Grilled, fried, or skewered, on pasta or in tacos, jumbo or popcorn—there's no wrong way to cook the fruit of the sea
Written bySunset Staff October 9, 2020
As a wise man once said, “Shrimpis the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it.” Shrimp go on kebabs, on pasta, in soups—and into our mouths in vast, delicious quantities. Because we know you love them just as much as we do, we’ve rounded up a jumbo-size list of our best prawn preparations.
- Classic Shrimp Recipes
- Grilled Shrimp Recipes
- Fried Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Pasta Recipes
- Spicy Shrimp Recipes
Classic Shrimp Recipes
1 of 4
Shrimp co*cktail
Poaching big, plump shrimp in a seasoned broth gives them lots of flavor—but if you’re pressed for time, you could get away with buying cooked (don’t skip the final seasoning of oil, lemon, chile, and chives, though).
2 of 4
Garlic Shrimp
Small, juicy shrimp in plenty of garlicky olive oil show up on countless tapas menus across Spain.
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3 of 4
Honey Walnut Shrimp with Asian Slaw
Our take on a Chinese-restaurant favorite uses the same ingredients, but skips the heavy batter and deep frying. If you can’t get jumbo shrimp, use 1 pound of the largest shrimp you can find.
4 of 4
Shrimp “Louis” Sandwiches
We’ve reimagined the classic crab Louis as a satisfying sandwich, swapping in sweet, tiny bay shrimp and piling the salad onto thick slices of toasted bread.
Grilled Shrimp Recipes
1 of 4
Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Skewers
Grilling watermelon adds a smoky note to the fruit and gives it a slightly meaty texture that matches well with shrimp.
2 of 4James Carrier
Grilled Shrimp with Romesco Sauce
This shrimp recipe is simple and delicious, the romesco sauce is a must try.
3 of 4Scott Peterson
Grilled Shrimp with Lemon-Pesto Rice
Prepared pesto makes this dish a snap, but you can use homemade if you have some on hand. Prep and Cook Time: 40 minutes.
4 of 4Lisa Romerein
Peppery Grilled Shrimp (Tom Nuong Toi Xa Ot)
Smoky grilled shrimp play well against the cooling herbs and noodles of the salad.
Shrimp Pasta Recipes
1 of 7
Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Green Garlic
Light, lively green garlic and a little cream make this a perfect winter-into-spring pasta dish. The thin noodles soak up the sauce fast, so serve it immediately.
2 of 7
Shrimp, Lemon, and Parsley Pasta
Try this with quinoa-corn linguine or brown rice linguine for a gluten-free recipe, or cook regular wheat pasta if you prefer.
3 of 7
Shrimp Pad Thai
Put down the phone. Step away from the take-out menu. Yes, you can make Thailand’s most famous street food.
4 of 7
Shrimp with Bacon-Cheese Polenta
OK, we know polenta isn’t pasta per se, but this smoky, Italian-ish take on shrimp and grits is worth a bit of category-crossing.
5 of 7
Shrimp and Pasta with Creamy Pesto Sauce
This shrimp and pasta recipe is laced with pesto and cream and can be prepared in just 15 minutes and with only 6 ingredients. It goes great with a glass of pinot gris.
6 of 7
Italian-style Shrimp with Spaghetti
Lynne Schaefer found that a favorite recipe for cacciatore-style chicken was also a great way to prepare shrimp.
7 of 7
Shrimp and Chickpea Pasta
Delicious quick one-pan dinner with the colors of an Arizona desert sunset in mind.
Fried Shrimp Recipes
1 of 5
Firecracker Shrimp
Fried until crunchy, these shrimp look a little like firecrackers, with the tails being the fuses. See make-ahead details for ways to prep them before a party.
2 of 5
Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp
This salt-and-peppershrimprecipe is a lighter (stir-fried) version of the deep-fried Asian dish that’s quick and keeps the intense flavor of the original.
3 of 5
Crispy Shrimp with Arugula and Lemony Mayo
This crowd-pleasing appetizer can be plated with the greens as a sit-down first course or served without greens as stand-up finger food.
4 of 5
Crispy Shrimp Won Tons with Sriracha Mayo
We’d like to say that they’re just as good baked, but honestly, they really are best fried. The Sriracha mayo puts it over the top.
5 of 5
Crunchy Salt Shrimp with Ginger Sauce
Eat with or without the shell, regardless this shrimp recipe will produce some of the most succulent shrimp you have ever eaten.
Spicy Shrimp Recipes
1 of 5Iain Bagwell
Chile-Dusted Crispy Shrimp Tacos
Rich, spicy, and irresistible, this shrimp recipe packs a punch and a crunch.
2 of 5James Carrier
Javanese Sambal with Grilled Shrimp
Indonesian food appeals to fans of big, bold flavors. Just use a food processor to create a five-ingredient sauce laden with coconut, chilies, and garlic for a pungent and spicy accompaniment to shrimp.
3 of 5Annabelle Breakey
Spicy Soba Noodles with Shrimp
Serve these noodle bowls warm, at room temperature, or even chilled. Harissa, a North African spice paste, is available at well-stocked grocery stores, but if you can’t find it, use hot sauce.
4 of 5Annabelle Breakey
Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté
When you don’t have much time to cook, the right condiment can add layers of flavor in a flash. Oil-packed Indian mango relish (not chutney, which is too sweet) combines earthy turmeric and fenugreek with the tang of mustard and green mango.
5 of 5James Carrier
Spicy Shrimp Kebabs with Cilantro-Ginger Aioli
Serve these kebabs with a sweet rosé, plus crusty bread and grilled or roasted small potatoes to dip into the extra aioli.
Keep Reading:
- Recipes
- Seafood
- shrimp
- shrimp recipes
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