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These shrimp recipes make fast and healthy meals! Here are our favorite easy shrimp dinner ideas full of big flavor.

Shrimp recipes, shrimp dinner ideas
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If you’re looking to eat a quick and healthy dinner, these shrimp recipes are where it’s at! Shrimp can go from zero to dinner incredibly fast—this protein cooks up in just 3 minutes (which is some kind of a record). It’s also juicy, flavorful, and satisfying.

As two cookbook authors who eat mostly a Mediterranean diet, we often make shrimp recipes for dinner because they’re so fast and our whole family loves them.

Types of shrimp recipes

Here are our top shrimp recipes we like to make on a regular basis. We’ve got all the basics, like sauteed shrimp, boiled shrimp, grilled shrimp, and baked shrimp.

There are also lots of creative ways to serve this shellfish. You can make it into rice bowls, stir fries, tacos, curry, or serve with pasta like crowd favorite shrimp scampi. There are shrimp appetizers like nachos, and even a good old fashioned shrimp boil. Let’s get started!

And now, our top shrimp recipes!

Tips for buying shrimp

Lastly, a little note about what to look for when buying shrimp. In researching how to buy sustainable seafood, we’ve learned a few pointers:

  • Look for wild caught if possible, or find a well-regulated farm. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
  • Frozen shrimp is also high quality. A myth about fish is that “fresh is best.” As soon as an animal dies it begins to decompose; freezing suspends this process. If the shrimp is frozen when it was caught and stays frozen until it gets to your kitchen, it will be higher quality than a raw fish that has taken a week to get to your plate.

Frequently asked questions

What types of shrimp are best for cooking?

There are many types to choose from! Popular ones include white shrimp, brown shrimp, pink shrimp, and tiger shrimp. Each has a slightly different flavor and texture. We like using tail on shrimp for most recipes.

Should I buy fresh or frozen shrimp

Both options are great! Fresh shrimp often have a slightly better flavor, but high-quality frozen shrimp can be just as delicious. If you choose frozen, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight for best results.

How do I devein and peel shrimp?

Deveining removes the dark intestinal tract. We recommend buying shrimp that are already deveined before making shrimp recipes. Only use shell on shrimp if the recipe calls for it.

What’s the best way to know if shrimp are cooked?

Cooked shrimp turn opaque and a vibrant pink/orange color. They will also curl into a loose “C” shape.

Can I adapt recipes to use smaller or larger shrimp?

Yes! Be sure to adjust cooking times as needed. Smaller shrimp cook faster than large ones.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover shrimp dishes?

Reheat gently to avoid overcooking and tough shrimp. Low heat on the stovetop or a quick warmup in the oven are usually preferred.

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Garlic shrimp recipe

5 Minute Sauteed Shrimp


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

This sauteed shrimp recipe comes out juicy and seasoned to perfection in 5 minutes! A quick and healthy dinner idea.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, deveined (tail on or peeled)
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika (or substitute standard paprika)
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¾ teaspoon cumin
  • 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 3 lemon wedges
  • Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Thaw the shrimp, if frozen. Pat the shrimp dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with the salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the butter on medium high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side until just opaque and cooked through, turning them with tongs.
  3. Spritz with juice of the lemon wedges and serve immediately.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Seafood
  • Diet: Gluten Free

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

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3 Comments

  1. Maya Wendisch says:

    It would be very nice if you had a metric vs. US measurement converter for those of us who live abroad.
    I’d love to try some of your recipes, but the time to convert is quite time consuming.
    Just a thought, Maya

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      Thank you! We will consider adding.

  2. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!