When the 5 PM panic hits and you need dinner on the table before anyone starts hanging off the doorframe complaining, you turn to the skillet. This absolutely addictive Honey Garlic Shrimp with Sausage and Broccoli is my secret weapon for those nights. I swear, the aroma that fills my kitchen when that honey starts caramelizing is almost unfair to my neighbors!
What I love most is the flavor explosion—sweet, smoky, garlicky goodness—and it’s packed with protein to keep everyone full. Seriously, cleanup is a breeze since it’s all one-pan magic. If you think weeknight dinners have to be boring, you haven’t tried this combination yet. Keep reading; I’m sharing every little trick!
Why You Will Love This Quick Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli Skillet
This is truly a 25-minute miracle meal. Twenty-five minutes from fridge door to dinner plate! You can grab these quick one-pan summer meals from right here if you’re loving the skillet life.
When I need something truly fast that doesn’t taste like sad leftovers, I reach for this recipe. It manages to hit all the texture notes—tender shrimp, chewy sausage, crisp-tender broccoli—and it comes together so fast you won’t even have time to scroll through your phone.
- Crazy Fast: Seriously, total cook time is under 15 minutes. This is one of my go-to healthy busy night dinners.
- Flavor Bomb: That sticky, salty-sweet honey garlic coating is unbelievably good on everything in the pan.
- Protein Packed: Between the shrimp and the smoked sausage, this keeps us full way past bedtime.
- One Pan Only: Yes, you heard me right. Minimal dishes means more time to relax later!
- Adaptable: You can easily swap out the veggies or use chicken instead of shrimp if you have picky eaters.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli
Don’t let the ingredient list scare you; it’s mostly pantry staples coming together to make magic happen. The key here is making sure your smoked sausage has good flavor, since it carries a lot of the savory base!
I always try to buy large shrimp when I can for this, about 21 to 25 count per pound, because they hold up better to the quick searing time in the skillet. Make sure those shrimp are peeled and deveined; nobody likes surprises in their dinner, right?
For the sausage, I prefer a smoked beef sausage, sliced nice and thick—about 1/2 inch rounds works best so it gets those lovely crispy edges when you brown it first. Don’t skip browning this first step; it builds all the necessary fond flavor on the bottom of the pan.
Here is exactly what you need for this incredible mix:
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces smoked beef sausage sliced into 1⁄2 inch rounds
- 2 cups broccoli florets (I like them cut small so they steam quickly)
- 4 cloves garlic minced (You need four cloves, trust me, don’t skimp on the garlic!)
- 1⁄4 cup honey (The liquid kind you use for tea works great)
- 1⁄4 cup low sodium soy sauce (Low sodium keeps the sauce from getting too salty once it reduces)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli
We are going in stages here to build maximum flavor! Make sure you have everything chopped and measured because once you start cooking this, it flies by. This recipe is perfect for your quick weeknight hot dinners rotation.
Step 1: We get the pan hot first. Heat a large skillet—and I mean large, you don’t want to overcrowd anything—over medium-high heat. Add your tablespoon of olive oil and let it shimmer a little bit before adding anything else.
Step 2: Toss in those sliced sausage rounds. You need to cook these for a good 4 to 5 minutes, turning them halfway through, until they are nicely browned on both sides and starting to caramelize. Once they look good and smoky, pull them out onto a clean plate and set them aside for later.
Step 3: Now, we work on the broccoli. Throw those 2 cups of florets right into that same skillet—don’t clean it! Cook them for about 3 to 4 minutes. We want them bright green and just slightly tender, not mushy garbage. Mushy broccoli is a crime. Once they hit that spot, remove them and place them with the sausage.
Step 4: Time for the shrimp! Pop the raw shrimp straight into the hot skillet. Since they cook fast, watch them closely. Cook them for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side until they start turning pink, then flip them over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until they are fully opaque. Overcooked shrimp is chewy shrimp, so pull them out as soon as they look done!
Step 5: This is where the magic happens fast. Drop the 4 minced cloves of garlic right into the pan drippings. Stir constantly for just about 30 seconds until you can truly smell that lovely garlic fragrance, but be careful not to let it burn or it gets bitter.
Step 6: Pour in the 1/4 cup of honey and the 1/4 cup of low-sodium soy sauce. Stir everything together quickly. Let this mixture simmer vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes. My personal trick here, which you can see in my dinner recipes under an hour guide, is to let it cook until it looks slightly sticky and glossy, which means the sugar in the honey has reduced perfectly.
Step 7: Bring the band back together! Return the browned sausage and the slightly charred broccoli to the skillet. Toss everything aggressively to coat it completely in that sticky honey garlic sauce. Cook for just one more minute until everything is heated through and shimmering. Serve this beauty up right away!
Serving Suggestions for Your Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli
Since this Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli is already juicy and packed with flavor, you really just need something to soak up that amazing sauce! I always look for something quick, like the options discussed over at my favorite family dinner ideas.
Steamed Jasmine Rice: This is the classic way to go. A simple bed of fluffy, hot rice is the perfect sponge for that sticky, sweet, savory glaze coating the shrimp and sausage. It stretches the meal beautifully too!
Cauliflower Rice: If you’re watching the carbs or just want to keep things super light, quickly sautéed cauliflower rice works incredibly well. It absorbs the sauce without adding any heaviness to the plate.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes: For a touch of earthiness, roasting a few sweet potatoes separately and serving them alongside adds a nice textural contrast and a little extra sweetness that plays off the honey in the sauce.
Simple Sautéed Green Beans: If you want more green veggies, skip the rice and just toss some fresh green beans in the pan for the last couple of minutes while you’re coating everything in the sauce. It keeps the whole meal bright and fresh tasting.
Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli
Because this skillet meal has shrimp, you do need to treat it gently when saving leftovers, but it absolutely holds up well for meal prep!
I find this keeps beautifully in the fridge for about 3 days, maybe 4 if you are careful. You have to store it correctly, though, or the shrimp gets rubbery overnight! For meal prep, I always portion out the rice (if I made it) separately from the main dish. You don’t want the shrimp sitting submerged in liquid sauce in the fridge for too long.
When reheating, please, please do not just blast this in the microwave for three minutes. It’s tempting, I know, but the shrimp will turn into tiny rubber balls! Take the portion out and reheat it gently in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Just enough time to warm through the sausage and broccoli—maybe 4 to 5 minutes total—while keeping that sticky honey garlic sauce nice and glossy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage Broccoli
This ends up being a really solid high protein skillet dinner, so people always have questions about substitutions. Here are the ones I get asked the most!
Can I substitute the sausage in this recipe?
Absolutely! While smoked sausage gives that beautiful savory smokiness, if you don’t have it or aren’t a fan, you can easily use diced smoked kielbasa or even some cubed firm tofu tossed in a little extra soy sauce before cooking. You might need to add a touch more oil since the sausage renders some fat.
Is there a way to make this recipe less sweet?
That’s easy to fix! The sweetness comes mainly from the honey. If you want to cut it back, just reduce the honey to 2 tablespoons and increase the low-sodium soy sauce to 5 tablespoons. You can also add a tiny splash of rice vinegar at the end for a little tang to balance the sweetness without adding more sugar.
What if I want this to be spicier?
I love adding heat! Before you add the garlic in Step 5, chop up a small jalapeño (seeds removed for mild heat) and sauté it with the garlic for about a minute. Better yet, add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes right in with the black pepper during the seasoning phase. It wakes up the whole dish!
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Honey Garlic Shrimp with Sausage and Broccoli
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Sweet and savory honey garlic shrimp with sausage and broccoli. A quick high protein skillet dinner ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces smoked beef sausage sliced into 1⁄2 inch rounds
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1⁄4 cup honey
- 1⁄4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add olive oil.
- Add sliced sausage and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until browned on both sides. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add broccoli and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until bright green and slightly tender. Remove and set aside.
- Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in honey and soy sauce, stirring to combine. Let the sauce simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return sausage and broccoli to the skillet and toss everything together until well coated and heated through.
- Serve immediately while warm. Ensure shrimp is fully cooked and opaque before serving.
Notes
- For extra caramelization, let the sauce cook an additional minute until glossy and slightly sticky.
- Serve over rice or enjoy on its own for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
