Black Pepper Shrimp Skillet

A quick, bold, restaurant-style shrimp dish with a savory black pepper sauce, garlic, and a glossy finish—perfect for a fast dinner with big flavor.

🛒 Ingredients

🦐 Shrimp

500 g shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt, to taste
1 tsp cornstarch (helps coat and crisp slightly)
1 tbsp oil (vegetable or sesame blend works well)

🌶️ Black pepper sauce

3–4 garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, sliced (optional but recommended)
1 green or red bell pepper, sliced
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional but adds depth)
1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
2 tbsp water or chicken broth
1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)
1 tsp sesame oil (optional)

🌿 Garnish

Spring onions, chopped
Extra cracked black pepper

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prep shrimp

Pat shrimp dry
Toss lightly with salt and cornstarch

2. Sear shrimp

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
Cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink
Remove and set aside

3. Stir-fry aromatics

In the same pan, add garlic and onion
Cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant and slightly soft

4. Add vegetables

Add bell peppers
Stir-fry 2–3 minutes (keep them slightly crisp)

5. Make sauce

Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, black pepper, and water
Stir well and bring to a simmer
Add cornstarch slurry and cook until sauce thickens and turns glossy

6. Combine

Return shrimp to the skillet
Toss to coat evenly in sauce
Drizzle sesame oil if using

7. Finish

Top with spring onions and extra black pepper

🍽️ Serving Ideas

Serve over steamed rice 🍚
Pair with noodles or fried rice 🍜
Add a side of stir-fried greens 🥬

🔥 Tips

Use freshly ground black pepper for strong aroma
Don’t overcook shrimp—they cook very fast
Adjust sweetness vs. pepper heat to your taste
Cook sauce until glossy, not watery

🌶️ Why it’s so good

The sharp heat of black pepper blends with garlicky, slightly sweet sauce and juicy shrimp for a bold, addictive skillet dish that tastes like takeout—but fresher.