One-Pan Shrimp And Rice

This recipe is a bright meal with lots of acid, fluffy rice, and juicy shrimp—and it only uses one pan. “This could easily become one of my go-to weeknight dinners to make,” says recipe tester Renu Dhar. “The flavors are clean and simple.”

This dish is simple, so the quality of each ingredient matters. Clean, fresh shrimp—the freshest you can buy—will bring the best flavor.

While shrimp normally cooks in about 2 or 3 minutes, the shrimp is layered over rice and not in direct contact with the bottom of the pan. It will cook a little slower (only about 5 or 6 minutes), but the shrimp will come out all juicy and tender when the rice is done.

Washing your rice before you cook it removes excess starches, and using ingredients like fresh Parmesan cheese and basil leaves will help give the recipe a true taste. For extra ingredients or substitutions, add peas for a pop of color and a serving of vegetables, and serve shrimp and rice with items like garlic bread knots, and lemon Caesar salad.

“In the summer, this would be delicious with some chopped fresh tomatoes stirred in at the last minute,” says recipe tester Liz Mervosh. For another fun way to change up the dish, try a Thai-inspired twist and add cayenne, lemon grass, turmeric, and coconut milk instead of cheese.

Editorial Contributions by Keaton Larson