back on the spices and heat and added sautéed onion to the polenta. Will make it again for sure!
Hey Barbara,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit and appreciate you making it! Thanks for your comment! xT
The.Bomb! DStumbled across this incredible recipe this morning & decided to try it. HUGE hit & so easy to make! This is definitely in my “make again” folder!
Hi Dawn,
Happy Friday!!🥑🍑 I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and sharing your review! xT
This is a favorite comfort food recipe in our house now! It’s quick and i use frozen corn and quick grits to make it even faster! (and color me lazy) I love the color of your shrimp and the idea of the cast iron, but i generally cover the shrimp with oil and spices and fry them that way! Thank you for sharing!
Hey Nicole,
Fantastic!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad it was delish! Have a great weekend:) xx
It was super yummy! Just curious are you supposed to add 2 cups of water and 2 cups of milk when making the polenta? Ours didn’t thinking up too much! Thanks 🙂
Hey Erin,
Wonderful!!🍀 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for trying it out:) Yes, 2 cups of water and 2 cups of milk is correct. xT
This recipe was so delicious, my husband and I loved it! My local grocery didn’t have polenta so I used grits instead and still turned out amazing!
Hey Rachel,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for giving this dish a try and your comment, I love to hear it was a hit! 😊