When you’re short on time but want big flavor, shrimp delivers. These nutritious shrimp recipes are tailor-made for light lunches, breezy dinners, and warm-weather gatherings. From grilled skewers and citrusy salads to brothy noodle bowls and bold stir-fries, this global collection of shrimp dishes proves that quick-cooking and nourishing meals can go hand in hand.
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Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with Fresh Tomato Cocktail Sauce
Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman
This smoky take on shrimp cocktail is perfect for summer, with a zesty homemade cocktail sauce and grilled shrimp marinated in lemon, garlic, and a few dashes of hot sauce.
Chicken and Shrimp Laksa
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling byClaire Spollen
Top Chef winner Buddha Lo shares his family’s laksa recipe, featuring homemade laksa paste, velvety coconut broth, flavorful aromatics, and a tangle of noodles topped with chicken and poached shrimp.
Grilled Shrimp and Lettuces with Charred Green Goddess Dressing
Made up of grilled lettuces, grilled shrimp, and a grilled-herb green goddess dressing, this summer salad is delightfully smoky. The dressing can be made a day in advance.
Summer Squash and Shrimp Fricassee
This recipe from Oxford, Mississippi-based chef Vishwesh Bhatt is a solution to the growing pile of zucchini and yellow squash at summer’s start. “This fricassee is a terrific place to use them,” he says. “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.”
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Ali Ramee
Live your best coconut shrimp–filled life with this recipe designed for the air fryer. It yields a reliably crispy exterior without the splatter and mess of deep frying. Serve with a Thai sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Shrimp Wedge Salad with Old Bay Breadcrumbs and Hot Sauce Dressing
A riff on po’boys and a classic wedge salad, this recipe — inspired by chef Nina Compton at Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans — brings in regional flavors like Crystal hot sauce and Old Bay seasoning.
Grilled Gulf Shrimp with Sweet Corn Coulis
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Creamy corn coulis is paired with skewers of tender Gulf shrimp and a light, crunchy salad of sweet peas and corn kernels. It’s summery, light, and refreshing.
Shrimp with Roasted Corn, Leeks, Tomatoes, and Basil
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell
Late-summer produce takes center stage in this quick sauté with marinated cherry tomatoes and sweet, tender shrimp. “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 alfresco with a glass of white wine,” says chef Cassidee Dabney.
Zucchini, Corn, and Shrimp Flatbread
Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver
Grill store-bought naan and heap summer’s bounty on top: sweet corn, tender shrimp, fresh mascarpone cheese, and delicate ribbons of zucchini. Don’t forget the smoked paprika, which helps enhance this dish’s smoky flavor.
Quick Shrimp Pad Thai
Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell
This quick, weeknight-friendly take on American-style pad Thai combines sweet, sour, and spicy flavors with shrimp, peanuts, and a tamarind-laced sauce.
New Orleans–Style Barbecue Shrimp
Alex Lau /Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Mosquito Supper Club chef-owner Melissa Martin shares her choose-your-own-adventure recipe for this classic New Orleans dish. She offers three options for deglazing the pan: beer for a deep, slightly bitter flavor; wine for a bright and acidic finish; or cola for sweet, spiced notes.
Filipino New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman
Chef Cristina Quakenbush fuses Creole seasoning with Filipino pantry staples in this buttery, bright take on the famous New Orleans dish. Serve over rice or with a crusty baguette.
Caesar Salad with Shrimp
Food & Wine / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell
Broiled shrimp, crisp romaine, homemade croutons, and a punchy homemade Caesar dressing make this salad worthy of your rotation. Plus, the shrimp takes just four minutes to broil.
Garlic Shrimp in Tomato Sauce
Food & Wine / Photo by Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Joseph Wanek
Briny olives, capers, rosemary, and a pinch of red pepper flakes give this tomato-rich shrimp dish a flavor profile reminiscent of pasta puttanesca. It’s ready in just 25 minutes.
Stir-Fried Green Beans with Shrimp and Garlic
Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Kelsey Moylan / Prop Styling by Addelyn Evans
This Vietnamese-style stir-fry from siblings and Seattle restaurateurs Eric and Sophie Banh sizzles shrimp and green beans in a wok until just caramelized.
Flay’s Grilled Shrimp with Habanero-Garlic Vinaigrette
Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s grilled shrimp get their kick from a simple sauce made with habanero, garlic, lime, honey, and cilantro. Flay prefers grilling his shrimp head-on to preserve their juiciness.
Spicy Peel-and-Eat Skillet Shrimp with Garlic
Pull up a chair, set out the napkins, and make sure you have a cold drink. Peel-and-eat shrimp is a labor of love, but one where the eating usually takes longer than the cooking. (Time deliciously spent.) Keeping the shells on protects the shrimp from intense heat, so they stay juicy and tender throughout cooking.
Dirty Martini Shrimp Cocktail
Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Renu Dhar / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle
This cheeky take on shrimp cocktail brines the shrimp in olive juice and spikes the sauce with gin and vermouth — a salty, boozy, and scrumptious martini-inspired dish.
Buttery Shrimp with Peas and Potatoes
Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Kathleen Cook Varner
This one-pan meal simmers shrimp, new potatoes, and peas in a buttery broth that’s brightened with chile and dill and laced with a hint of cream. “It literally tastes like spring in a bowl,” says F&W’s Justin Chapple.
Shrimp and Okra Kebabs with Grilled Peaches and Jalapeño-Bourbon Vinaigrette
Tara Donne / Food Styling by Chris Lanier / Prop Styling by Raina Kattelson
2008 F&W Best New Chef Sue Zemanick adds a splash of bourbon to her vinaigrette, which helps tenderize the shrimp in these kebabs. “Everything about this dish screams summer to me,” Zemanick says.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle
Plump shrimp star in this spicy classic of Italian-American cooking. The finished tomato sauce can be served with grilled bread, on top of pasta, or over creamy polenta.
Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic Sauce)
Diana Chistruga
Shrimp, garlic, olive oil, and dry sherry come together in this Spanish tapas staple that’s best served with with crusty bread. Feel free to increase the amount of garlic or to add a teaspoon of smoked or sweet paprika to the mix.
Chile Shrimp
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Inspired by Singaporean street food, sommelier Rajat Parr’s chile shrimp recipe was named a F&W Classic in 2022. “You can serve it with rice, flatbread, or crostini,” he says. “Plus it’s easy to adjust the heat level with mild or hot chiles.” He also suggests pairing it with a glass of dry or off-dry Riesling to highlight the sweet, tangy flavors of the shrimp.
Lemon-and-Garlic-Poached Shrimp with Barbecue Cocktail Sauce
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Victoria Granof / Prop Styling by Karin Olsen
Gently poached shrimp are served up with a smoky, barbecue-based cocktail sauce. Refrigerated prepared horseradish will pack a bigger punch than the shelf-stable version.
Creamy Shrimp Curry with Coconut Milk
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Shell Royster
Creamy and deeply comforting, this one-pan curry builds incredible flavor in just 40 minutes. Fresh curry leaves, spices tempered in ghee, onion, ginger, garlic, chile, tomato, tamarind paste, and coconut milk are added in precise order. Save the shrimp for last to prevent overcooking.
Gingered Stir-Fry with Shrimp and Snow Peas
Antonis Achilleos
This stir-fry balances chile-garlic sauce with the crunch of fresh snow peas and slivered matchsticks of fresh ginger for a dish that’s as quick to make as it is satisfying.
Shrimp and Pork Dumplings with Bamboo Shoots
Tina Rupp
Delicate and savory, these dumplings blend juicy shrimp, pork, and crisp bamboo shoots. Chef Martin Yan makes his own delicate dumpling wrappers, but opting for the store-bought version will make quick work of this recipe.
Grilled Shrimp with Apple and Charred Scallions
Fredrika Stjärne
Chef Hugh Acheson pairs local shrimp with smoky scallions, tart green apple, and a dash of paprika in this bright, fresh dish. “Shrimp come from all over the world, but I think the kind from coastal Georgia and the Gulf is the best,” he says, “and it’s pretty much a sustainable product.”
Marseille-Style Shrimp Stew
Johnny Valiant
This knife-and-fork stew from food writer Melissa Clark is built on a fragrant tomato broth and served with rouille-slathered toast for dipping.
Goan Shrimp Curry
David Malosh
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Goan-style curry is inspired by the beach vacations he takes there with his wife, Alyona. Tangy, spicy, and vibrant, it’s rich with coconut milk and complex spices.
Grilled Shrimp with Mom’s Avocado-and-Orange Salad
Tina Rupp
In this irresistable summer salad, chef Andrew Carmellini combines shrimp, avocado, and citrus with a dash of hot sauce. He recommends using a habanero-based one from the Caribbean for its subtle fruitiness.
Creole Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon
Quentin Bacon
Tory McPhail, formerly of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, prefers to cook this dish with wild American shrimp: “They taste cleaner and crisper since they swim in the tides.”
Smoky Paella with Shrimp and Squid
Quentin Bacon
Star chef and humanitarian José Andrés adapted this recipe, a simple squid-and-shrimp paella, for home cooks. Just swap homemade fish stock for bottled clam broth and difficult-to-find cuttlefish for squid.
Shrimp with Fresh Citrus Sauce
Tina Rupp
Grapefruit juice is a fast and easy substitute for the blood oranges, tangelos, clementines, and tangerines that normally make up chef Andrew Carmellini’s bright citrus-based sauce.
Chipotle Shrimp Tostadas
James Baigrie
Chile-tossed grilled shrimp top crisp tostadas alongside citrusy slaw in this bold, weeknight-friendly take on Southwest flavors.
Soba Noodles with Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro
Stephanie Foley
California restaurateur and cookbook author Su-Mei Yu shares this bright, garlic-infused, and herby noodle dish. According to Thai tradition, she says, “the sour juice protects the respiratory system in the early spring, and cilantro helps when you’re congested.”
Miso Soup with Shrimp and Tofu
James Baigrie
Miso soup is easy to prepare: Just whisk miso paste into water. Bulk up this foundational broth by adding shrimp, tofu, and greens.
Shrimp Saganaki
Yunhee Kim
Shrimp, tomatoes, feta, and olives melt together in this Greek skillet dish, best served sizzling hot with bread to catch every briny, bright drop. Fresh dill takes the flavor over the top.
Smoky Citrus Shrimp with Parsley
Quentin Bacon
These smoky, tangy, garlicky shrimp from Grub co-author Bryant Terry can be piled on a crunchy slice of toast or even folded inside a gooey quesadilla filled with shredded Jack cheese.
Grilled Miso Shrimp
Con Poulos
Grill these shrimp on fragrant rosemary sprigs or lemongrass skewers for an umami-packed dish that is as delicious as it is simple.
