Creamy Chipotle Shrimp Recipe

This plump, velvety Creamy Chipotle Shrimp Recipe is made with heavy cream, smoky adobo peppers, and fresh shrimp, ready in 25 minutes. The rich dairy hits the fiery chilies and simmers down into a thick coating over the perfectly seared seafood. I love making this quick skillet meal on busy weeknights when I crave something bold.

Restaurant-Quality At Home

I used to struggle with rubbery seafood when making quick skillet dinners. My biggest mistake was cooking the shrimp directly in the simmering sauce for too long.

Now, I sear them quickly first and remove them from the pan before building the sauce. The result is perfectly tender seafood that rivals any nice local cantina.

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Creamy Chipotle Shrimp Recipe Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

How To Make Creamy Chipotle Shrimp Recipe

1. 1. Sear the shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the shrimp, and cook for 2 minutes per side until pink.
2. 2. Sauté the aromatics: Remove the shrimp, lower the heat to medium, melt the butter, and cook the minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. 3. Build the sauce: Stir in the chopped chipotle peppers, heavy cream, and chicken broth, then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. 4. Finish the dish: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, stir in the lime juice, and garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Control the heat: Adjust the number of chipotle peppers to suit your spice preference, keeping in mind the adobo sauce adds extra heat.
• Avoid curdling: Ensure the heavy cream is at room temperature before adding it to the hot skillet to prevent the sauce from breaking.
• Do not overcook: Remove the seafood the second it turns pink to ensure it remains juicy and tender in the final dish.

What To Serve With Creamy Chipotle Shrimp

Spoon this rich dish over steamed white rice or warm flour tortillas to soak up every drop of the sauce. It also pairs beautifully with roasted zucchini or a crisp green salad.

How To Store

Keep leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. I do not recommend freezing this meal, as the cream-based sauce will separate and become grainy when thawed.

FAQs

• Can I use frozen shrimp? Yes, just ensure they are fully thawed and patted completely dry before searing.
• What is a good substitute for heavy cream? Half-and-half works, but the sauce will be thinner and runs a higher risk of curdling.
• Is this recipe very spicy? It has a moderate kick, but you can scrape the seeds out of the peppers to reduce the heat.

Nutrition

• Calories: 320
• Total Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Cholesterol: 230mg
• Sodium: 650mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 6g
• Protein: 25g