Did you know that eating more shrimp can be a nice boost to your cognitive abilities? Not to mention that it’s a great source of protein and other vital minerals.
Perhaps that’s why you and your family are interested in some new shrimp meal ideas. You’re looking for new, creative ways to enjoy this hearty, healthy ingredient. Fortunately, you’ve come to just the right place by reading this article.
We’ve outlined 12 key shrimp recipes that you and your family will love. Keep reading for some more inspiration.
1. Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Humanity has enjoyed shrimp-based meals for centuries. Consider this quick and easy weeknight dinner or meal for a special occasion.
Garlic butter shrimp pasta is ideal because you can make it quickly. Begin by boiling a pot of salted water for the pasta.
While the water heats, clean and devein the shrimp, and season them with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat, and add minced garlic.
Cook the garlic for a few minutes, then add the shrimp to the pan. Cook them here until the shrimp turn pink, and then remove them from the pan.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it to the pan with the garlic butter. Toss the pasta until it is coated with the garlic butter sauce.
Add the cooked shrimp to the pan, and toss everything together. Serve the garlic butter shrimp pasta with grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Dress it up with a side salad and garlic bread for a date night at home. You can also serve it with a glass of white wine for a dinner party with friends. The garlic butter shrimp pasta is a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to impress everyone.
2. Coconut Curry Shrimp Stir-Fry
Begin this favorite meal by cleaning the shrimp, then season them with salt and pepper. You’ll heat them in a pan over medium heat with a little bit of oil.
To prepare the curry sauce, heat some oil in a different pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and diced onions to the pan and cook until they become soft.
Add curry powder, turmeric, and cayenne pepper to the pan and stir everything together. Finally, add coconut milk and fish sauce to the pan before bringing everything to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce until it thickens.
Once the curry sauce is ready, add the cooked shrimp to the pan and stir it all up. Serve the coconut curry shrimp stir-fry with steamed rice and chopped cilantro.
This meal has its roots in the rich culinary traditions of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It’s a popular dish in many Southeast Asian households and is often served during special occasions or family gatherings.
The coconut curry shrimp stir-fry is a fragrant and comforting meal. It’s sure to transport your taste buds to the tropical shores of Southeast Asia.
3. Lemon Pepper Shrimp Skewers
This meal is perfect for outdoor gatherings this upcoming summer and can be prepared in minutes. The lemon pepper seasoning adds a tangy and zesty flavor to the shrimp. Plus, the grilling method gives them a smoky and charred taste.
The lemon pepper shrimp skewers are a crowd-pleasing meal that is sure to impress your guests. Feel free to get creative with everything you actually put on the skewers. You can even offer a tray of ingredients to let your guests assemble their own.
Begin by cleaning and deveining the shrimp. Make sure to season them with lemon pepper seasoning and salt. Skewer the shrimp onto metal or wooden skewers, and brush them with melted butter.
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the shrimp skewers until they turn pink and slightly charred.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp skewers. You can also garnish them with chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve the lemon pepper shrimp skewers with a side of grilled vegetables or a green salad.
4. Shrimp and Grits Bowl
Shrimp and grits bowl is a Southern comfort food that’s easy to prepare. Start by cooking the grits according to the package instructions.
While the grits cook, clean and prepare the shrimp. Cook until the onions become translucent, then add the seasoned shrimp to the pan.
Once the grits are cooked, spoon them into bowls. Add the cooked shrimp and onion mixture on top of the grits. Garnish the shrimp and grits bowl with chopped green onions, sliced bell peppers, and hot sauce.
This meal is perfect for a cozy and comforting dinner or brunch with friends. Serve it with a side of toasted bread and a cup of coffee for a Southern-style breakfast. The shrimp and grits bowl is a filling and satisfying meal that is sure to warm your soul.
With an industry expected to grow over 6% in the next few years, we can expect a lot more shrimp available for your meals. It’s our responsibility, though, to ensure we’re sourcing those shrimp in sustainable, eco-friendly ways.
5. Honey Mustard Glazed Shrimp
Honey mustard glazed shrimp is a classic American dish that’s loved by many. To prepare the honey mustard glaze, whisk together honey, dijon mustard, soy sauce, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Heat the glaze in a pan over medium heat until it thickens.
Once that’s ready, add the cooked shrimp to the pan and stir everything together. Serve the honey mustard glazed shrimp with a side of rice or a green salad.
This meal has its roots in American cuisine and generations of families have continued to enjoy it. Honey mustard is a popular condiment in the United States, and its sweet and tangy flavor pairs perfectly with shrimp.
6. Cajun Shrimp and Rice
Are you particularly fond of spicy foods? Cajun seasoning is a blend of spices that is commonly used in Cajun and Creole dishes. The Cajun shrimp and rice is a spicy twist on this otherwise salty seafood.
For the rice, sauté chopped onions, celery, and bell peppers in the same pan until they become tender. Add minced garlic and uncooked rice to the pan, and mix everything together.
Pour chicken broth and diced tomatoes into the pan to boil everything. Reduce the heat and let the rice simmer until it becomes tender and fluffy.
Once the rice is ready, add the cooked shrimp to the pan and stir it all up. Serve the Cajun shrimp and rice with a side of cornbread or a green salad.
7. Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
For this dish, clean the shrimp, and season them with chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat, and cook the seasoned shrimp until they turn pink. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set them aside.
To prepare the mango salsa, dice a ripe mango. Combine it with chopped red onion, diced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Mix everything together and set the salsa aside.
To assemble the shrimp tacos, warm up corn tortillas on a dry pan. Add the cooked shrimp to the tortillas, and top them with the mango salsa. Garnish the shrimp tacos with sliced avocado and chopped cilantro.
This meal is perfect for a summer dinner or a casual get-together with friends. Serve it with a side of rice and beans or a refreshing margarita for a Mexican-inspired feast. Shrimp served like this is a great food item for the beach, as well.
8. Creamy Shrimp Alfredo
This classic Italian dish is one of the most popular shrimp-based meals. Many people around the world have come to know and love this hearty, tasty recipe.
To prepare the Alfredo sauce, melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and heavy cream to the pan and boil it all. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce until it thickens. Add grated Parmesan cheese to the pan, and stir everything.
After preparing the Alfredo sauce, add the cooked shrimp to the pan. Serve the creamy shrimp Alfredo with a side of garlic bread and a Caesar salad.
The creamy Alfredo sauce was named after the Italian chef Alfredo di Lelio. We can thank him for creating the dish in the early 20th century.
The dish gained popularity in the United States in the 1970s and has since become a staple in Italian-American restaurants. The creamy shrimp Alfredo is a rich and indulgent meal. It’s ideal for anything, whether it’s a special occasion or a romantic dinner.
9. Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad
Grilled shrimp Caesar salad is a light and refreshing meal that is perfect for summer days. You’ll serve this delicious meal with shrimp on metal or wooden skewers. You’ll grill them first until they’re slightly charred and flavored with salt and pepper.
For the salad, chop up romaine lettuce, and toss it with Caesar dressing. Then, add grated parmesan cheese and croutons. Give everything a final toss, and add the shrimp skewers on top.
Serve the grilled shrimp Caesar salad with a glass of iced tea or lemonade. This is an excellent light lunch, and the grilled shrimp adds a smoky and charred flavor to the salad. Further, the grated parmesan cheese and croutons add texture and crunch to the salad.
10. Spicy Shrimp Jambalaya
Spicy shrimp jambalaya is a classic Cajun dish that is perfect for a hearty dinner. Begin by cooking diced bacon in a large pot over medium heat.
Add diced onions, celery, and bell peppers to the pot and cook until they become soft. Add minced garlic, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth to the pot. Then you can bring everything to a boil.
Once the mixture is boiling, add uncooked rice, cajun seasoning, and hot sauce to the pot. Reduce the heat to low, and cover the pot. Cook the rice until it is tender and has absorbed all the liquid, stirring occasionally.
Once the rice is cooked, add the cooked shrimp to the pot and stir everything together. Serve the spicy shrimp jambalaya hot with chopped green onions on top. By the way, this dish is a classic for your next Mardi Gras celebration.
11. Teriyaki Shrimp Stir-Fry
This meal has its roots in Japanese cuisine, and teriyaki sauce was first used as a marinade for fish in the 17th century. The sauce was later used as a glaze for grilled chicken, beef, and seafood. Today, teriyaki sauce is a popular condiment that is used in stir-fries, noodle dishes, and rice bowls. The teriyaki shrimp stir-fry is a flavorful and healthy meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
You’ll start by preparing the dish over medium heat in a little bit of oil just like usual. Once you set it aside, you can move to the sauce.
For the teriyaki sauce, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Heat the sauce in a pan until it thickens.
Once that’s ready, add the cooked shrimp to the pan and start stirring. Add chopped vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots to the pan, and stir-fry until the vegetables become tender-crisp.
Serve the teriyaki shrimp stir-fry with steamed rice and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Your family or other guests are sure to love this one.
12. Shrimp Scampi Linguine
To prepare shrimp scampi linguine, start by boiling linguine. Make sure you do so according to package instructions in salted water until al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and cleaned shrimp to the pan. Next, add white wine and lemon juice to the pan, and let it simmer until it reduces by half.
Finally, the cooked linguine, shrimp, and chopped parsley to the pan. Toss everything together until the linguine is coated in the sauce.
Serve the meal with a side of garlic bread and a Caesar salad. For further guidance regarding recipe ideas, browse through these food-related blog articles.
Enjoying These Shrimp Meal Ideas
You now have plenty of inspiration to work with on your next shrimp meal ideas. From pasta to tacos, you have plenty of new dishes to enjoy.
Further, we’d love to help you explore the possibilities of shrimp-based meals. Our food delivery services connect people like you with all of the most delicious local cuisines. Contact us now to see how we can start expanding your food horizons today.