27 Easy Shrimp Recipes For Dinner

Shrimp has to be one of the most versatile foods out there. It cooks quickly, is juicy and slightly sweet, and our favorite thing? Shrimp are really low in calories, so they are great food if you are watching your waistline. There is so much choice when it comes to shrimp dishes. Today we have assembled a list of easy and healthy shrimp recipes for you to try in your own kitchen.

27 Best Shrimp Recipes For Dinner

1. Gambas Pil Pil

You won’t find better shrimp than in the Mediterranean. This dish is served in the islands of the Balearics, and the shrimp are normally caught less than five minutes from your table. This is a simple dish that uses quality ingredients to carry it through. Chilli, olive oil, and heaps of toasted and golden garlic. That’s about it!

2. Shrimp Coconut Curry

We love a quick midweek dinner. It doesn’t get much tastier than this. We fry an onion, add a spoon of garlic and ginger paste and then throw in a teaspoon of fragrant garam masala and turmeric. We blend a few cilantro stalks with coconut milk and chili and add them to the pan along with a handful of juicy shrimp. Once they’ve turned pink, that is your curry done!

Read more: What to serve with coconut shrimp

3. Crispy Shrimp and Watermelon Salad

Another easy one. The key to this recipe is to marinate your shrimp in honey and soy for an hour minimum. From there, roll your shrimp in dried coconut flakes and flash fry until golden and crispy. Serve alongside huge chunks of watermelon, splashed in lime juice, and dusted with fresh mint leaves. A real summer treat!

4. Jerk Shrimp

We couldn’t mention shrimp without going all Caribbean! Jerk is a thick sauce made of scotch bonnet chili, allspice, honey, and soy sauce. It has a really strong taste and will leave you feeling a little hot under the collar. It is the ideal marinade for shrimp. Just fry them in the sauce. If you have any leftovers, save them for chicken or any meat.

5. Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta

Let’s go back to the med. This dish always puts us in the mood to accompany it with a crisp and sharp chilled white wine. This contains a lot of classic Mediterranean flavors… Olives, basil, olive oil, 

6. Shrimp Stir Fry

Stir fry is always a great dish if you are pressed for time but still want something tasty. This is packed full of good things. You have crunchy red peppers, juicy chunks of pineapple, and sweet green onions. This is all backed up by a healthy portion of juicy and sweet shrimp. We add a little chopped bacon to give additional flavor and taste.

7. 10 Minute Shrimp noodles

This is a simple dish that we cook for the kids. We mix a cup of chicken stock with a little cornstarch and add some shrimp to a hot frying pan with garlic and ginger. Once they are cooked through, we add a handful of cold pre-cooked noodles and the stock. Give it a stir, a sprinkle of white pepper, and that’s pretty much it!

8. Shrimp Scampi

If you’ve ever been to the UK, you can’t have missed scampi on pub menus. For those of you not in the know, scampi is thick breaded shrimp, normally served with a slice of lemon, a dollop of tartare sauce, and very little else… Extra points are awarded if you go all authentic and serve them in a basket!

9. Asian Shrimp Salad

Shrimp features heavily in Asian cuisine. If you are looking for a light salad that is carried by delicious ingredients, then this is for you. We mix shredded pawpaw, apple, and cucumber, along with slices of white cabbage. The dressing is a simple mix of oil, chili, and lime juice. Toss with the cooked shrimp and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

10. Cauliflower Shrimp Rice

Cauliflower rice is great if you are watching the waistline. Just give a cauliflower a pulse in a blender until it resembles coarse crumbs. This is a little like shrimp and egg fried rice, without the ‘rice’. The flavor of this dish comes from the inclusion of ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. You can also add in some cilantro lime rice to really unlock the taste.

11. Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

This dish is another with a Caribbean vibe. For the ultimate dinner party presentation, serve it in a scooped-out half pineapple bowl. While it looks impressive, the ingredients are really simple. Rice, green onions, chunks of succulent pineapple, and of course, the humble shrimp. Add some jalapenos for a fiery kick!

12. Garlic Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

Shrimp is great to serve with linguini as it stops it all sliding off your fork! This is another simple shrimp dish that you can knock up in minutes. It is perfect for a mid-week feast! Oil, garlic, and shrimp are about all it takes… It will keep the vampires away, that’s for sure!

13. Citrus Shrimp Avocado Salad

If you are having a BBQ or eating al fresco, you won’t find a more summery shrimp dish than this. You can practically taste the goodness! It’s bright, fresh, and light. Oranges, avocado, and grapefruit add a splash of color to the plate. The shrimp are complemented by a zesty and fresh dressing. Delicious! This is one of those recipes I need to add to our healthy avocado recipes.

14. Honey Garlic Shrimp

Like garlic shrimp, but don’t like pasta? This one could be for you. This is a little similar to gambas pil pil but without the chili heat! We saute shrimp in some butter, along with salt, lemon juice, and garlic. If it sounds simple, it’s because it is… It’s also really tasty! Mix in some honey and you’re good to go.

15. Shrimp Cocktail

This is a classic straight out of the ’80s. A layer of cold cooked shrimp served on a crunchy bed of lettuce and topped with a tangy seafood sauce. Extra points are given for arranging your shrimp in a ring around the bowl. Add a dust of paprika and a slice of lemon for the ultimate presentation and unlock this tasty Mexican recipe.

16. 15 minute Frozen Shrimp

No, these aren’t served frozen. The title is a nod to how to prepare frozen shrimp for cooking. No need to sit for hours waiting for your shrimp to defrost. Here’s the key… Run them under cold water in a bowl for around 15 minutes until they thaw. It’s really easy, from there you can make any dish!

17. Mexican Shrimp Tostadas

Part kebob, part Mexican. Tostadas are great finger food, and we serve this shrimp recipe as an entrée when we have a Mexican dinner party. It’s also great for barbecues. Flash grill your shrimp with a squeeze of lime juice and then serve on a crispy corn tortilla, smothered in avocado, cilantro, and salsa.

18. Broccoli and Shrimp Stir Fry

No prizes for guessing what’s in this dish. Shrimp taste great, but they sometimes lack texture. The key to broccoli is to cook it al dente and leave a slight crunch. The best thing about this recipe is that you can add frozen broccoli straight to the pan and let it thaw as you cook. There are a few ingredients in the sauce, but it is still really easy to make. Our record time is 15 minutes from start to finish.

19. Brazilian Shrimp Soup

The shrimp don’t have to be Brazilian. No, joking aside, this soup originates from Brazil. It is tomatoey, slightly acidic, with hints of cream running through. It’s a great dish to make in the fall as temperatures drop and is best served with a loaf of crusty bread, perfect for mopping up any last bits in the bowl.

20. Cajun Shrimp

Let’s head to the deep south! Cajun food is spicy and utterly delicious. We can think of no better way to showcase it than with shrimp! We use a combination of spices, honey, and butter to make a sticky sauce that caramelizes slightly when cooking to make a delicious coating on the shrimp. Serve in a cast iron pan for the ultimate presentation.

21. Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Who doesn’t love a taco party? The most challenging thing about this dish is fighting the others around the table for the last of the shrimp. Crunchy shredded lettuce, smoky shrimp covered in cumin, and all of the usual trimming such as avocado, sour cream, and refried beans. Just be careful not to drop it on your lap as you crunch through the crispy taco.

Read More: My favorite coleslaw recipe

22. Tod Mun Pla Recipe

If you aren’t familiar, tod mun pla is the native name for thai shrimp fish cakes. This recipe doesn’t use any fish. It is a great way to get rid of an excessive amount of shrimp. Chop them into a rough paste and add a handful of lime leaves, some seasoning, and a little Thai red curry paste. From there, shallow fry them until golden on each side. Serve with a slice of lime and a heap of chopped chili. This tastes amazing!

23. Thai Shrimp Red Curry

Staying on a Thai theme, give thai red curry a go. The key to this dish lies in finding a decent red curry paste. If you can’t find it, why not make your own. This dish can be a little fiery, but you can leave the chili out if you like. It has creamy coconut milk, backed up with hints of lime juice, lemongrass, and sweet pineapple.

There are a few variations on this dish. Sometimes the Thais cook a ‘jungle curry’… This doesn’t have the cooling coconut milk included. It is replaced with fish stock. Be warned this dish is about as fiery as it gets!

24. Sesame Shrimp Toast

This dish is Chinese in origin. Provided you’ve got some oil, a pan, and some sesame seeds, you should be good to go. We blend a handful of shrimp and add some seasoning before ‘buttering’ slices of white bread with the mixture. Press the side with the paste into a layer of sesame seeds and then deep fry for a couple of minutes on each side. This is great when served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. 

25. King Shrimp Pathia

This shrimp dish is Indian in origin. It might also leave you feeling a little hot under the collar as it contains quite a few chilies. If you can bear the heat, you’ll find that it is a little sweet and sour in taste, with elements of Asian spices, such as cumin and turmeric running through the dish. Serve alongside a bed of simply boiled basmati rice (and maybe a nice cool glass of beer) 

26. Shrimp Ramen

While considered ‘student food’, there’s a lot to love about ramen. It is mild in flavor, so it works well with anything. Including shrimp! We like to serve ours with a richly spiced clear stock with elements of Chinese five-spice, soy, and some crispy green onions. Add a soft boiled egg cut in half for a really appealing visual look. Feel free to slurp your soup and finish the rest with chopsticks if you want to eat it authentically. 

27. Shrimp Marie Rose Sandwiches

This is a bit of a classic and is ideal if you are planning a picnic. Marie rose is the posh name for seafood sauce. This orangey/pink sauce is a little bit tangy and a little sweet. We like to make some dainty sandwiches on sliced white bread, topped with cucumber and lettuce. We mix the shrimp with the sauce and combine it with a little lemon juice before piling the entire lot onto the bread. This is a great one to serve for afternoon tea. Cut the bread into quarters and remove the crusts for a real classy look. 

Conclusion

When it comes to shrimp, there are so many options, it is really hard to pick our favorite. You’ll find various styles, tastes, and flavors among our list of frozen, stir fry and grilled shrimp recipes. Some are easy, some are complex, but they are all really delicious. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. Feel free to offer suggestions, and we’ll see about adding them to our list.