There are many reasons to love shrimp: its sweet flavor; succulent, snappy texture; and speed of preparation come to mind. Add to that the versatility of this freezer staple, and it's no surprise that it's a weeknight dinner superstar. From meals like tacos, fajitas, skewers, and even pasta bakes, this seafood can be used in almost anything.
Keep reading for recipes to whip up a wide range of shrimp meals, from a lighter take on the classic bang bang shrimp to a special lemon butter shrimp so irresistible, you'll want to mop up every last drop of its sauce. Trust us, these dinners are so good, you'll be digging in for seconds.
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes
Plump, juicy, and tender shrimp that's ready in 25 minutes? That's what these shrimp fajitas are all about!
The shrimp garlic skewers are marinated in chili, garlic, and an array of spices for a flavorful, light, and delicious meal.
It doesn't get much simpler than this lemony shrimp skewer recipe.
Served with a blue cheese dipping sauce and a green salad (or plenty of celery), grilled buffalo shrimp isn't just for game day.
Put down the delivery menu, and make this shrimp and broccoli stir-fry instead.
Shrimp and grits can be a time-consuming recipe to prepare, but not this flavorful, cheesy take. The secret: quick-cooking grits.
A variety of textures and flavors make this ginger garlic shrimp with noodles exciting to eat.
This one-pot shrimp and tomato pasta is fast, fresh, and family-friendly.
Ingredients like light cream cheese and evaporated milk make this shrimp alfredo pasta bake less indulgent than it appears.
A Paula Deen recipe, this lemony shrimp option doesn't skimp on the butter (or the flavor, for that matter).
Shrimp tacos are always a crowd-pleaser, and this cilantro-lime crema sauce keeps the flavor light and fresh.
Lightly pan-fried instead of deep-fried and served with a honey mustard napa cabbage slaw, bang bang shrimp is less indulgent and far less messy to prepare.
You won't find a recipe much faster (or easier) than shrimp scampi; if you start with prepeeled shrimp, it can come together in as little as 15 minutes.
To make garlic butter shrimp and quinoa into a meal, add a simple side salad or roasted vegetables.
Treat yourself to surf and turf with a platter of these ultrasimple shrimp and chorizo skewers.
If you're craving Tex-Mex, consider making shrimp fajitas in foil.
Make sure you have plenty of sliced baguette to serve with this garlic butter shrimp recipe; you'll want to mop up every last drop of its rich sauce.
This easy slow cooker garlic butter shrimp and quinoa recipe is healthy, fast, and delicious.
Like lobster rolls, but a bit more budget-friendly, these mini shrimp rolls will bring back happy memories of the seashore.
You won't miss the noodles in this spiralized zucchini take on pasta puttanesca.
This chopped Thai shrimp salad looks like a bowl of edible confetti.
For a fresh take, bathe shrimp in olive oil and a trio of fresh herbs.
Snappy, succulent, and savory, garlic parmesan roasted shrimp will quickly enter your meal rotation.
Be warned: you may want to put this salad's tangy ginger-miso dressing on everything in sight.
Sometimes it's fun to make a meal out of an appetizer instead of a main dish, like with this crisp-crusted coconut shrimp. Just add a simple salad or some roasted vegetables to round it out.
You won't believe how simple this classic Chinese shrimp dish is; it only requires six ingredients, including white rice to serve it with.
If ceviche is your go-to seafood order, try making this naturally low-carb meal in the comfort of your own home. Simply adjust the amount of jalapeño to make it more or less spicy.
Packed with fiber and garnished in delicious spices, you can't go wrong with this lime-cilantro shrimp and black bean salad.
If you still don't have an air fryer, what are you waiting for? You can cook this citrusy-sweet shrimp in just five minutes after marinating.
You can't go wrong when you top shrimp and asparagus with butter, herbs, and garlic. This one-pan meal even adds a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
You don't often see shrimp and watermelon together, but this is one combination that works. Even with the fruit and spicy honey dressing, this dish has just 22 grams of carbs per serving, and only takes 15 minutes (with prep time) to make.