45 of Our Best Shrimp Recipes

Quick cooking and versatile, try our recipes for popcorn shrimp, shrimp burgers, shrimp and grits, shrimp skewers, stir fry, and more.

Peel and Eat Shrimp
Credit:

Brie Goldman

Shrimp: It's a magical protein that's naturally lean, jumbo in flavor, and so fast-cooking it fits perfectly into weeknight meals and party menus alike. From grilled to deep fried, poached to sautéed, there are so many different ways to cook shrimp—and with delicious results. Enjoy them as an appetizer or savor them as the main course in pastas, soups, stews, and more.

We recommend keeping a bag of frozen shrimp in your freezer, so you can make one of these shellfish recipes any night of the week. Read on for 45 of our favorite shrimp recipes.

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Shrimp Burgers

Shrimp Burgers
Credit: Chris Simpson

These juicy shrimp burgers are done in under 10 minutes—just be sure to oil your grates so they don't stick. Serve them on toasted buns slathered with a smoky chile-lime mayo.

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Popcorn Shrimp

Cajun Popcorn Shrimp
Credit: Chris Simpson

Sometimes the little guys finish first, as with this happy heap of popcorn shrimp. This is not a recipe for jumbo—go really small here (50 to 60 per pound) so they cook in a flash. This keep the shrimp them from getting tough and ensures that the batter turns ultra-crispy. Whip up our Tartar Sauce and Spicy Cocktail Sauce, too—you won't go back to bottled.

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Grilled-Shrimp Grand Aioli

Grilled-Shrimp Grand Aioli
Credit: Chris Simpson

This grand platter for entertaining is mostly make ahead. There's steamed potatoes and green beans, hard-cooked eggs, lettuce leaves, and cucumber spears. Skewers of grilled shrimp and grilled flatbreads are the only elements prepped just before serving. All are served with an Avocado Cream Sauce and a Mint-Mustard Vinaigrette.

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Romaine With Snap Peas, Bulgur, and Shrimp

Romaine With Snap Peas, Bulgur, and Shrimp
Credit:

Con Poulos

This is a salad combination you've probably not thought of before, but it is sure to become a favorite. Crispy romaine hearts are tossed with seared shrimp, chewy bulgur, raw snap peas, and fresh mint leaves. It's a refreshing change from Caesar and Cobb salads.

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Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

Shrimp and Cheesy Grits
Credit: Chris Simpson

A favorite for brunch, lunch, or dinner, shrimp and grits is a winner. Our smart take builds flavor fast by starting with a surprising base: breakfast sausage. You sear it, breaking it up so its bold herbs and spices touch every other ingredient. Deglazing the pan at the end creates a rich sauce to drizzle over everything, including the rich, cheesy grits.

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Crispy Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp

Crispy Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Credit: Chris Simpson

If you love Szechuan food, this palate-pleasing paean to the power of heat is for you. Toasting salt and peppercorns in a dry pan wakes up their flavors, and shallow-frying the spice-and-cornstarch-coated shrimp turns the shells so light and crispy, you can eat these beauties whole.

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Cream-Free Shrimp Alfredo

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo recipe
Credit: Chris Simpson

This super-simple alfredo has just six ingredients—and there's no heavy cream. The rich sauce is made from unsalted butter, an egg yolk, and Parmesan cheese. Sautéed shrimp are tossed in at the end.

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Quick Shrimp Po'boys

quick shrimp po'boys
Credit: Lennart Weibull

Can't make it down to the Big Easy? Bring classic New Orleans-style cuisine into your home with these family-friendly po'boys, served in soft hoagie rolls with crisp, golden-brown shrimp and tangy tartar sauce.

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Smoky Shrimp-and-Sausage Gravy

bayou la batre shrimp-and-sausage gravy served on a black plate
Credit: Con Poulos

Start the party off with a bite that is sure to pack a punch of flavor. Shrimp are cooked with garlic, onion, Aleppo pepper flakes, and smoked sausage, then served with a miniature buttermilk biscuit.

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Cajun-Style Shrimp and Rice

cajun shrimp and rice in pink bowl
Credit: Ren Fuller

This easy riff on jambalaya has spicy pork sausage, shrimp, and the Louisiana trinity of onion, bell pepper, and celery.

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Spicy-Sweet Glazed Shrimp

Spicy-Sweet Glazed Shrimp

Doubling up the skewers makes it easier to flip these shrimp on the grill. They're packed with flavor, thanks to a surprisingly simple glaze that contains only Sriracha (or other chili sauce) and honey.

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Gingery Shrimp Salad With Crispies

gingery shrimp salad with crispies
Credit: Paola + Murray

The key to a great dinner salad is getting just the right balance of textures and flavors. This recipe pulls it off with juicy seared shrimp and crunchy tortilla strips that make the healthy entrée seem like a special occasion treat, even though it's quick and easy enough to make on a weeknight.

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Shrimp With Spicy Green Rice

spicy green rice and shrimp
Credit: Con Poulos

Inspired by the Venetian dish risi e bisi that's a close cousin to risotto, this vibrant dinner combines shrimp, long-grain rice, and sweet, crunchy sugar snap peas with fresh ginger, Thai chiles, cilantro, and fish sauce.

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Shrimp-and-Basil Glass-Noodle Stir-Fry

shrimp basil glass noodle stir fry
Credit: Christopher Testani

The key to this all-star shrimp stir-fry are its bold, contrasting savory ingredients: fish sauce, soy sauce, fresh ginger, and chile pepper.

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Lemony Shrimp Scampi

shrimp_scampi.jpg

This classic pasta dish features shrimp cooked in a buttery, garlicky sauce with parsley. Serve on angel hair noodles with crusty bread to mop up the tasty juices.

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Scandinavian Shrimp Salad

scandinavian shrimp salad served on a pink plate
Credit: Lennart Weibull

With jumbo shrimp, boiled potatoes, and hard-boiled egg, this salad is hearty enough for lunch or dinner. The contrasting colors and textures create an all-around appealing meal.

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Cashew Shrimp

spicy cashew shrimp with rice
Credit: Justin Walker

For this quick dinner, shrimp are sautéed, then tossed with a thick sauce made with oyster sauce, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger.

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Shrimp Maque Choux

two bowls of shrimp maque choux
Credit: Lennart Weibull

A delicious hodge-podge of spicy peppers, corn, and shrimp cooked in a combination of vermouth, heavy cream, fish stock, and aromatics, our take on maque choux is not to be missed.

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Pressure-Cooker Shrimp Bisque

shrimp bisque
Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Here's the perfect opportunity to use a pressure cooker. This creamy bisque includes medium shrimp—which add texture and substance to the shrimp-infused broth—plus heavy cream, white wine, and butter for the base.

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Chipotle-Shrimp Tacos With Fennel and Beans

Chipotle-Shrimp Tacos with Fennel and Beans
Credit: Con Poulos

Shrimp gets big flavor from chipotles in adobo sauce, an easy-to-find supermarket staple that adds smoky heat. Served atop beans and a fresh fennel slaw in a flour tortilla, these tacos will keep you coming back for more.

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Instant-Pot Shrimp Boil

instant pot shrimp boil on table on plates
Credit: Julia Gartland

The Instant Pot makes it easy to enjoy a shrimp boil any night of the week. With this easy recipe, the favorite summer celebration meal is a hands-off, one-pot winner dinner.

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Shrimp Chow Mein

shrimp chow mein
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Even if you're not skilled in using chopsticks, we have a feeling you'll become a pro at twirling each and every one of these noodles into your mouth. That's because this takeout-inspired dinner is so delicious that not one bit of it—from shrimp to snow peas to bean sprouts—will go to waste.

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Crispy Panko Shrimp Salad

Crispy Panko Shrimp Salad
Credit: Ren Fuller

Here's a 15-minute, five-ingredient dinner you'll be making on repeat. Dijonnaise (a flavorful mixture of mustard and mayo) binds panko crumbs to the shrimp and also adds creaminess to the dressing.

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Saffron Risotto With Shrimp and Peas

saffron risotto shrimp peas
Credit: Sidney Bensimon

Shrimp, peas, and lemon complement each other in any dish, but they add particular brightness to this creamy, cozy risotto.

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Quick Spiced Shrimp With Garam Masala

spicy-indian-shrimp-103242180
Credit: Sidney Bensimon

A couple of tablespoons of the Indian spice blend garam masala is added to jarred marinara sauce to create subtle flavor in each bite of shrimp. Serve over couscous for a light, quick, and satisfying weeknight meal.

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Curried Shrimp and Noodle Soup

Curried Shrimp and Noodle Soup
Credit: Alpha Smoot

This 25-minute shrimp entrée tastes like it was cooked long and slow thanks to the power of Thai red curry paste.

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Sriracha Shrimp

sriracha shrimp
Credit: Armando Rafael

These spicy shrimp are super versatile—serve them as finger food for a party, toss them into a grain bowl or atop a salad, or twirl them with noodles. No matter which way you spin it, we're sure you'll taste the heat.

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Shrimp Scampi With Yellow-Squash Noodles

yellow squash shrimp scampi
Credit: Armando Rafael

Swap the usual pasta for spiralized yellow squash noodles in this healthy take on shrimp scampi.

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Spaghetti and Shrimp Meatballs

shrimp meatballs

Perfect for Flexitarian Fridays, these "meatballs" are actually meat-free. They're made with shrimp, which are processed into a paste and mixed with panko breadcrumbs, Pecorino Romano cheese, basil, and scallions. Serve atop pasta or as a starter.

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Coconut-Curry Shrimp and Couscous

one-pan-coconut-curry-shrimp-and-couscous-116-d113040-1.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner

One pan? Check. Thirty minutes or less? Check. Plenty of flavor? Check. Family-friendly? Check. There's nothing not to love about this curry shrimp dinner.

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Shrimp Cobb With Cilantro-Lime Dressing

seafood-salad-053-d112989.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Now it's a party! We've got perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs, sautéed shrimp, slices of ripe avocado, and crispy bacon, all assembled on a crowd-friendly platter.

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Butternut Squash Soup With Shrimp

butternut squash soup with shrimp

Gently sautéed shrimp adds heft and protein to an otherwise basic creamy butternut squash soup. Top with fried sage leaves for added flavor and attractiveness.

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Broiled Coconut-and-Lime-Crusted Shrimp With Rice-Noodle Salad

coconut-lime-crusted-shrimp-with-romaine-noodle-salad-5108-d112793.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner

This quick, fun dinner is a sublime mix of crispy coconut shrimp, crunchy cucumbers and radishes, creamy avocado, and rice vermicelli, all tossed with a lively dressing of lime juice, pepper jelly, and chiles.

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Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp

Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp
Credit: Kate Sears

Fast and delicious, this stir-fry comes together in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The glaze comes from apricot jam mixed with vinegar, and the sweetness from pineapple chunks. Serve over steamed rice.

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Quick Skillet Paella With Shrimp and Tomatoes

skillet rice chorizo shrimp with wooden spoon
Credit: Andrew Purcell

Not at all traditional but altogether delicious, this take on paella comes together in just 35 minutes. It uses arborio rice and shrimp, peas, diced tomatoes, and chorizo.

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Spaghetti With Shrimp, Kale, and Burst Tomatoes

Spaghetti with Shrimp, Kale, and Burst Tomatoes
Credit: Chris Simpson

Ideal for late summer, when tomatoes are at their peak and kale is in full force, this simple pasta dish is colorful, healthy, and delicious. Add more chile flakes for more heat.

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Shrimp Francese

Shrimp Francese

The traditional version of this lemon-and-white-wine dish is made with thinly pounded chicken, but the flavors work just as well with shrimp. The crustaceans are pan-fried until golden-brown and crispy.

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Shrimp Tikka Masala

mld105251_0110_curry.jpg

Curry doesn't have to simmer for hours to be packed with flavor, as this recipe proves. The aromatic onion base takes the longest to cook, then the shrimp cooks through in under 5 minutes. Serve with rice and mango chutney.

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Grilled Shrimp "Boil"

opener-grilled-shrimp-028-d111258.jpg
Credit: Lennart Weibull

When you can't make it to the beach for a clambake, turn to this at-home version. Potatoes and corn are par-boiled first, then tossed with a lemon-butter mixture and grilled with shrimp until fully cooked through.

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Herby Shrimp-and-Feta Bake

herby shrimp-and-feta-bake in skillet
Credit: Johnny Miller

Here, shrimp gets a rare low-and-slow treatment, braised in the oven with olive oil, garlic, herbs, and feta. Serve with crusty bread for mopping up all the delicious juices.

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Paprika Shrimp With Hummus and Mint

shrimp-hummus-mint-156-d111856.jpg
Credit: Lennart Weibull

Serve this shrimp dish as an unexpected appetizer for serious wow. Paprika adds plenty of warm flavor and bold color to the shrimp, which are served alongside store-bought hummus, warm pitas, crunchy lettuce leaves, and cucumber slices.

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Broiled Shrimp Tacos

shrimp-tacos-plate-021-mld110754.jpg
Credit: Joseph De Leo

Celebrate Taco Tuesday with this delicious meal. Spicy shrimp, which get their heat from canned chipotles in adobo, are piled into corn tacos along with sliced avocado, shredded cheese, cilantro, and sliced jalapeños.

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Farro Risotto With Shrimp

Farro Risotto with Shrimp
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Pearled farro replaces the usual arborio recipe in this take on risotto. The combination of shrimp, peas, and Parmesan is a classic and will never go out of style.

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Sautéed Shrimp With Arugula and Tomatoes

Sauteed Shrimp with Arugula and Tomatoes

This quick summery sauté can be served alongside pasta, bread, couscous, quinoa, or other grain of your choosing.

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Skillet Shrimp and Orzo

shrimp orzo
Credit: Hector Sanchez

For a quick weeknight shrimp recipe that's just a little different, we're big fans of orzo. The rice-like pasta pairs oh so well with shrimp, grape tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil leaves in this easy dinner.

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