🔥 Hot Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp with Watkins Spices: The Ultimate Tapas-Style Appetizer 😋🍤🦐

Looking for the ultimate shrimp appetizer that brings restaurant-level vibes right into your kitchen? Say hello to this Hot Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp with Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt and Watkins Pure Ground Black Pepper. It's everything you love about tapas: bold flavors, bite-sized presentation, and perfect for pairing with a killer drink. This cheffy recipe combines heat, sweetness, citrus, and savory notes for a finger-licking crowd-pleaser.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Fast & Fancy: Ready in under 30 minutes, but looks and tastes gourmet.

• Flavor Bomb: Sweet honey, spicy hot sauce, buttery garlic, and bright citrus come together like magic.

• Signature Seasoning: Featuring the high-quality Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt and Watkins Pure Ground Black Pepper.

• Tapas Perfection: Great for dinner parties, date nights, or solo snacking with style.

Ingredients You'll Need

For the shrimp:

• 1 lb fresh shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails on)

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt (to taste)

• Watkins Pure Ground Black Pepper (to taste)

• Fresh herbs (parsley or chives) for garnish

For the creamy citrus dipping sauce:

• 3 tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream

• 1 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tsp honey

• 1 tsp hot sauce

• 1 tsp lemon or lime juice

• Zest of 1/2 lemon or lime

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)

How to Make It

1. Prep the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry and season generously with Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt and Watkins Black Pepper. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.

2. Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, mix honey, hot sauce, and lemon zest. This is your sweet heat glaze.

3. Cook the Shrimp: Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp and sear for 1–2 minutes per side.

4. Glaze & Toss: Turn off the heat, then drizzle the glaze over the shrimp and toss to coat. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.

5. Make the Dip: Mix all dipping sauce ingredients until smooth. Chill for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

6. Serve It Up: Plate shrimp tapas-style with toothpicks or in a shallow dish. Garnish with herbs and serve with the creamy dipping sauce.

Drink Pairing Perfection

Pair your hot honey shrimp with a zesty citrus gin fizz, spicy pineapple margarita, or a crisp dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc. Each option balances the heat and enhances the citrusy-sweet profile of the dish.

Pro Tips for Maximum Deliciousness

• Don't overcrowd the pan when searing shrimp; cook in batches if necessary.

• Fresh lemon zest adds an extra zing—don't skip it!

• Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

Final Thoughts

This Hot Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp isn't just an appetizer—it's an experience. With Watkins spices taking the flavor up a notch and a creamy citrus dip to cool the fire, it's perfect for entertaining or treating yourself. Tapas night just got an upgrade!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.