Irresistible Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers: Your New Favorite Easy Meal
Get ready to embark on a flavor journey with these **Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers**! This recipe is a true game-changer, incredibly easy to prepare and absolutely bursting with an unforgettable taste. Whether you choose to grill them outdoors or pan-fry them indoors, these skewers are coated in an incredible, rich honey garlic butter sauce. The result is a deliciously sticky glaze that perfectly balances the natural sweetness of honey, the savory depth of butter, and a robust kick of fresh garlic. It’s a symphony of flavors that will quickly become a staple in your culinary repertoire.
We’re no strangers to the magic of skewers here at Cafe Delites. From our popular Satay Shrimp Skewers to the vibrant Hawaiian Bacon Pineapple Chicken Kebabs, we simply adore these versatile, easy-to-eat creations. Skewers offer a fun, interactive way to enjoy a meal, whether it’s for a family dinner or entertaining guests. And when it came to developing our next must-try skewer recipe, there was one flavor combination we knew we had to revisit: Honey Garlic Butter. Trust us, these Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers are designed to blow your taste buds away with their incredible sweet and savory profile.
The Irresistible Allure of Honey Garlic Butter: From Salmon to Shrimp
Our journey with this incredible flavor profile began with our number one reader-favorite recipe for nearly a year now: the Honey Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil. I vividly remember creating that recipe, scouring the internet for that specific sweet and savory combination and finding nothing quite like what I envisioned. The overwhelming positive response, countless comments, and the sheer number of other bloggers who have since ‘recreated’ or ‘adapted’ it for their own platforms, solidified one thing in my mind: this flavor combination was destined for more. And the next perfect canvas for it had to be shrimp (or prawns, as we call them here in Australia).
You might recall our previous venture where we experimented with browned butter for our honey garlic shrimp – that was indeed a glorious day for flavor. That unique twist, too, has found its way onto other blogs, a testament to its deliciousness. However, for these skewers, we wanted to simplify things without compromising on taste. Our goal was to create a recipe that delivers maximum flavor with minimal fuss, making it accessible for any weeknight or weekend gathering.
Why Pineapple? The Tropical Touch That Elevates Everything
To amplify the “flavor bomb” experience, we decided to pair the succulent shrimp with juicy, chopped pineapple. The natural sweetness and slight tang of pineapple perfectly complement the rich, savory honey garlic butter. As the pineapple cooks, it caramelizes beautifully, releasing its aromatic juices and infusing every bite with a delightful tropical essence. This combination isn’t just delicious; it also adds vibrant color and texture to the skewers, making them visually appealing and incredibly satisfying to eat.
Mastering Your Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers
Creating these sensational skewers is straightforward, making it an ideal recipe for both novice cooks and seasoned home chefs. Here’s a breakdown of what makes them so special and how to achieve perfection:
Choosing the Best Ingredients: Freshness Matters
- Shrimp (or Prawns): Opt for large, fresh, or frozen (and thawed) shrimp. Whether you leave the tails on or remove them is a matter of preference; tails on often look more appealing for presentation and can add a bit more flavor during cooking. Ensure they are peeled and deveined for ease of eating.
- Pineapple: Fresh pineapple is highly recommended for its vibrant flavor and firm texture, which holds up well on the skewer. Cut it into bite-sized chunks that are roughly the same size as your shrimp for even cooking. If fresh isn’t available, quality canned pineapple chunks (drained well) can be used as a substitute, though the texture might be slightly softer.
- The Honey Garlic Butter Sauce: This is the heart of the dish. Use good quality butter, fresh garlic (crushed or minced for maximum flavor), a good honey (local honey adds a nice touch!), low sodium soy sauce (to control saltiness), and fresh lemon juice. The lemon juice brightens the sauce and cuts through the richness, balancing the sweet and savory notes beautifully.
Crafting the Perfect Honey Garlic Butter Glaze
The glaze for these shrimp and pineapple skewers is surprisingly simple to prepare but yields incredible depth of flavor. In a small saucepan, you’ll gently melt butter with honey, crushed garlic, and low-sodium soy sauce. Allowing it to simmer for just a few minutes helps the flavors meld and thicken into that coveted sticky syrup. Adding lemon juice off the heat is key, as it preserves its fresh, zesty kick. This process ensures the glaze adheres perfectly to the shrimp and pineapple, creating a beautiful caramelized coating as it cooks.
Assembling Your Skewers with Ease
Before you even touch the shrimp, remember to soak your wooden skewers for at least 20 minutes. This crucial step prevents them from burning on the grill or in the pan. Once soaked, threading the shrimp and pineapple alternately onto the skewers is a breeze. Aim for an even distribution of ingredients on each skewer for balanced cooking and flavor in every bite.
Cooking Methods: Grill or Pan-Fry for Perfection
The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. You can achieve fantastic results whether you’re grilling outdoors or cooking on your stovetop:
- Grilling: Preheat your grill to medium heat. The smoky char from the grill adds another layer of flavor that’s simply divine. Brush the skewers generously with the honey garlic butter sauce before placing them on the grill. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, brushing with more sauce as they cook, until the shrimp turn pink and opaque, and the pineapple gets slightly caramelized.
- Pan-Frying: If grilling isn’t an option, a large pan or skillet (a grill pan works wonderfully for those char marks!) over medium heat will do the trick. Melt the remaining butter and sear the skewers in batches. Cooking them for 3-4 minutes per side, continually basting with the glorious honey garlic butter sauce, will ensure they are perfectly cooked and glazed. The shrimp should be fully cooked through and no longer translucent.
Needless to say, these skewers are absolutely INCREDIBLE! They are a fantastic standalone dish but are even better when paired with light sides. For instance, my Portobello Pizzas offer a unique and delicious accompaniment, adding another layer of culinary delight to your meal.
Serving Suggestions and Perfect Pairings
These Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers are incredibly versatile. Serve them as a main course with a side of fluffy jasmine rice or coconut rice to soak up all that delicious extra sauce. For a lighter meal, a fresh green salad with a citrus vinaigrette makes a perfect complement. They also make fantastic appetizers for parties and gatherings. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon for an extra burst of freshness.
Tips for Success and Delicious Variations
- Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: Shrimp cooks quickly! Overcooked shrimp can become rubbery. Watch for them to turn pink and opaque, then remove them from the heat immediately.
- Marinating: While the recipe provides a quick glaze method, you can also marinate the shrimp in a portion of the honey garlic butter sauce for 15-30 minutes before skewering for an even deeper flavor infusion.
- Spice It Up: For those who love a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the honey garlic butter sauce.
- Vegetable Additions: Feel free to add other quick-cooking vegetables to your skewers, such as bell peppers, zucchini chunks, or cherry tomatoes, for added color and nutrition. Adjust cooking times slightly if adding denser vegetables.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the honey garlic butter sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Skewers can also be assembled ahead of time and kept covered in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
FOR MORE EASY RECIPES:
Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori
Skinny Satay Turkey Skewers
Honey Sesame Chicken
Chinese Barbecue Pork Belly (Char Siu)
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Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic large, crushed, or 1 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice juice of ½ a lemon
- 1 pound shrimp or prawns, tail on or off
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- 1 pinch cracked pepper to taste, optional
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chopped
- 3 lemon slices to serve
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
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Soak the wooden skewers for at least 20 minutes before cooking. Once soaked, arrange shrimp onto skewers, alternating with pineapple pieces.
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In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the honey, garlic and soy sauce together. Stir until combined well and allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until beginning to thicken into a syrup. Take off the heat and stir in lemon juice.
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Season shrimp with a pinch of salt and a small amount of cracked pepper (optional) Using a brush, coat the honey garlic butter sauce on both sides of each shrimp skewer. Heat the remaining butter in a large pan or skillet (or grill pan) over medium heat. Working in batches of three or four, sear the skewers for 3-4 minutes on one side, while pouring a small amount of sauce over each shrimp while cooking; flip over and cook on the other side (pouring a little more sauce over the shrimp while cooking), for a further 3-4 minutes, or until the shrimp is completely cooked through and no longer opaque.
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Remove from pan and serve immediately with any remaining sauce to use for dipping! Garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We hope these Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Pineapple Skewers bring a burst of flavor and a touch of tropical joy to your table. They are proof that simple ingredients, when combined thoughtfully, can create truly extraordinary meals. Give this recipe a try, and prepare to be amazed by its effortless charm and incredible taste. Enjoy!