Garlic Chicken and Shrimp

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Diana Rattray
Updated 11/05/20
Garlic chicken and shrimp

The Spruce
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
714 Calories
47g Fat
13g Carbs
59g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 714
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 47g 61%
Saturated Fat 17g 86%
Cholesterol 367mg 122%
Sodium 1280mg 56%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 59g
Calcium 202mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chicken and shrimp go together surprisingly well, and this dish is no exception. Garlic, basil, and simple Italian-style seasonings flavor the chicken and shrimp mixture. The dish is similar in flavor to a classic shrimp scampi.

Cut boneless chicken breast halves into strips or use chicken tenders in the dish for quick cooking. The chicken and shrimp cook together in the pan for minimal cleanup. You can easily make this dish with all chicken or all shrimp if you like.

Serve this chicken and shrimp combination with cooked linguine, angel hair pasta, noodles, or hot boiled rice. Add a tossed green salad or Caesar salad for a well-rounded meal suitable for any occasion. 

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 boneless chicken breast halves (or tenders, about 1 pound)
  • 1 pound shrimp (large or jumbo, peeled)
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin​ olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic (smashed and minced)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried leaf basil)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Creole seasoning (seasoned salt blend)
  • For serving: cooked rice or pasta
  • Optional garnish: fresh parsley (chopped)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Garlic chicken and shrimp ingredients
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  2. Lightly pound chicken between sheets of plastic wrap to an even thickness. Cut the chicken into strips about 1-inch wide. If you are using chicken tenders, omit this step.

    Cut chicken into strips
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  3. To devein the shrimp, draw the tip of a small, sharp knife down the back of a shrimp. Remove the dark vein or coax it out with the knife. Repeat with the remaining shrimp. Rinse the shrimp under cold running water and then pat them dry with paper towels.

    Peel and devein shrimp
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  4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil.

    Melt butter and garlic in skillet
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  5. When the butter stops foaming, add the garlic, basil, parsley, salt, and seasoning. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the chicken and shrimp.

    Add seasoning, garlic, and shrimp to butter in skillet
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  6. Cook the shrimp and chicken mixture, stirring, for about 10 to 15 minutes, until cooked through. If the shrimp are small, add them a few minutes after adding the chicken. The shrimp will be opaque and pink when done, and the chicken will be white and opaque throughout.

    Cook shrimp until pink
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  7. Spoon the chicken and shrimp mixture over hot cooked pasta or rice for serving. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

    Serve garlic chicken and shrimp over rice or pasta
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Recipe Variations

As with many savory dishes, there are lots of ways you can tailor it by adding ingredients or making substitutions:

  • Add a small minced shallot or a few tablespoons of scallions to the butter and olive oil along with the garlic and seasonings.
  • Add about 1/4 cup of finely chopped bell pepper or 6 to 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms to the skillet.
  • Finish with a squeeze or two of fresh lemon juice, or serve the dish with lemon wedges.
  • Feel free to use all chicken or all shrimp in the dish. Chicken and ham is a great combination as well.

Tip

  • If you are using frozen cooked shrimp, thaw them in the refrigerator and add them about 5 minutes before the dish is done, or cook just long enough to heat the shrimp thoroughly.