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+ servings

Lime Shrimp Skillet with Zucchini

NovelFoodie
This is my new favorite one-pan meal
Cilantro and jalapeños are optional!
This one-pan dish cooks up quickly. We like to serve this over toasted bread rubbed with a garlic clove, or over rice.
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5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 People
Calories 289 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet (at least 12-13') cast iron skillet, or two smaller ones. A heavy oven-safe pan, or a sheet pan with sides will work
  • mandolin or sharp knife
  • 2 medium bowls
  • 1 small bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Medium to large shrimp Raw, cleaned and patted dry.
  • 2 Whole limes & the zest I use a microplane zester. Lemon or orange zest is also delicious! (If your limes aren't very juicy, you may need additional limes.)
  • 2 Medium zucchini Sliced very thin.
  • 1 tsp Granulated onion Optional, this is my preferred brand.
  • ½ tsp cumin Optional, I love this toasted cumin.
  • ¼ tsp Salt To taste
  • ¼ tsp Black pepper To taste
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil Plus a little to oil the pan. I like garlic infused olive oil, sometimes I add red pepper flakes.
  • 2 tbsp butter Melted, or use additional olive oil.
  • ½ cup Panko Kikkoman is great, but look for bulk panko at your seafood store!
  • 2 Jalapeños (if you don't like spicy food, use scallions)
  • 1 bunch Cilantro Don't like Cilantro? Use Parsley or scallions.
  • 1 clove garlic 2 cloves for extra garlicky flavor!

Optional

  • 4-8 slices Baguette Toast slices of the bread and then rub lightly with a garlic clove.
  • Veetee rice You can make whatever rice you like, or find individual containers of Veetee at the grocery, or multi-packs on Amazon. Veetee makes great quick fried rice also!
  • Red pepper flakes Optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 475°.
  • Zest the limes and then slice in half. Slice one lime half into small wedges and reserve one per person for garnish.
  • Wash and dry the jalapeños and slice into thin rounds. 
  • Wash, pat dry, and slice the zucchini with a mandolin or knife into very thin slices.
  • Peel, and finely dice the garlic.
  • Wash, pat dry, and coarsely chop the cilantro. You should have about 1/3 cup. *Reserve 1 tbsp for garnish.
  • To a medium bowl add the cleaned, dry shrimp, garlic, ½ of the zest, and ½ of the cilantro.
  • Add a sprinkle of salt, pepper and add a pinch of granulated onion, red pepper flakes, and/or cumin if desired.
  • In a small bowl covered with a paper towel, melt butter carefully in the microwave in ten-second increments. Just until it's melted, but not hot. Stir in the olive oil.
  • Add about 1½ tbsp melted but not hot butter/oil mixture to the bowl with the shrimp.
  • Squeeze juice from limes over the shrimp, mix and allow it to marinate for just a couple minutes while you prepare the pan and topping.

Prepare the Panko Topping (Scroll down for instructions for serving leftover)

  • Add the panko, 2 tbsp butter/oil mixture, cilantro, and remaining lime zest to a bowl and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste, and a sprinkle of granulated onion to taste.

Prepare the Dish

  • Lightly oil the bottom and sides of a large cast-iron skillet. Add the zucchini slices and season with granulated onion, salt and pepper to taste. Arrange them in a thin layer around the perimeter of the pan, and up the sides.
  • Line the middle of the cast iron pan with jalapeno slices. (and/or scallions)
  • Place the shrimp in a flat, single layer on top of the jalapenos, and pour the marinade over the top. The butter may have solidified some, just spoon it over the shrimp.
  • Spoon panko topping evenly over the shrimp and drizzle the remaining butter/oil over the top of the zucchini and panko.
    (If you are serving a portion of the dish as leftovers, set aside some of the panko topping.)
  • Bake the shrimp skillet in the preheated 475° oven for about seven to ten minutes, or until shrimp are pink and topping gets browned. If you're not sure, remove one and cut it in half after about seven minutes. If it is cooked, it will be pink and slightly white in the center.

To Prepare Panko Topping to Serve Leftover

  • Brown the seasoned panko in butter/oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until lightly toasted. Mix in the cilantro and zest and set aside. When cool, place toppings in zip-top or small containers to top the shrimp later!

Notes

*Nutritional value does not include rice or bread.
I like to wash my shrimp by placing it in a bowl of ice water and about 1/2 tsp of salt for a few minutes, then rinse and pat dry.
For crispier topping and even cooking, allow for a little space between the shrimp.
Like extra spicy shrimp? Add extra jalapeño or dice some more jalapeño into the crumb topping! I’ve added poblano or serrano peppers.
This dish is best fresh from the oven, however, it's still delicious leftover! When I need to send it with Husband for lunch during his work shift, prepare panko separately, see instructions above for leftover panko preparation.
The shrimp can be served as is, or I recommend it served on toasted crusty bread rubbed with garlic or over Veetee rice or quinoa! Veetee rice, in my opinion is the best pre-cooked rice.
I love cilantro and shrimp. A local restaurant chain serves a cilantro shrimp dish and I had been craving it!  I searched the web for recipes and adapted my recipe from this amazing blog, Gimme Some Oven. It's certainly delicious. I like the little kick of spice I get by adding the jalapeños, and cooking it all up with the zucchini!
I hope you try this one pan dinner! 
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Nutrition

Calories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 26gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 301mgSodium: 1142mgPotassium: 444mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 593IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 215mgIron: 4mg
Keyword cast iron, cilantro, crunchy topping, easy, jalapeno, lime, quick, shrimp, shrimp skillet, skillet meal, spicey, spicy, veetee, week night, weeknight, weeknight meal, yummy, zucchini
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