Garlic Butter Shrimp and Veggie Rice Skillet

• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley or cilantro
• Juice of half a lemon

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth (or water) to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
2. While rice cooks, pat shrimp dry and season lightly with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
3. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add diced red bell pepper and zucchini; sauté for about 4 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
4. Push veggies to the side of the skillet and add butter and minced garlic to the center. Stir garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds), then add shrimp. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp are pink and opaque.
5. Add thawed peas to the skillet and stir everything together. Season with crushed red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper to taste.
6. Squeeze lemon juice over the shrimp and vegetables. Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro.
7. Divide the rice evenly among plates and top with the shrimp and vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

Chef tips

• For a lower-carb option, substitute cooked cauliflower rice for the white rice.
• If using frozen shrimp, thaw in the refrigerator overnight or under cold running water before cooking.
• Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level or omit entirely for kids.
• Use fresh lemon juice at the end to brighten flavors, but bottled lemon juice can be used if fresh isn't available.