Our 50 best shrimp recipes will turn you into a seafood master

By Aida W. Johnson Last updated Feb 20, 2022

Delicate, brackish and sweet, it’s no surprise that shrimp are the most popular seafood to cook in the United States. While a great shrimp recipe might ask for a little more than lemon and butter, we’ve rounded up our top 50 recipes with shrimp to show just how delicious this crustacean can be.

Shrimp scampi, paella, shrimp cocktails and meatballs are just scratching the surface. They are also the perfect thing to add to your crayfish boil. The shrimp cook quickly and take just a little while to prepare. Learn how to devein shrimp and have your favorite shrimp recipes ready in no time. But save those shrimp shells! They add the perfect touch of shrimp flavor to your seafood soups, shrimp broths and cooking oils.

Shrimp are perfect for fried dishes as the crunch gives way to tender and succulent meat inside. Shrimp tempura is an incredibly popular dish, but with our guide to the perfect tempura, it’s just as easy to make at home. Tiger prawns, white prawns, prawns, and even prawns – there are so many kinds of shrimp to choose from and they all have distinct tastes. We’ve rounded up our best shrimp recipes here.

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Steamed shellfish balls

In China, this combination of shrimp, scallops and crab is a dumpling filling for a special occasion. The crisp flavor and slippery texture of the seashells is not obscured by any filler. Serve the steamed dumplings straight from bamboo steamers, as their delicate wrappers can break during transfer. Get the recipe for steamed shellfish balls Â» Heami Lee

Seafood Soup with Ginger and Yuzu Kosho

Flavored with wine and herbs, this broth is similar to a nage or poaching liquid – you only need a shallow pool in each bowl. The broth contains red yuzu kosho, a Japanese condiment made from citrus, yuzu, and chili peppers, which adds a round, tangy flavor that’s hard to replace. If necessary, add a little more chili and lime zest. If frontal shrimp are hard to find – or if you’d rather not fight fish heads on New Years Eve – cut them out for more peeled shrimp. Get the recipe for seafood soup with ginger and yuzu kosho Â» Christina holmes

Chicken and shrimp curry

Characteristic of the curries of the region, this intensely spicy one from Chef Kevin Joseph of The Oyster Box hotel in Durban draws its heat not from chili peppers, but from pasta made with fresh garlic, ginger and onions, as well as lots of curry powder. Although not cooked for long, the sauce is rich and thick thanks to the heaps of ground spices and the unsweetened coconut cream. Get the Chicken and Shrimp Curry Recipe Â» Crookes and Jackson

Sprouted Seed and Cereal Salad with Spicy Shrimp

Marinated shrimps with Satsuma

Bittersweet satsumas, a citrus fruit native to Louisiana, brighten up these marinated shrimp, which chef Justin Devillier of New Orleans’ La Petite Grocery adds with Korean chili flakes. Substitute tangerines or any citrus related with orange and crushed red pepper flakes, if necessary. Get the Satsuma Marinated Shrimp Recipe Â» Christina holmes

Sauteed Shrimps and Long Beans with XO Sauce

Shrimp with edamame salad and carrot miso sauce

Stir-fried noodles in the Philippines (Pancit Bihon)

â€œEating this dish makes me feel like I’m at home. It’s my mom’s specialty, and I remember helping her cook it up when I was a kid. It is served at every party [my family throws] and eaten alone during merianda, the Filipino equivalent of British Tea Time. – Leah Cohen from Pig & Khao Get the Filipino Noodle Stir-Fry Recipe (Pancit Bihon) Â» Matt Taylor-Gross

Filipino paella

Grilled Shrimps and Roasted Peppers

Grilled shrimp summer rolls

Juicy mango, buttery avocado, and lightly charred sweet shrimp are wrapped in rice paper with crispy cabbage and cucumber for a summer appetizer that hits all the right notes of texture. Prepare the spicy and tangy dip ahead of time to give the flavors time to blend. Get the recipe for summer rolls with grilled shrimp Â» Matt Taylor-Gross

Sour Curry Soup with Shrimps

Light, tangy, and cooked with a modest amount of heat and all the fresh seafood and vegetables available, kaeng som is an elementary and satisfying dish, and this curry from Andy Ricker from Pok Pok is an easy recipe to master. Learn how to prepare the Broth Enriched with Shrimp, which imparts tangy and tangy flavors but also provides measured amounts of sweetness, salt and spices, and you will begin to understand the balance of Thai cooking. Get the recipe for sour curry soup with shrimps Â» Joseph De LÃ©o

Grilled Watermelon, Avocado and Shrimp Salad

Squash and shrimp sautÃ©ed in coconut milk and peppers

Soba noodle salad with miso and grilled shrimp

Remoulade shrimps

Andy Ricker’s Pad Thai with Pork and Shrimp

Pad Thai with Pork and Shrimps (Phat Thai Ruam Mit)

The semi-dried flat rice noodles, available online and in many Asian markets, are worth looking for because they hold their shape and texture better than the fully dried version. Get Andy Ricker’s Pad Thai recipe with pork and shrimp Â» Eva kolenko

Vietnamese prawns coated with herbs

Shrimps and Grits

Salted Fried Shrimps

Spaghetti with shrimp sauce

Shrimps with Tomatoes and Feta (Garides Saganaki)

Scampi shrimps

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An Italian-American classic, prawn scampi is a simple dish of sautÃ©ed shrimp mixed with a white wine, garlic, lemon juice and butter sauce, then served with pasta. Get the recipe for Scampi Shrimps Â» Farideh Sadeghin

Southern Thai Rice Salad with Shrimp (Khao Yam)

Tom yum goong

Flavored with lime juice and lemongrass, this sweet and sour soup is based on a recipe by our friend Nancie McDermott, author of Real Thai (Chronicle Books, 1992). Get the recipe for Tom Yum Goong Â» Todd coleman

LeRuth Red Shrimp Remoulade

Herb Spicy Butter Shrimps

Shrimp Satay (Satay Udang)

Marinated artichokes with prawns and Fino sherry

Chorizo â€‹â€‹Shrimps

Alaskan shrimp crisps

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The team of mother-daughter chefs, Kirsten and Mandy Dixon, turn this Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine staple into an addicting snack and appetizer served at their rural Alaskan adventure lodges, Within the Wild. Get the Recipe for Alaskan Shrimp Chips Â»

Shrimp and pea shoot dumplings

Shrimp tacos

Chilis from rbol Salsa and Guacamole from Don Pepe

Every element of this taco, inspired by those at Don Pepe Taqueria in Fresno, is amplified, from red rice simmered in a mixture of chicken broth and tomato puree to quickly marinated shrimp. Use large flour tortillas as tacos or wrap them in a burrito. Get the recipe for shrimp tacos Â» Dylan + Jeni

Shrimp and Rice Pilaf (Machbuss Rubian)

Marinated shrimp

Lightly spiced, brackish marinated shrimp are a staple in Southern cuisine. In this Georgian-inspired version, frozen raw shrimp are a great substitute for fresh ones. Get the recipe for marinated shrimps Â» Todd coleman

Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings)

Seafood pastas

Tostones con Camarones Guisados

Smorrebrod with shrimp, avocado and crispy potatoes

Shrimp crudo with crÃ¨me fraÃ®che, apple, Swiss chard and shallot

In Puglia, ‘crudo’ refers to a wide range of raw seafood preparations, including whole uncooked gamberi rossi, the region’s large red prawns, with heads and tails intact. The sweet flavors of the shrimp flesh and its slippery texture are said to shine. Use only the freshest, highest quality shrimp possible. Get the recipe for shrimp crudo with crÃ¨me fraÃ®che, apple, Swiss chard and shallot Â» Eva kolenko

Gan Shao Xia

Langoustine pasta

Pasta and Shrimp Casserole (Camusclim)

Commandant’s Palace Shrimp and Tasso Henican

Tostadas by Camaron Seco

A blend of dried shrimp, eggs, and tangy achiote makes an intensely flavorful garnish for fried tortillas in this simple dish, eaten as an appetizer or snack on the Oaxacan coast. Get the recipe for Tostadas de Camaron Seco Â» Todd coleman

Michelada con Camarones (Spicy beer cocktail with shrimps)

Salsa with Camaron Seco

Vatapa

An adaptable stew from the Brazilian state of Bahia, Vatapa derives its luxurious texture and signature floral notes from coconut milk and palm oil. Get the Vatapa recipe Â» Todd coleman

Shrimp Fritters (Tortillitas de Camarones)