Updated on October 5th, 2025
If you like dishes that bring a little heat and a lot of flavor, this Szechuan shrimp recipe is one you’ll want to keep close. The sauce is a mix of sweet, spicy, and savory, made with soy sauce, ketchup, honey, and red pepper flakes. Since it uses precooked shrimp, you can have everything ready in about twenty minutes, which makes it great for busy days. The garlic and ginger add a nice kick that keeps every bite full of flavor, especially when served over hot white rice.
Why this recipe works
- Quick to prepare: Using precooked shrimp cuts down the cooking time and makes this dish ready in minutes without losing any flavor.
- Balanced flavors: The sweet honey and ketchup pair perfectly with the heat from red pepper flakes for a sauce that’s both spicy and smooth.
- Simple steps: You only need one pan and a few ingredients to bring everything together, which means less cleanup later.
- Perfect texture: The shrimp stay tender and juicy because they are cooked just long enough to soak up the sauce.
- Custom spice level: You can easily adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to make it mild or spicy, depending on your preference.
Serving suggestions
- Classic pairing: Serve Szechuan shrimp over steamed white rice so it soaks up the flavorful sauce with every bite.
- Noodle option: Toss the shrimp and sauce with cooked noodles for a quick, restaurant-style stir-fry meal.
- Vegetable mix: Add bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli to make the dish heartier and add some crunch.
- Meal prep idea: Make a double batch and pack it with rice for an easy lunch that reheats well the next day.
- Dinner favorite: Pair it with egg rolls or a light cucumber salad to round out a simple and satisfying meal.
Szechuan shrimp recipe
Try Szechuan shrimp recipe for a simple, spicy stir-fry made with shrimp, garlic, and ginger that’s ready in minutes and full of flavor.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 ounces cooked large shrimp (with tails removed)
- 4 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup green onions (sliced)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together water, ketchup, soy sauce, cornstarch, honey, crushed red pepper flakes, and ginger.
- Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add green onions and garlic. Stir fry for 30 seconds.
- Add shrimp and toss to coat with oil. Pour in sauce. Heat while sitting until sauce is thick and bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 264
- Sugar: 7.8 g
- Sodium: 583.2 mg
- Fat: 7.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.4 g
- Protein: 35.3 g
- Cholesterol: 273.7 mg