10+ Prawn Recipes You’ll Love to Try Tonight

Prawns are tasty and super versatile. You can throw them into all sorts of dishes, whether you’re after something speedy or want to impress someone.

With just a few steps, you can turn simple prawns into a meal that’s both comforting and full of flavor. Snack, main dish, party platter—prawns kind of do it all.

Ingredients

• Prawns
• Garlic
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Lemon
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse and peel the prawns if needed.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Toss in the prawns and cook until they turn pink.
5. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
6. Serve warm.

1) Garlic Butter Prawns with Lemon

Garlic butter prawns with lemon come together in practically no time. They cook fast, soaking up that punchy lemon and buttery garlic.

Sauté garlic in butter until it smells good, then toss in the prawns. Cook until they’re pink and juicy.

A squeeze of lemon at the end wakes everything up. You can pile these prawns over rice, pasta, or just a big bowl of greens.

It’s a quick fix—10 to 15 minutes, tops.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) prawns, peeled and deveined
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add prawns, season with salt and pepper, and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink.
4. Pour in lemon juice and toss prawns to coat evenly.
5. Remove from heat and garnish with parsley, if using.
6. Serve immediately.

Try this simple garlic butter lemon prawn recipe for a fresh taste. You can find more details in this garlic butter shrimp guide.

2) Spicy Prawn Curry with Indian Masala

This prawn curry is loaded with Indian spices—think cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The prawns cook in a tomato-onion base that’s spicy and rich.

Start with onions, garlic, and ginger in oil until soft. Toss in the spices and tomatoes, let it bubble and thicken.

Add the prawns at the end, just until they’re pink. Curry leaves and chili powder add a real kick.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) prawns, cleaned
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece ginger, minced
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• Fresh curry leaves
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add onions, garlic, ginger. Cook until onions are soft.
3. Stir in cumin, coriander, garam masala, and chili powder. Cook for 1 minute.
4. Add tomato puree and cook until thick.
5. Add prawns and curry leaves. Cook for 5-7 minutes until prawns turn pink.
6. Season with salt and serve hot with rice or bread.

3) Quick 10-Minute Butter Garlic Prawns

Butter garlic prawns are all about speed and flavor. The sauce is rich and garlicky and honestly, it’s hard to mess up.

Fresh garlic and good butter are key. Add a pinch of chili if you want some heat.

Some folks leave the shells on for extra juiciness, but you do you.

You only need a handful of ingredients and about 10 minutes. Perfect for when you’re hungry and patience is low.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450g) prawns, peeled or with shells on
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: chili flakes, fresh parsley

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F/175°C).
2. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add prawns, salt, and pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink.
4. Sprinkle chili flakes and parsley if using. Serve immediately.

For more details on this easy recipe, see Butter Garlic Prawns.

4) Prawn Pad Thai Stir-Fry

Prawn Pad Thai is a stir-fry classic. Rice noodles, prawns, and a tangy tamarind-peanut sauce come together for a sweet, salty, and just a little sour bite.

Soak the noodles first. Sear the prawns in a hot pan, add garlic, eggs, then noodles.

Toss everything with the sauce, top with peanuts and lime. It’s fast, bold, and honestly, kind of addictive.

Ingredients

• 5 oz (150 g) dried rice noodles
• 12 raw prawns, peeled and deveined
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tbsp tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, crushed
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Spring onions, chopped (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak noodles in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain.
2. Heat oil in a wok or large pan over medium-high heat.
3. Add garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
4. Add prawns and cook until pink, about 2 minutes.
5. Push prawns to one side, pour in eggs, scramble lightly.
6. Add noodles, tamarind paste, fish sauce, and sugar. Stir well.
7. Cook for 2-3 minutes until noodles are soft.
8. Serve topped with crushed peanuts and lime wedges.

5) Creamy Garlic Prawns with White Wine

Creamy garlic prawns with white wine is a dish that feels a little fancy but doesn’t ask much from you. The white wine gives the sauce a little zing, and it’s perfect for tossing with pasta or dunking bread.

Start with peeled prawns—fresh or frozen, honestly, both work. Cook up garlic, then pour in wine, cream, and parmesan.

The sauce thickens fast, so don’t wander off. You’ll have dinner in about 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 12 large prawns, peeled and cleaned
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup dry white wine
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated parmesan
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat butter in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add prawns and cook until pink, about 2-3 minutes per side.
4. Pour in white wine and let it reduce slightly for 2 minutes.
5. Stir in cream and parmesan, simmer until sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Try this creamy garlic prawns recipe with white wine for a tasty, easy meal. For more details, check creamy garlic prawns recipes with white wine.

6) Prawn and Tomato Masala

A prawn and tomato masala hits the spot when you want something saucy. The tomatoes give tang, and the prawns add a bit of sweetness.

Fry onions until golden, then add tomatoes and spices—turmeric, chili, coriander. Let it cook down until thick.

Toss in the prawns at the end. Don’t overcook them or they’ll go rubbery. Serve with rice or naan.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb prawns, cleaned
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 2 tbsp oil
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (350°F / 175°C).
2. Add onions; cook until golden brown.
3. Mix in tomatoes and spices; cook until thick.
4. Add prawns; cook 4-5 minutes until pink.
5. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.

7) Healthy Prawn Salad with Citrus Dressing

This prawn salad is light, fresh, and honestly, kind of a mood-lifter. The citrus dressing wakes up the prawns and makes everything pop.

Orange and lime juice in the dressing give a sweet-tart balance. It works so well with the prawns, you might want to drizzle it on everything.

Toss greens and prawns with the dressing right before serving. That way, nothing gets soggy.

Ingredients

• 1 pound prawns, peeled and deveined
• 2 cups mixed salad greens
• 1 orange, juiced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: sliced avocado or herbs

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a pan over medium heat and cook prawns until pink, about 3-4 minutes per side.
2. In a bowl, mix orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Toss salad greens with dressing.
4. Add cooked prawns on top.
5. Serve immediately.

For a detailed version of this recipe, check the prawn salad with citrus dressing ideas at Sherry.wine.

8) King Prawn Yaki Soba

King Prawn Yaki Soba is a classic Japanese stir-fried noodle dish. You cook thin wheat noodles with juicy king prawns and fresh veggies like onions, mushrooms, and carrots.

The sauce is savory, a little sweet, and a bit salty—really satisfying. Stir-frying keeps the vegetables crisp and the prawns tender.

You can tweak the sauce if you want more heat or sweetness. It’s quick to throw together, especially when you need dinner on the table fast.

If you want step-by-step help, check out this King Prawn Yakisoba recipe.

Ingredients

• 8-10 raw king prawns
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 10 mushrooms, sliced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and cut
• 200g thin wheat noodles
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a wok or big pan over medium-high.
3. Toss in onions, carrots, and mushrooms; stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until they soften.
4. Add king prawns and cook until they turn pink and firm.
5. Add noodles and pour over soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a pinch of sugar.
6. Stir everything for 2-3 minutes until hot.
7. Serve right away.

9) Prawn Risotto with Parmesan

Prawn risotto with Parmesan is creamy and comforting, and it’s honestly not hard to make. You cook risotto rice slowly, adding warm stock bit by bit.

This technique creates a rich, smooth texture. Sear or roast the prawns separately to lock in their flavor.

Mix them into the risotto, along with a generous amount of grated Parmesan. The cheese brings a salty, nutty kick that just works.

Some people add garlic and onion for more depth. Stirring often is key—aim for risotto that’s creamy but still has a little bite.

Ingredients

• Risotto rice
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Garlic
• White wine
• Chicken stock or broth
• Prawns (shrimp)
• Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan, then sauté chopped onion and garlic until soft.
2. Add risotto rice and toast for a minute or two.
3. Pour in white wine and let it cook off.
4. Gradually add warm chicken stock, stirring often, until the rice turns creamy and tender.
5. While that’s going, sear prawns in butter with salt and pepper until they turn pink.
6. Stir prawns and Parmesan into the risotto.
7. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve warm.

Need more details? Here’s a Parmesan Risotto Recipe with Roasted Shrimp.

10) Prawn and Cumin Rice Bowl

The prawn and cumin rice bowl is simple but surprisingly tasty. Cumin gives the rice a warm, earthy flavor that goes so well with prawns.

You cook the rice with cumin first to bring out that aroma. Then, toss the prawns with spices and cook them quickly in a hot pan.

When everything’s ready, combine the prawns and cumin rice in a bowl. If you like, add some fresh herbs or a squeeze of lime for brightness.

It’s a great lunch or dinner option when you want something fast and filling.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice
• 1 lb prawns, peeled and deveined
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Lime wedges (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the rice. Cook it with cumin, just follow whatever the package says.

2. Pour some olive oil into a pan and warm it up over medium-high heat.

3. Toss in the garlic. Let it cook until you catch that nice, fragrant smell.

4. Mix the prawns with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin.

5. Throw the prawns into the pan. Cook them until they turn pink—usually takes about 3 or 4 minutes.

6. Pile the prawns on top of the cumin rice. Squeeze on some lime if you’re into that.