Let’s be honest — weekends are for relaxing, not slaving over the stove. But that doesn’t mean you can’t whip up something that feels a little special. That’s exactly why I love these Speedy Garlic Prawns with Crusty Bread. It’s one of those dishes that looks fancy, tastes incredible, but takes barely 15 minutes from start to finish. No complicated ingredients, no fancy chef skills — just a handful of basics, and you’re sorted.
I always say, garlic and butter together are magic. Add prawns to the mix and suddenly, dinner feels like you’ve treated yourself to a restaurant meal — even if you’re still in your joggers and slippers.
The best part? You only need a few ingredients to bring this dish to life. Juicy king prawns, lots of fresh garlic, a good knob of butter, a little olive oil, and some chopped parsley for that herby freshness. I like to squeeze in some lemon at the end for a bit of zing. Oh, and don’t forget the bread — crusty baguette, sourdough, or whatever bread you’ve got lurking in the cupboard. Trust me, you’ll want something to mop up all that buttery, garlicky sauce.
Speedy Garlic Prawns has saved me more times than I can count — when I’ve had friends pop over unexpectedly, when I want a quick Friday night dinner with a glass of wine, or when I just can’t be bothered with anything complicated. It’s ready in no time, and everyone loves it.
If you’re a seafood fan, this one’s a must-try. The prawns cook in just a few minutes, turning lovely and pink, while the butter and garlic mingle together to create the most irresistible sauce. It’s rich, it’s comforting, and it tastes like you’ve made a real effort — but we’ll keep it our little secret how easy it really is!
You can serve it as a light meal with bread and a simple salad on the side, or double the portion and make it the star of your evening. I’ve even done this as a starter when we’ve had guests, and people always ask for the recipe.
Quick tip: Use raw prawns if you can — they soak up the flavour better and stay juicy. Frozen ones are fine too, just make sure they’re properly defrosted before cooking.
So next time you fancy something quick, tasty, and just a little indulgent, give these Speedy Garlic Prawns a go. Ready in 15 minutes, minimal washing up, and utterly delicious — what more could you want from a weekend meal?
Speedy Garlic Prawns
Ingredients
- 300 g king prawns raw peeled and deveined (fresh or defrosted)
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped or crushed
- 50 g unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 bunch fresh basil
- ½ large lemon cut into wedges
- salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Crusty bread baguette, sourdough etc
- 8 medium plum tomatoes halved
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil and half the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat.1 tbsp olive oil, 50 g unsalted butter
- Add the chopped garlic and cook gently for 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.3 cloves garlic
- Add the prawns to the pan and cook for 2–3 minutes on each side, until they turn pink and slightly golden around the edges.300 g king prawns
- Stir in the other half of the butter and tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste.50 g unsalted butter, salt, freshly ground black pepper, 8 medium plum tomatoes
- Squeeze over the lemon juice, give everything a final stir, and remove from the heat.½ large lemon
- Serve the speedy garlic prawns immediately with fresh basil, slices of crusty bread to mop up the delicious garlic butter sauce.Crusty bread, 1/3 bunch fresh basil
26 comments
love ite
I love everything in this recipe.
So much flavour for such little effort — ideal when you want something fast but special.
Fresh lemon at the end makes a big difference! Don’t forget it.
Restaurant quality food in just 15 minutes.
The only problem is how quickly it disappears
I added a few chilli flakes and it gave it a lovely kick.
Made this after a long day at work — took no time at all and hit the spot.
I’m not much of a cook, but even I managed this one without messing it up.
Fast, full of flavour, and feels like something you’d order at a fancy seafood place.
I could seriously eat a bowl of the sauce on its own with bread. It’s that good.
This is my new go-to Friday night meal. Simple ingredients, full-on flavour, and hardly any washing up — winner!
I used frozen prawns that I thawed out and it still tasted incredible.
I couldn’t believe how quick it was to put together and how luxurious it tasted.
The garlic butter sauce is addictive — we were fighting over the last bit with our bread.
That garlic butter sauce with the bread is pure heaven.
Perfect weekend treat! I served it with a simple rocket salad and warm focaccia. 5 star.
This recipe is an absolute lifesaver! I made it for my partner on Saturday night, and we both couldn’t believe how quick and tasty it was.
I made this for a girls’ lunch, and everyone was asking for the recipe.
Love how buttery and garlicky this is.
Served it with warm ciabatta and a glass of wine — perfect lazy weekend food.
The prawns were juicy, the garlic butter sauce was rich, and the bread soaked it all up perfectly.
Made it as a starter before our main course, and it completely stole the show.
I’m not the most confident cook, but this dish was so easy and turned out brilliantly.
Honestly, I could eat this every weekend.
Everyone was licking their fingers and asking for more!