Shrimp and Rice Recipe

This low-calorie Shrimp and Rice Recipe is a simple, but delicious meal that’s full of lemon and garlic flavor and topped with grated Parmesan cheese. It combines bell peppers, shrimp, and brown rice to make a light but filling gluten-free meal.

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Whether you’re looking for an easy dinner recipe or need a dish that’s perfect for meal-prepping your lunches, this rice with shrimp is the perfect option! It combines all four varieties of bell peppers with garlic, lemon, parsley, and Parmesan cheese to make a flavorful shrimp dish that you serve over a bed of nutritious brown rice. It’s also easy to add in your favorite vegetables or seasonings to transform the meal to match your mood.

If you like this easy shrimp and rice meal prep recipe, you will love my healthy shrimp recipe and this easy tuna salad recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple, But Flavorful: This easy shrimp and rice dish utilizes ingredients like brown rice, shrimp, and bell peppers in combination with fragrant garlic and lemon juice to create a mouthwatering meal that’s bursting with flavor.
• Easy to Customize: Using simple ingredients as the base for this meal makes it easy to customize the flavors and other ingredients to your tastes. You can make it spicy, add your favorite vegetables, or swap out the herbs and cheese to transform the meal.
• Perfect for Meal Prepping: This is an excellent meal for preparing ahead of time, or for several days of lunches or dinners. 
• Gluten-Free and Low Calorie: Shrimp over rice is a gluten-free and low-calorie meal option. It can also become low-carb or dairy-free with a few simple tweaks.

Ingredients

• Brown Rice: This rice has more fiber and nutrients from the bran layers on the outside of the rice. However, you can also use white rice if you prefer.
• Shrimp: You’ll need to peel, devein, and clean the shrimp before cooking them. You can use fresh or thawed frozen shrimp. 
• Bell Peppers: Create a colorful and delicious meal by using yellow, orange, red, and green bell peppers in this rice and shrimp recipe.
• Lemon Juice: Add some acidity and brighten up the meal with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Parmesan Cheese: Give the dish a more salty and savory flavor with a generous helping of grated Parmesan over the top. You can leave out the cheese if you want this shrimp with rice to be dairy-free.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations & Dietary Modifications

• Use Different Vegetables: This shrimp with rice meal is versatile and works with a number of different vegetables. Try it with zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, peas, or carrots for a slightly different flavor.
• Try Chicken Instead: If you aren’t a fan of seafood or have an allergy, you can make this dish with chicken instead! Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and cook it according to the recipe until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This lemon garlic chicken is a similar recipe that would taste great with brown rice and bell peppers.
• Spice It Up: This recipe uses crushed red pepper for a little spicy kick, but you can ramp that up by using cayenne pepper or cooking some fresh jalapenos with the bell peppers. You can also add a Creole seasoning to make this more of a Cajun shrimp and rice recipe.
• Make It Mediterranean: Lemon, garlic, and parsley are already key ingredients in many Mediterranean dishes. Add some chickpeas, fresh mint, dill, and feta cheese crumbles to make it a true Mediterranean-inspired rice and shrimp.

How to Make This Shrimp and Rice Recipe

This rice and shrimp is an easy meal for a weeknight dinner or to meal prep for a few days. It’s light, flavorful, and a great alternative to ordering takeout. You can use prechopped or frozen ingredients to make it even easier, too!

Step 1: Prepare the Rice. Cook the rice according to the instructions on the package in a small pot on the stove. You could also prepare it in a rice cooker. Start preparing the shrimp and vegetables about 10 minutes before the rice is finished cooking.

Step 2: Saute the Vegetables. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat with a little bit of olive oil. Then add the bell peppers, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook the vegetables for about 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are tender.

Step 3: Add the Shrimp. Once the vegetables are slightly softened, add the cleaned and deveined shrimp and lemon juice to the skillet. Cook until the shrimp turn slightly pink and curl into a C shape.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve. Add the grated Parmesan and fresh parsley to the shrimp and vegetables in the skillet. Then serve it over the cooked brown rice.

Expert Tips

• Don’t Overcook the Shrimp. Avoid rubbery, unappetizing shrimp by removing them from the heat once they turn pink and start to curl into a C. The safe internal temperature for shrimp is 145°F according to the USDA. Use a meat thermometer when cooking to ensure your meat is completely cooked, but not overdone.
• Give the Rice More Flavor: You can make the rice more flavorful by cooking it in a low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth. This will slightly alter the calories and nutrition information of the recipe card.
• Make It Low-Carb: Swap out the brown rice for cauliflower rice if you need to make a low-carb meal, or do half cauliflower rice and half rice.
• Use Instant Brown Rice: Sometimes we need dinner in a hurry and can’t wait for rice to cook. You can use instant brown rice if you want a shrimp and rice dinner in less than 15 minutes.

Storage Directions 

• Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I don’t recommend freezing and reheating this meal because the texture of the shrimp is less appetizing.
• Reheating: Reheat the rice and shrimp in the microwave in 60-second intervals, stirring regularly, until it is heated through. You can also reheat in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add a splash of water or broth to the container to keep the rice moist.

Serving Suggestions

Whether you’re looking for an easy meal to make during the week or want to mix up your weekly meal prep, this shrimp and rice recipe is perfect. It utilizes simple ingredients to make a flavorful dinner that is gluten-free and low-calorie, while still filling you up. Pair it with a nutritious side dish or enjoy it on its own for lunch or dinner.

• This brown rice with shrimp pairs well with fresh, crunchy salads like this yogurt coleslaw recipe or a simple homemade Caesar salad.
• Save any leftover shrimp and enjoy it over a classic Greek salad for lunch the next day! 

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