Sizzling Skillet Greek Shrimp with Burst Tomatoes and Crumbled Feta

Embark on a culinary journey to the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean with this exquisite Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese recipe. This single-pan marvel effortlessly combines fresh, healthy ingredients into a vibrant, flavorful dish perfect for any day of the week. Whether you’re seeking a quick weeknight dinner or an elegant meal to impress guests, this recipe delivers on taste, convenience, and nutritional value. Serve it over delicate pasta, healthy spiralized zucchini noodles, or alongside your favorite roasted vegetables for a complete and satisfying experience.

This recipe is a testament to the beauty of simple cooking, proving that extraordinary flavors don’t require an arsenal of fancy ingredients or complex techniques. In fact, its straightforward approach makes it an ideal candidate even when you’re working with pantry staples, as we discovered during a recent pantry challenge. The magic lies in two fundamental yet impactful cooking methods:

• Utilizing our signature “skillet shrimp in 10 minutes or less” technique, which guarantees perfectly cooked shrimp infused with authentic Greek-inspired spices.
• Transforming humble canned or boxed tomatoes into a rich, company-worthy sauce base through a simple simmering process, with just a few thoughtful additions.

While the goal is to keep things efficient, don’t be surprised if the total preparation and cooking time extends to around 40 minutes from start to finish. The good news? A significant portion of this time is hands-off, allowing you to multitask or simply relax while the flavors meld beautifully. And perhaps the best part for busy home cooks: it’s truly a one-pan meal, minimizing cleanup and maximizing enjoyment!

The Mediterranean Diet: A Blueprint for Healthy Eating

The Mediterranean diet consistently ranks among the healthiest eating patterns globally, and this Greek shrimp dish perfectly encapsulates its core principles. Rich in lean protein from shrimp, vibrant vegetables, healthy fats from olive oil, and aromatic herbs, it’s a meal that nourishes both body and soul. The emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, minimal processing, and diverse flavors makes Mediterranean cuisine not just a diet, but a lifestyle. Incorporating dishes like this into your weekly rotation is an excellent way to embrace these health benefits, which include improved heart health, better blood sugar control, and enhanced overall well-being. Plus, the bright, tangy, and savory notes are simply irresistible.

A Strategic Timeline for Culinary Success

Achieving a delicious meal efficiently is all about smart timing. Here’s a basic timeline to guide you through preparing this incredible Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese, ensuring each component is ready to come together seamlessly:

• 5:00 – 5:10 PM: Initiate the Sauce. Begin by dicing and sautéing the onion until tender. Next, add the diced tomatoes (along with their juices) and a splash of red wine vinegar to the skillet. Allow this mixture to start its gentle simmer.
• 5:10 – 5:15 PM: Prepare the Shrimp. While your sauce is bubbling away, take this brief window to prepare your shrimp. Pat them dry, then toss them with olive oil and the fragrant Greek spices (oregano, dill, and pressed garlic) to create a simple yet effective marinade.
• 5:15 – 5:30 PM: Side Dish & Final Prep. This 15-minute stretch is ideal for preparing any accompanying side dishes, such as pasta, rice, or cutting up fresh vegetables. If your shrimp still need peeling and deveining, this is the perfect time to complete that task.
• 5:30 – 5:40 PM: Cook the Shrimp. Once the tomato sauce has thickened to your liking, carefully transfer it from the skillet to a serving dish. Use the same pan (after a quick wipe or rinse if desired) to quickly cook the marinated shrimp.
• 5:40 PM Onwards: Savor Your Creation! Combine the cooked shrimp with the luscious tomato sauce, sprinkle with feta, and enjoy your perfectly timed, one-pan Greek feast!

Mastering the Canned Tomato Reduction

Even if you typically shy away from canned tomatoes, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavor you can achieve with this simple reduction technique. When jazzed up with aromatic onions, pungent garlic, and a bright touch of red wine vinegar, canned tomatoes transform into a rich, robust, and utterly divine sauce. Simmering this mixture on the stovetop isn’t just about reducing liquid; it’s about concentrating flavors, allowing the sweetness of the tomatoes to intensify and harmonize with the savory notes of the aromatics. The resulting sauce is not only the perfect complement to Greek Shrimp but also fills your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

Here’s how to create this foundational sauce:

1. Begin by softening finely diced onion and freshly pressed garlic in a large skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil until translucent and fragrant.
2. Next, pour the diced tomatoes, including their juices, into the skillet. Stir in the red wine vinegar.

Pro Tip for Sauce Consistency and Time: You have a bit of control over the sauce’s final texture and cooking time. If you prefer a thicker sauce faster, you can pour off some of the liquid from the canned tomatoes before adding them to the skillet. Be aware that this will yield slightly less sauce overall. For a balance, I often compromise by draining a little juice from just one of the cans.

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer. Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes, as demonstrated in the image below, where the tomatoes have achieved a lovely, rich texture.

This tomato reduction is incredibly versatile. You could honestly stop right here and have a fantastic standalone sauce. It pairs beautifully with pasta, grilled chicken, or even as a base for shakshuka. Its robust flavor makes it a kitchen staple.

Can You Use Fresh Tomatoes Instead?

Absolutely! Fresh tomatoes would be a fantastic, seasonal alternative, especially during peak summer months. For those interested in preserving summer’s bounty, resources like The Daring Gourmet offer excellent guides on how to can diced tomatoes, which you could then use in this recipe for an even more homemade touch. When using fresh tomatoes, you might need to adjust the simmering time to achieve the desired thickness, as their water content can vary.

One important consideration when choosing your tomatoes, whether canned or fresh, is sodium content. Different brands, particularly canned varieties, can have varying levels of added salt. If you opt for low-sodium canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes, you will likely need to adjust the salt added to the recipe to taste.

Perfecting Skillet Greek Shrimp

While your savory tomato reduction is simmering, turn your attention to preparing the star of the dish: the shrimp. My preferred method for cooking shrimp on the stovetop is incredibly reliable and yields perfectly tender, never rubbery, results every time. This basic technique is adaptable to a myriad of flavor profiles, from spicy shrimp to delicate lemon garlic butter rock shrimp.

I favor stovetop cooking over oven baking for shrimp because it offers greater control and allows you to easily monitor their doneness. This ensures you can pull them from the pan the moment they reach perfection. Yes, this means giving them your undivided attention for a few short minutes, but the payoff is well worth it! A crucial aspect of this method is avoiding overcrowding the pan. Shrimp need space to sear properly rather than steam. My 12-inch skillet, for instance, can comfortably accommodate about 1 ½ pounds of shrimp in a single layer. I often push this limit slightly to ensure I have delicious leftovers for the next day’s lunch!

The Straightforward Stove-Top Process for Flawless Shrimp:

1. Preparation is Key: Ensure your shrimp are peeled and deveined. You can leave the tails on for presentation or remove them for easier eating – it’s entirely up to your preference.
2. Dry and Season: Pat the shrimp thoroughly dry with a paper towel. This step is critical for achieving a good sear. In a medium bowl, toss the dried shrimp with one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Then, sprinkle generously with dried oregano, dried dill, and freshly pressed garlic. To ensure an even coating, sprinkle a little, toss, then sprinkle and toss again. This prevents the spices from clumping together.
3. Heat the Pan: Using the same skillet you used for the tomato reduction (after wiping it clean), swirl another tablespoon of olive oil into the bottom and heat it over medium-high heat until shimmering.
4. Single Layer Cooking: Arrange the seasoned shrimp in a **single layer** across the bottom of the hot skillet. Resist the urge to overcrowd the pan, as this will steam the shrimp instead of searing them, leading to a less desirable texture.
5. Cook to Perfection: Cook the shrimp for approximately 3 minutes on one side. You’ll notice them starting to turn pink and curl slightly. Using two forks or tongs, quickly flip each shrimp to the other side and cook for another 3 minutes. For larger or jumbo shrimp, you might need to extend the cooking time to 4-5 minutes per side. Shrimp are perfectly cooked when they turn an opaque pink color all over and form a gentle “C” shape. Be vigilant – overcooking will result in tough, rubbery shrimp, which is something we definitely want to avoid!

Meal Prep and Storing Leftovers

This Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese is not only delicious freshly made but also fantastic for meal prepping! If you find yourself with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes for a convenient and healthy make-ahead lunch, easily reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. The flavors tend to deepen overnight, making the leftovers arguably even more delightful than the original meal!

📋 Recipe: Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese (Skillet)

Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese {Skillet}

This quick and easy Skillet Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese recipe brings vibrant, healthy Mediterranean ingredients together in one pan. It’s an elegant yet simple dinner, perfect for serving over pasta, spiralized zucchini noodles, or your favorite vegetables.

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5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

30 minutes

Total Time:

40 minutes

Servings:

4 servings

Author:

Marjory Pilley

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Ingredients

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  1 ½ pounds shrimp peeled, deveined, tail on or off; medium to large size

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  2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided

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  1 teaspoon oregano, dried

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  1 teaspoon dill, dried

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  2-3 garlic cloves minced or pressed

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  ½ cup onion diced

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  29 ounces diced tomatoes (2 x 14.5 ounce cans)

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  ¼ cup red wine vinegar

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  ¼ cup feta cheese crumbled

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  Salt to taste If using boxed or low-salt tomatoes, additional salt may be needed.

Instructions

1. Pat the shrimp thoroughly dry with a paper towel. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the dried shrimp with 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, dried oregano, dried dill, and 1 pressed garlic clove. Toss well to coat evenly and set aside to marinate.
2. Heat the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the onion is softened and translucent.
3. Add the remaining pressed garlic to the skillet with the onions and cook for approximately one minute more until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
4. Pour the diced tomatoes (including their juices – see note below about optional draining) into the large skillet. Stir in the ¼ cup of red wine vinegar until well combined.
5. Bring the tomato mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Allow it to simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid has significantly reduced and the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. Once thickened, transfer the tomato sauce to a serving dish and set aside.
6. Return the now-empty skillet to medium-high heat. Swirl in the remaining Tablespoon of olive oil. Add the marinated shrimp to the hot skillet, arranging them in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
7. Cook the shrimp over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes until they begin to turn pink. Flip each shrimp to the other side and cook for another 3 minutes. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of your shrimp; larger or jumbo shrimp may require 4-5 minutes per side. Shrimp are done as soon as they are opaque pink throughout and slightly curled. Be careful not to overcook, as this will make them tough.
8. Gently stir the perfectly cooked shrimp into the prepared tomato mixture. Top generously with crumbled feta cheese, if using, before serving immediately.

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Last Step
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Notes

For detailed preparation steps and process visuals, please scroll up!

Expert Tips and Notes:

To slightly speed up the sauce cooking time, you can pour off some of the juices from the canned tomatoes. However, this will result in a little less sauce. A good compromise is to drain only a small amount of liquid from one can.

The sodium content in canned tomatoes can vary greatly by brand. If you are using low-salt or boxed tomatoes, you may need to add additional salt to the sauce to achieve optimal flavor. Always taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

When cooking shrimp, it is crucial not to overcrowd the skillet. A 12-inch skillet can typically accommodate up to 1 ½ pounds of shrimp in a single layer for proper searing. If cooking a larger quantity, work in batches.

Recommended Complementary Ingredients for Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes:

• Kalamata olives for a briny touch.
• Chopped artichoke hearts for added tanginess.
• Red pepper flakes if you desire a hint of heat.
• A fresh splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
• Pasta such as whole wheat spaghetti or orzo for a fulfilling meal.
• Spiralized Zucchini Noodles for a healthy, low-carb option.
• Fresh spinach, stirred into the sauce during the last few minutes, will wilt beautifully and add greens.

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Nutrition

Calories:
305
kcal

|

Carbohydrates:
11
g

|

Protein:
38
g

|

Fat:
12
g

|

Saturated Fat:
3
g

|

Cholesterol:
437
mg

|

Sodium:
1723
mg

|

Potassium:
552
mg

|

Fiber:
2
g

|

Sugar:
6
g

|

Vitamin A:
280
IU

|

Vitamin C:
28
mg

|

Calcium:
364
mg

|

Iron:
6
mg

Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer