If you’re looking for a quick and flavour-packed prawn recipe, these Chilli Garlic Prawns will become your go-to! Juicy prawns are seared until golden, then tossed in a sweet, spicy garlic sauce that takes just minutes to prepare. The result? A dish that’s bold, garlicky, and perfectly balanced with a kick of chilli heat.
This is one of my favourite 15-minute meals — simple enough for a busy weeknight dinner yet impressive enough to serve as an appetiser when entertaining. You don’t need a long list of ingredients either; just fresh prawns, garlic, chilli, and a few pantry staples to create a restaurant-style dish at home.
Whether you enjoy them with steamed rice, toss them into noodles, or serve with crusty bread to soak up the sauce, these spicy garlic prawns are guaranteed to be a hit. And if you’re in the mood for something creamier, try my Creamy Prawn Pasta for another delicious way to enjoy prawns.
How to Make Chilli Garlic Prawns?
This quick chilli garlic prawns recipe is effortless, requires just a handful of pantry ingredients, and takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. As with all stir-fry dishes, make sure you have everything prepped before you start cooking — it all comes together very fast.
- Sear the prawns – Heat a little oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the prawns and cook for about 2–3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and slightly golden. Keep a close eye on the time, as prawns overcook easily. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Make the garlic sauce – In the same pan, add a touch more oil, then sauté finely chopped fresh ginger and garlic until fragrant. Pour in the sriracha, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a little brown sugar. Simmer the sauce for a minute or two until it thickens slightly.
- Combine everything – Return the prawns to the pan and toss well so they’re fully coated in the sticky chilli garlic sauce.
- Garnish and serve – Sprinkle with sesame seeds, sliced spring onions, and a few fresh red chilli slices for extra heat and colour. Serve hot with rice, noodles, or even crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce.
How Spicy is this Recipe?
Chilli garlic prawns are moderately spicy — enough to give you a gentle kick, but not overwhelmingly hot. The heat mainly comes from sriracha sauce and chilli flakes, while the touch of brown sugar balances it out with a sweet note, making the sauce well-rounded.
If you prefer milder flavours, you can easily adjust this recipe:
- Skip or reduce the chilli flakes.
- Swap sriracha with tomato ketchup and a splash of vinegar for a tangy but mild version.
That way, the dish still has its signature garlicky flavour and glossy sauce, without the extra heat.
How to Cook Prawns Perfectly?
One of the golden rules of cooking prawns is don’t overcook them — nobody enjoys rubbery, chewy prawns.
The secret lies in two things: heat and timing. Always start with a hot pan. Place the prawns in and let them sear undisturbed on one side before flipping. Avoid stirring or flipping too often. In most cases, prawns only need about 2–3 minutes per side to cook through.
A simple visual trick also helps:
- Raw prawns are straight and slightly translucent.
- As they cook, they turn pink and curl into a “C” shape.
- If they curl tightly into an “O” shape, it’s a sign they’re overcooked.
With the right heat and just a few minutes of cooking, you’ll get prawns that are tender, juicy, and full of flavour.
Can Frozen Prawns be used?
Yes, you can make this recipe with either fresh or frozen prawns. If you enjoy peeling and cleaning prawns yourself, fresh ones are always a great option. But frozen prawns are super convenient because they’re usually cleaned, deveined, and ready to cook.
If using frozen prawns, just make sure to thaw them completely before cooking. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture — this step is important because it helps the prawns sear properly instead of steaming in the pan.
Both versions work beautifully, so it really comes down to what’s easiest for you.
Serving Suggestion
These prawns are so versatile that you can enjoy them in many different ways:
- With rice: Pair them with plain steamed rice, jasmine rice, or fried rice to soak up all that sweet and spicy garlic sauce.
- With noodles: Toss the prawns and sauce through stir-fried noodles or even spaghetti for a quick Asian-inspired pasta.
- As an appetizer: Serve them on skewers or in a platter with lemon wedges for parties and gatherings.
- With vegetables: Balance the heat by serving with a light cucumber salad or sautéed greens.
No matter how you serve them, these chilli garlic prawns are guaranteed to be the star of the meal.
More Recipes to Try
Sweet Chilli Chicken Drumsticks
Chilli Garlic Prawns | 15 Minutes Meal
Ingredients
- 500 g Prawns (fresh or Frozen)
- 4 Garlic Cloves (Finely Chopped)
- 1 tbsp Finely Chopped Ginger
- 2 tbsp Siracha Sauce
- 1 tbsp Soya Sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 3 tbsp Oil
- Chopped Spring onions/shallots
- Seasame seeds
- Red Chilli (finely Sliced)
Instructions
- Peel and devein the prawns. If using frozen prawns thaw them and pat them dry with paper towel.
- Heat oil (1 tbsp) in a pan until hot, add prawns without overcrowding the pan. Sear them for 2 minutes and then turn them over. Cook for another 2-3 minutes and take them out on a plate.
- In the same pan add remaining oil and add ginger garlic. Fry until fragrant. Add a dash of water ( 2 tbsp) to prevent it from getting dark.
- Add siracha sauce, soya sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and chilli flakes. Stir and allow it to simmer and the sauce will start to thicken. Taste test the sauce at this stage, you can balance sweetness and spice by adjusting sugar or siracha sauce.
- Reduce the heat to low and add prawns to the sauce. Toss to coat them in the sauce.
- Sprinkle some seasame seeds and garnish with spring onions and sliced red chilli
- Serve immediately with steamed rice.
Amazing recipe, so easy and quick to male
Perfect balance of flavours !