Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my shrimp stir fry recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Shrimp – I get large shrimp (31-35 per pound) that’s already peeled and deveined for convenience, but you can also peel and devein it yourself. Other sizes are also fine, the cook time just might vary by a minute or two. If your shrimp is frozen, thaw it first. Vegetables – I tossed in red bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, and snow peas. But hey, it’s your shrimp stir fry! Feel free to throw in whatever veggies you like, like sugar snap peas, mushrooms, or zucchini. Oil – I use olive oil for stir frying. Feel free to swap it out with avocado oil. I also add toasted sesame oil at the end for flavor, but it’s not heat-safe for the actual stir fry part. Aromatics – I highly recommend freshly minced garlic and grated ginger for that zing in your sauce. If you don’t have any, you can substitute 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder and a pinch of ground ginger, but in that case I’d mix them directly with the sauce instead of sauteing first. Coconut Aminos – This is my favorite soy sauce substitute that makes up the base of the sauce. It’s a little sweeter than soy sauce and is cleaner, but you can totally use low-sodium soy sauce or even tamari if that’s what you’ve got. Honey – I use my natural sugar free honey for sweetness, flavor, and to thicken up the sauce just a bit. Regular honey works just fine if it fits your lifestyle. Garnishes – Jazz it up with some green onions and sesame seeds for a pop of flavor and texture. Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Make Shrimp Stir Fry
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Meal prep: Cut veggies, make sauce, peel the shrimp, and store in separate containers in the fridge until ready to cook. Reheat: I prefer to use a skillet over medium heat, as it doesn’t overcook the shrimp as easily, but the microwave in short intervals also works. Freeze: Let the shrimp stir fry cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
One of the reasons I love this shrimp stir fry recipe is it’s a meal all by itself! It’s pretty light on its own, though, so I recommend serving it over a bed of rice, fried rice, or cauliflower rice (pictured above) to make it a bit more hearty and soak up all that saucy goodness. Shirataki noodles also work well for this.
Remove the shrimp tails for easier eating. For most shrimp recipes I recommend leaving the tails on for cooking because it adds extra flavor, but for shrimp stir fry I remove them first because it’s just easier to eat this dish that way. Slightly undercook the shrimp at first. Keep an eye on them, because they cook fast! I like to remove them when they are a little undercooked in the first part, because they cook a bit more after you add them back in with the sauce later. The shrimp is best at medium, but medium-high heat is better for veggies. Shrimp can get tough if the heat is too high, so I cook it on medium heat, but I turn it up when I add the vegetables. Want a thicker sauce? I just thicken the sauce naturally with honey, but it’s still on the thinner side. So if you want it thick, stir in a tablespoon of cornstarch (or another cornstarch substitute) when you whisk the sauce ingredients together. Want to change it up? My favorite variation is throwing in some fresh pineapple, as it goes nicely with the flavors here. You can also add some crushed red pepper flakes if you want extra heat.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp is such a great choice for fast weeknight meals! Try one of my other recipes next:
My Favorite Skillet For This Recipe
You can definitely cook this shrimp stir fry in a wok, but I love using my double-handled cast-iron skillet. It holds the heat well, so everything from the veggies to the shrimp cooks fast. Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
Nutrition info does not include optional ingredients. Nutrition is calculated using zero sugar honey.
