Sizzling and packed with bold flavors, this quick 30 minute sweet chili shrimp recipe delivers a mouthwatering meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Tender shrimp dance in a vibrant sauce that balances sweet and spicy notes with remarkable ease.
Each bite promises a delightful explosion of taste that’ll have you coming back for more.
The simple ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a restaurant-quality dish you can whip up in less time than it takes to order takeout.
Home cooks love how effortlessly this recipe comes together, with just a handful of pantry staples and fresh shrimp.
The tangy-sweet glaze coats each succulent morsel, ensuring maximum flavor in every single bite.
Get ready to impress your dinner companions with this incredible, fast-to-prepare seafood sensation that’s sure to become a weekly favorite.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 330 kcal
Servings: 5
30 Minute Sweet Chili Shrimp – What’s Inside
For Base Ingredients:
Olive Oil: Provides a silky cooking foundation with a subtle fruity flavor, choose extra virgin for richer taste.
Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile and helps draw moisture from ingredients.
For Protein and Aromatics:
Shrimp: Select fresh, firm, and bright-colored shrimp with a clean ocean scent for best quality.
Garlic: Adds robust, pungent depth to the dish, fresh cloves offer more intense flavor than pre-minced.
Red Chili Flakes: Introduces spicy kick and vibrant color, adjust quantity based on heat preference.
For Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
Soy Sauce: Brings umami and salty complexity, opt for low-sodium version to control salt levels.
Sriracha: Delivers tangy heat and bright red color, use cautiously for balanced spiciness.
Honey: Provides natural sweetness and helps create glossy sauce coating.
Ginger: Contributes zingy, warm undertone with subtle citrusy notes.
For Vegetable Components:
Bell Peppers: Adds crisp texture and sweet freshness, choose colorful varieties for visual appeal.
For Garnish:
Sesame Seeds: Introduces nutty crunch and toasty flavor.
Parsley: Offers fresh, herbaceous brightness and decorative touch.
Tools That’ll Help You Cook Sweet Chili Shrimp Fast
Large Skillet: Essential for sautéing peppers and shrimp with even heat distribution.
Cutting Board: Needed for chopping bell peppers and preparing ingredients.
Chef's Knife: Sharp knife for precise vegetable and ingredient preparation.
Wooden Spoon or Tongs: Perfect for stirring and turning shrimp while cooking.
Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure soy sauce, honey, and spices.
Mixing Bowl: Useful for holding cooked bell peppers before final plating.
Fast & Flavorful: Sweet Chili Shrimp in 30 Minutes
Veggie Preparation Kitchen workspace with fresh bell peppers ready for sautéing. Slice peppers into colorful strips, creating a vibrant base for the dish.
Pepper Sizzle Heating skillet with olive oil, gently cook peppers until they soften and release their natural sweetness. Transfer peppers to a waiting bowl.
Shrimp Dance Introduce succulent shrimp to the same hot skillet. Sprinkle with aromatic garlic and zesty chili flakes, allowing each piece to turn golden and develop deep flavors.
Flavor Fusion Whisk together a tantalizing sauce combining soy sauce, spicy Sriracha, golden honey, and zingy ginger. Coat shrimp completely, letting them simmer and absorb every delicious note.
Plating Magic Arrange sautéed peppers as a colorful foundation, then nestle saucy shrimp on top. Finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and fresh parsley for a restaurant-worthy presentation.
Tips to Level Up Your Sweet Chili Shrimp Game
Smart Cooking Tips & Twists
Replace shrimp with chicken, tofu, or scallops for a delightful protein variation that keeps the sweet chili flavor intact.
Adjust red chili flakes and Sriracha to dial up or down the heat intensity, making the dish perfect for mild or fiery taste preferences.
For deeper flavor, marinate shrimp in the sauce mixture for 15-30 minutes before cooking to enhance taste absorption and tenderness.
Add zucchini, snap peas, or mushrooms alongside bell peppers to increase nutritional value and create a more substantial meal with extra texture and color.
Serve Sweet Chili Shrimp with Style in Minutes
Pair with Steamed Rice: Spoon the sweet chili shrimp over a fluffy bed of jasmine or basmati rice for a complete and satisfying meal that soaks up all the delicious sauce.
Create a Quick Salad Side: Toss a light cucumber and mixed greens salad with a simple vinaigrette to balance the spicy and sweet flavors of the shrimp dish.
Wrap It Up: Use warm tortillas or lettuce wraps to transform the shrimp into a fun, handheld meal that's perfect for casual dining or quick weeknight dinners.
Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle extra chopped parsley or cilantro on top to add a burst of freshness and bright color to the final presentation.
Quick Storage Tips for Sweet Chili Shrimp Meals
Refrigerate Wisely: Store leftover sweet chili shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Shrimp tend to lose texture quickly, so enjoy them as soon as possible for the best taste and quality.
Freeze for Later: Pack cooled shrimp in freezer-safe containers, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Frozen shrimp meals stay good for 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat Carefully: Warm refrigerated shrimp gently in a skillet over low heat to prevent overcooking. Add a splash of water or extra sauce to keep the dish moist and prevent drying out. Avoid microwave reheating to maintain the shrimp's delicate texture.
Meal Prep Strategy: Prepare bell peppers and sauce ingredients in advance for quick weeknight cooking. Keep chopped vegetables and mixed sauce separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing fast assembly of this delicious meal when you're short on time.
Succulent shrimp in sweet chili sauce brings bold Southeast Asian flavors to dinner tables within half an hour. Home cooks can easily craft this zesty dish with simple ingredients and quick cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb (0.45 kg) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsps Sriracha sauce
3 tbsps honey
½ tsp crushed red chili pepper flakes
1 tsp dried ginger
Salt, to taste
3 tbsps olive oil
2 tbsps sesame seeds, toasted
2 tbsps fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
Preparation: Uniformly dice bell peppers, finely mince garlic, and organize all spices and sauces within immediate reach for streamlined cooking.
Pepper Preparation: Sauté bell peppers in olive oil over medium heat, seasoning with salt until edges caramelize and vegetables soften, roughly 5-7 minutes.
Shrimp Searing: In the same skillet, quickly cook shrimp with garlic, red chili flakes, and salt, ensuring single-layer placement for optimal golden coloration and even cooking.
Flavor Infusion: Introduce soy sauce, Sriracha, honey, and grated ginger, creating a dynamic sauce that envelops the shrimp with complex, tangy-sweet notes.
Sauce Integration: Return shrimp to the skillet, gently tossing to coat thoroughly, then simmer briefly to allow sauce to reduce and intensify its glaze-like consistency.
Plating Finale: Arrange sautéed bell peppers as a vibrant base, crown with glossy shrimp, and embellish with toasted sesame seeds and freshly chopped parsley for a restaurant-quality presentation.
Notes
Prep Like a Pro: Dice bell peppers uniformly and measure spices beforehand to streamline cooking and ensure consistent flavor distribution.
Heat Control Matters: Maintain medium heat to prevent burning and achieve perfect caramelization of peppers and golden sear on shrimp.
Single Layer Cooking: Arrange shrimp in a single layer for even cooking, preventing overcrowding that leads to steaming instead of searing.
Sauce Coating Technique: Gently toss shrimp in sauce on low-medium heat to create a glossy, clingy glaze that maximizes flavor absorption.
Degree: Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
Focus: Essential knowledge of recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and food business basics.
Mia Reynolds fell in love with baking as a teenager experimenting in her family kitchen. Her passion took her to New England Culinary Institute, where she learned practical pastry techniques, and later to Community College of Vermont to deepen her understanding of food management.
Mia combines clear, simple baking instructions with heartwarming stories, making home baking approachable for everyone.
Mia Reynolds
Food Writer & Home Cooking Specialist
Expertise
Easy Home Baking, Recipe Writing and Storytelling, Local and Seasonal Ingredients, Baking for Beginners
Education
New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Montpelier, Vermont
Community College of Vermont, Winooski, Vermont
Mia Reynolds fell in love with baking as a teenager experimenting in her family kitchen. Her passion took her to New England Culinary Institute, where she learned practical pastry techniques, and later to Community College of Vermont to deepen her understanding of food management.
Mia combines clear, simple baking instructions with heartwarming stories, making home baking approachable for everyone.