25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (2024)

When you're looking for a lighter lunch or dinner, shrimp is a great option to leave you satisfied and with time to spare. Try dishes like chef Hugh Acheson's grilled shrimp with apples and charred scallion or a quick shrimp pad Thai among our favorite fast and light shrimp recipes.

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Grilled Shrimp co*cktail with Fresh Tomato co*cktail Sauce

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (1)

Give shrimp co*cktail a seasonal, smoky upgrade with this ideal recipe for summer dinner parties and cookouts. The shrimp are marinated in a bright, lemon-garlic mixture that gets a kick from crushed red pepper. Make sure to pat dry after peeling and deveining them, so they don't water down the marinade; this also helps the shrimp achieve a nice char when grilled.

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02of 25

Gingered Stir-Fry with Shrimp and Snow Peas

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (2)

Large nonstick skillets that can create a sear are ideal for stir-fries. For this recipe, we create layers of flavor with Chinese chile-garlic sauce and matchsticks of fresh ginger.

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03of 25

Summer Squash and Shrimp Fricassee

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (3)

"Once the summer starts, there are inevitably big baskets of zucchini and yellow squash that we just don't know what to do with," says Oxford, Mississippi-based chef Vishwesh Bhatt. "This fricassee is a terrific place to use them. It's really light, it's really quick, and it's really easy to cook a big batch of it, making it an ideal centerpiece for summer gatherings."

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04of 25

Mama Chang's Stir-Fried Shrimp and Scallions

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (4)

Chef Joanne Chang's mother used to make this sweet and spicy shrimp stir-fry all the time. When she was old enough to cook, Chang asked her mom for the recipe. "She hemmed and hawed until she finally gave it to me, revealing her secret ingredient: ketchup."

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05of 25

Shrimp Wedge Salad with Old Bay Breadcrumbs and Hot Sauce Dressing

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (5)

Taking a cue from chef Nina Compton at Bywater American Bistro, we’re adding a Crystal hot sauce–spiked dressing to this mash-up of a wedge salad and a po’boy sandwich. Toasting the breadcrumbs in Old Bay–infused oil doubles down on the rich shrimp-boil flavor.

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06of 25

Shrimp and Pork Dumplings with Bamboo Shoots

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (6)

Chef Martin Yan makes his delicate dumpling wrappers with cornstarch, wheat starch, water, and shortening. For an easier way, wonton wrappers, usually sold in the freezer section of the supermarket, make quick work of dumplings.

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07of 25

Grilled Shrimp with Apple and Charred Scallions

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (7)

"Shrimp come from all over the world, but I think the kind from coastal Georgia and the Gulf is the best — and it's pretty much a sustainable product," says chef Hugh Acheson. Here, he prepares the shrimp as a light appetizer with green apple, charred scallions, smoked paprika, and sesame seeds.

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08of 25

Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (8)

For an alternative to Heinz and Hunt's, two Brown University undergrads created Sir Kensington's, a small-batch ketchup that balances sweet and tangy. To show off its aromatic side, former F&W editor Grace Parisi uses it in a sauce for a shrimp stir-fry.

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09of 25

Marseille-Style Shrimp Stew

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (9)

Large shrimp make this a knife-and-fork stew. Cookbook author Melissa Clark spreads a garlicky French rouille on toasts for dipping in the stew.

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Quick Shrimp Pad Thai

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (10)

This is a great, fast version of American-style pad Thai, with an appealing combination of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors.

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Goan Shrimp Curry

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (11)

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and his wife, Alyona, love beach vacations in Goa. Kapoor prepares this shrimp curry in typical Goan style, so it's tangy, spicy, and vibrant.

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Grilled Shrimp with Mom's Avocado and Orange Salad

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (12)

Chef Andrew Carmellini's dish is a mix of two beloved salads: shrimp-avocado and shrimp-citrus. He throws in a few surprises, too, like the hot sauce in the dressing, recommending a fruity one from the Caribbean made with habaneros.

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Zucchini, Corn, and Shrimp Flatbread

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (13)

Store-bought naan flatbreads get toasty on the grill, layered with mascarpone cheese, sweet shrimp, juicy corn, and tender ribbons of fresh zucchini. Don't skimp on the garnish of smoked paprika — it adds a dash of vibrant color and enhances the smoky flavor.

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Creole Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (14)

Eco-minded chefs are cooking with wild American shrimp, but not just for ethical reasons. As chef Tory McPhail says, "They taste cleaner and crisper since they swim in the tides."

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Smoky Paella with Shrimp and Squid

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Star chef José Andrés prepares this satisfying rice dish with lots of seafood, including hard-to-find cuttlefish and a housemade fish stock. To make it even easier, use squid in place of the cuttlefish and skip the fish stock in favor of bottled clam broth from the supermarket.

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16of 25

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

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Coconut shrimp are well suited to all sorts of dipping sauces, but we keep it simple here and use Thai sweet chili sauce spruced up with a little chopped fresh cilantro. Using an air fryer instead of frying in oil on the stovetop means crispy shrimp without any splatters to clean up afterward. Serve the shrimp for dinner along with rice and baby bok choy sautéed in toasted sesame oil and fresh ginger.

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Shrimp with Fresh Citrus Sauce

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Chef Andrew Carmellini's sauce uses blood oranges, tangelos, clementines, and tangerines. He sautés the shrimp separately. To make it even easier, prepare a fast citrus sauce by adding grapefruit juice to the skillet as you cook the shrimp.

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Shrimp with Roasted Corn, Leeks, Tomatoes, and Basil

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (18)

Showcasing late-summer produce, this simple sauté is a perfect shoulder-season weeknight dinner. Marinating sweet cherry tomatoes in vinegar and salt tenderizes them and draws out their juices, creating a light sauce. "If you have the leeks and corn prepped ahead of time, you can have this dish finished and on the table in about 15 minutes. It's convenient and delicious and just begging to be enjoyed al fresco with a glass of white wine," says chef Cassidee Dabney.

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Chipotle Shrimp Tostadas

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For this Southwestern-inspired dish, shrimp are tossed with chipotle chile powder, grilled, then layered on top of crunchy fried corn tortillas and crisp, citrusy slaw.

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Soba Noodles with Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (20)

Garlicky, spicy, and bright with lime, this noodle dish is both warming and energizing, according to Thai tradition. Just don't skimp on the lime wedges or cilantro: "The sour juice protects the respiratory system in the early spring," restaurateur and cookbook author Su-Mei Yu says, "and cilantro helps when you're congested."

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Grilled Gulf Shrimp with Sweet Corn Coulis

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (21)

Tender, juicy sweet peas and yellow corn kernels make for a light and refreshing salad atop a silky, creamy corn coulis in this easy-to-double recipe. Tangy sour cream and buttermilk balance the natural sweetness of the vegetables and Gulf shrimp. Corn may be sweeter or starchier depending on the season — adjust to taste with up to a teaspoon of sugar, if desired.

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Miso Soup with Shrimp and Tofu

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (22)

No soup is quicker to prepare than miso; just whisk miso paste into water. By adding shrimp, tofu, and greens, it can double as a complete and light meal. Feel free to use leftover chicken or roast pork (or whatever else is on hand) in place of the shrimp.

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Shrimp Saganaki

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (23)

For shrimp saganaki, Greeks sauté shrimp in a pan with tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese, then serve it right out of the skillet with bread to soak up all the delicious juices. The fresh dill in this quick version brightens the flavor.

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Smoky Citrus Shrimp with Parsley

25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (24)

Grub co-author Bryant Terry eats these tangy, garlicky shrimp piled high on crispy toasts, but sometimes he sandwiches them inside a quesadilla oozing with shredded Jack cheese. He recommends buying wild-caught or sustainably raised shrimp from the United States or Canada, where environmental standards are stricter than in places like Latin America and Southeast Asia.

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Grilled Miso Shrimp

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When grilling shrimp or scallops, use sticks of lemongrass or sprigs of rosemary as edible alternatives to metal or bamboo skewers.

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25 Fast and Light Shrimp Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the tastiest way to cook shrimp? ›

  1. Heat the oven to 450°F.
  2. On a half sheet pan, toss the shrimp, salt, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  3. Roast for 7 to 9 minutes, until pink and just cooked through. Remove from the oven, add the butter, and toss the shrimp until coated. Spritz with fresh lemon juice.
Dec 10, 2021

Is it better to cook shrimp fast or slow? ›

Smaller shrimp will cook faster than larger ones, while the total time for bigger boys will be a little longer. Here's associate food editor Kendra Vaculin's rule of thumb: Cook medium shrimp for approximately 3 minutes, large shrimp for 4–5 minutes, and jumbo shrimp for 6–7 minutes.

How do you cook frozen shrimp quickly? ›

Tips for Cooking Frozen Shrimp

For ease of cooking and eating, go for peeled (or shell-off) shrimp. You can use anywhere from one pound to a pound-and-a-half, which is one (24-ounce) bag. Preheat a baking sheet under the broiler and your shrimp will only need about 5 minutes of cook time. Yup, they are that fast.

What flavors pair well with shrimp? ›

Herbs and blends that go well with shrimp are: basil, bay leaf, cayenne pepper, chili powder, chives, cilantro, curry powder, dill, garlic, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme.

Why do you soak shrimp before cooking? ›

Soak shrimp in brine

Soak quickly in brine to keep lean seafood moist as it cooks and season it throughout. A solution of 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 quart water works to season 1 pound of seafood. Dissolve the salt in the water, and then submerge the shrimp and chill for 30 minutes.

Is it better to steam or saute shrimp? ›

Steaming shrimp is one of the best ways to cook the shellfish. The gentle cooking technique helps elevate shrimp's flavor and tender snap.

What not to do when cooking shrimp? ›

  1. Mistake #1: Buying Shrimp With the Heads Still On.
  2. Mistake #2: Not Deveining Your Shrimp.
  3. Mistake #3: Thawing Improperly.
  4. Mistake #4: Overcooking.
  5. Mistake #5: Throwing Away the Shells.

What happens if you don't devein shrimp? ›

Then just rinse all your shrimp to remove any left over debris, pat them dry them with a paper towel, and they're ready to cook. If you choose to leave the digestive tract in place, or can't completely devein it, there's no need to worry – there's no food safety reason to remove it.

How many minutes do you cook raw shrimp? ›

Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side, flipping only once midway. Depending on the size of your shrimp and how many you have in the pan, this will usually take 4 to 6 minutes. Lastly, transfer to a serving dish.

What happens if you cook frozen shrimp without thawing? ›

Yes, it is recommended to cook frozen shrimp before eating it to ensure that it is safe to consume. Raw frozen shrimp may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can cause foodborne illness if consumed. To cook frozen shrimp, you can either thaw it first or cook it directly from frozen.

Does frozen shrimp need to be thawed before cooking? ›

Cooking frozen shrimp won't harm you, but the texture won't be as appetising as if you cook from thawed. If time allows, leave your shrimp in the fridge overnight to thaw. Avoid thawing at room temperature, as this also impacts the texture.

Do you thaw frozen shrimp before frying? ›

  1. It is not necessary, but I would recommend it.
  2. In the worst case scenario, you'll wind up with shrimp that is rubbery (overcooked) on the outside and cold like a Popsicle on the inside.
  3. If you don't wish to run that risk, thaw your shrimp, especially if they are big shrimp.
Jul 8, 2019

What brings out the flavor of shrimp? ›

These savory little crustaceans taste best with seasoning that complements their unique umami flavor. The top three spice blends for shrimp are garlic butter, Old Bay Seasoning, and blackened seasoning, and they are easy to make at home!

What is the best side dish for shrimp? ›

pair perfectly with a variety of side dishes!
  • Coleslaw. Creamy and cool, coleslaw is a perfect for any time of year. ...
  • Polenta. The Italian cousin of Southern grits, polenta is similarly made with cornmeal. ...
  • French Fries. ...
  • Fresh Vegetables. ...
  • Rice Pilaf. ...
  • Build Your Menu Around Gulf Shrimp.
Nov 10, 2022

What takes the fishy taste out of shrimp? ›

Add Lime Juice

Therefore, how to process shrimp, so they are not fishy can be done by adding lime juice which can help disguise the fishy smell. When adding the lime juice, don't forget to let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes so that the fishy smell of the shrimp completely disappears.

Is it better to boil or grill shrimp? ›

If you like a good classic shrimp boil then you will love them grilled. Grilling just brings out more depth of flavour with a hint of smokiness to it and gives it a nice texture with those sought-after charred grill marks. Plus, it takes just 20 minutes to cook.

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