Perfect Valentine’s Dinner: Garlic Butter Grilled Steak & Shrimp

There are some meals that are just inherently special, the kind of dish reserved for celebrations, anniversaries, and nights when you want to create a truly memorable experience. A classic “Surf and Turf” is exactly that meal. But what if I told you that you could create a stunning, restaurant-quality steak and shrimp dinner at home, in under 30 minutes, with a garlic butter sauce so delicious you’ll want to put it on everything? This, my friends, is that recipe. It’s the ultimate expression of sophisticated indulgence, made incredibly simple.

This isn’t just a steak and a few shrimp on a plate. This is a symphony of flavors and textures. It starts with a perfectly grilled, beautifully seared steak, cooked exactly to your liking. While it rests, you grill plump, juicy shrimp in the very same pan. But the real secret, the element that ties it all together into a masterpiece, is the decadent garlic-parsley butter. It’s melted over the hot steak and tossed with the sizzling shrimp, creating a luscious, fragrant sauce that is pure, unadulterated bliss. It’s a meal designed to impress, to be savored, and to be shared with someone you love.

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Why This Steak & Shrimp is the Ultimate Romantic Meal

You are going to fall completely in love with how easy it is to create such a luxurious and impressive meal. It’s a true show-stopper. Here’s why:

• A True Restaurant-Quality Experience at Home: This classic surf and turf combination feels incredibly special and gourmet, making it the perfect main course for a Valentine’s Day dinner.
• Ready in Under 30 Minutes: This is the ultimate fast and fancy meal! It’s a stunning, multi-component dish that comes together with shocking speed.
• The Decadent Garlic Butter is Everything: The simple, homemade garlic-parsley compound butter is the secret weapon that transforms this dish from great to absolutely unforgettable.
• Perfectly Cooked Steak and Shrimp: This guide walks you through the simple steps to achieve a perfect sear on your steak and cook the shrimp until they are plump, juicy, and never rubbery.
• Elegant, Impressive, and Surprisingly Simple: Despite its five-star appearance, this is a straightforward recipe that any home cook can master to create a truly impressive result.

Recipe Snapshot

Your Shopping List for This Gourmet Dinner

This impressive dinner comes together with a handful of simple, high-quality ingredients.

→ For the Steak, Shrimp, and Garlic Butter

• 4 New York strip steaks → Or another great grilling steak like Porterhouse, Sirloin, or Ribeye.
• 8 ounces large shrimp → Peeled and deveined. Leaving the tails on makes for a beautiful presentation.
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter → Divided. This will be transformed into our luscious garlic butter.
• 4 cloves garlic → Freshly minced is a must for the best, most potent flavor.

Let’s Get Grilling! Your Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create the most impressive and delicious dinner for your Valentine? Let’s get started.

Part 1: The Garlic Butter and Perfect Steak

1. Make the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, use a fork to mash together the softened butter, minced garlic, and fresh chopped parsley. Refrigerate this compound butter until you are ready to use it.
2. Prep the Grill and Steaks: Heat a large grill or a heavy-bottomed grill pan over high heat. Pat your steaks completely dry with a paper towel (this is key for a great sear!). Brush the steaks lightly with olive oil and season them very generously on all sides with salt and pepper.
3. Grill the Steaks: Place the seasoned steaks on the hot grill. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side for a perfect medium-rare, or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
4. Butter and Rest: As soon as the steaks are done, transfer them to a warm plate or cutting board. Immediately spread half of your prepared garlic butter over the hot steaks. Let the steaks rest for at least 5-10 minutes. This is a crucial step!

Part 2: The Garlicky Shrimp

5. Prep the Shrimp: While the steaks are resting, season your shrimp with a pinch of salt and pepper.
6. Melt the Butter: Melt the remaining half of your garlic butter in the same grill pan over medium heat (or in a separate small skillet).
7. Grill the Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the hot pan in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until they turn bright pink and are just opaque. Be careful not to overcook!
8. Serve: To serve, toss the cooked shrimp in the melted garlic butter from the pan. Plate your rested steak, top with the juicy garlic butter shrimp, and enjoy the best meal of your life!

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Garlic Butter Grilled Steak and Shrimp (Surf and Turf)

This Garlic Butter Grilled Steak & Shrimp is the ultimate 25-minute restaurant-quality Valentine’s dinner! A perfectly grilled steak and juicy shrimp are slathered in a decadent, homemade garlic-parsley butter for a fast and elegant surf and turf meal.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 705

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided softened
• 4 cloves garlic or 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 New York Steak strip steaks or other good grilling steak
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch pepper
• 8 ounces shrimp, deveined tails on or off

Equipment

• Large Grill or Grill Pan
• Small Bowl
• Tongs

Method

 

1. In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, garlic, and fresh chopped parsley to create a compound butter. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Heat a large grill or grill pan over high heat. Pat steaks dry with a paper towel. Brush lightly with olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper.
3. Grill steaks for 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until they reach your desired doneness.
4. Transfer the hot steaks to a warm plate. Immediately spread half of the prepared garlic butter over the steaks. Let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes.
5. While the steaks are resting, melt the remaining garlic butter in the same pan over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
6. Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side, until they turn pink and opaque.
7. Toss the cooked shrimp in the melted garlic butter from the pan and serve immediately with the rested steak.

Notes

Rest Your Steak: This is the most crucial step for a juicy steak. Letting the meat rest allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful.

Don’t Overcook Shrimp: Shrimp cook very quickly. Remove them from the heat the moment they turn pink and opaque to keep them tender and juicy.

Make Ahead Butter: The garlic compound butter can be made days in advance and stored in the fridge, allowing the flavors to deepen.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for a Perfect Surf and Turf

These simple secrets will ensure your restaurant-quality meal is a flawless, flavorful triumph.

1. Pat Your Steaks Bone-Dry. This is the number one rule for getting a perfect, deep-brown, delicious crust on your steak. Moisture is the enemy of a good sear, so use paper towels to get the surface as dry as possible.
2. Get Your Pan Screaming Hot. For a great steak, you need high heat. Let your grill or grill pan get fully preheated before the steaks even touch it. That initial, loud sizzle is the sound of success.
3. Resting Your Steak is NON-NEGOTIABLE. This is the most crucial step for a juicy steak. Letting the meat rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute throughout the steak. If you cut into it immediately, all that flavor will run out onto your plate.
4. Don’t Overcook the Shrimp! Shrimp cook in a flash. The moment they turn from translucent gray to a firm, opaque pink, they are done. Pull them from the heat immediately to ensure they are plump and juicy, not tough and rubbery.
5. Make the Compound Butter First. Preparing the garlic butter ahead of time and letting it chill in the fridge allows the flavors of the garlic and parsley to meld beautifully into the butter.

Keep It Elegant! Serving and Storing

This dish is designed to be served hot off the grill for the best possible experience.

• Serving Suggestions: This is a complete and decadent meal on its own, but it’s absolutely fantastic served with a side of creamy mashed potatoes, simple roasted asparagus, or a fresh green salad to complete the plate.
• Refrigerator: While best enjoyed fresh, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Reheating: For the best results, gently reheat the steak and shrimp in a lightly oiled skillet over medium-low heat until just warmed through. Avoid the microwave if possible, as it can overcook both the steak and shrimp very quickly.

FAQs: Your Steak and Shrimp Questions, Answered!

What is the best way to know when my steak is done?

The absolute most reliable way is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. For a medium-rare steak, you’re looking for an internal temperature of about 130-135°F. For medium, it’s 135-145°F. Remember to let it rest before slicing!

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes, absolutely. Just make sure the shrimp are fully thawed before you start cooking. It’s also very important to pat them completely dry with paper towels to ensure they sear nicely in the pan instead of just steaming.

Can I make this with a different cut of steak?

Of course! As the recipe notes suggest, this method is fantastic with a variety of great grilling steaks, including Ribeye, Sirloin, or even a beautiful Filet Mignon for an extra-special occasion.

Can I prepare the garlic butter ahead of time?

Yes, and you should! The garlic butter can be made up to a week in advance and stored, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator. You can even roll it into a log for easy slicing. Letting it sit allows the flavors to deepen.

Final Thoughts: A Dinner to Remember

There is nothing more special than creating a truly memorable, restaurant-quality meal for someone you love. This Garlic Butter Grilled Steak & Shrimp is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion like Valentine’s Day with a dish that is both incredibly impressive and secretly simple. It’s a true taste of luxury that you can easily create in your own kitchen. I hope every bite is a celebration. Happy Cooking!