18 Easy Shrimp Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Shrimp is our weeknight hero. Whenever I’m stumped on what to make for dinner, I know I can count on these easy shrimp recipes. We make them on repeat, and they always come through.

I almost always toss a bag of frozen shrimp into my cart at the store. If there’s shrimp in the freezer, I know a quick, tasty dinner is just minutes away. These are our go-to shrimp recipes. They are simple, fast, and always delicious. From shrimp stir fry to shrimp pasta, there’s something here for everyone to love.

Whether you’ve got fresh shrimp or a trusty bag of frozen shrimp, you’re in good shape. I’ve also included our favorite tips after the recipes for thawing shrimp fast, so you can get dinner on the table even quicker.

Find all 18 recipes below! For more, see all of shrimp recipes or join our free newsletter and get our best seasonal recipes delivered straight to your inbox. Happy cooking!

Our Favorite Shrimp Recipes

Cilantro Lime Butter Shrimp

This delicious cilantro lime shrimp recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes and has easily become one of my family’s favorite shrimp recipes!

Garlic Shrimp Scampi

Our shrimp scampi recipe made with garlic, butter, white wine, and lemon feels fancy but is actually super quick and easy. It’s basically the best garlic butter shrimp you’ll ever make.

Chili Butter Head On Shrimp

This head on shrimp baked with butter and chili paste is incredibly delicious and super easy to make. You’ll have dinner ready in under 20 minutes!

The Best Cajun Shrimp

This cajun shrimp recipe is outrageously flavorful and easy! We cook the shrimp in a hot skillet, and then swirl in the most delicious garlic cajun butter.

Quick Shrimp Stir Fry

This shrimp stir fry recipe is fast, easy, and unbelievably delicious. Ready in 20 minutes with juicy shrimp, crisp veggies, and a crave-worthy homemade sauce.

Seriously Good Pickled Shrimp

This tangy, herby, lemony pickled shrimp recipe is so good you’ll want to make a double batch!

Tomato Shrimp Pasta

This tomato shrimp pasta recipe is incredibly easy, light, and comes together in the time it takes the pasta to cook.

Seriously Good Shrimp Carbonara

I’m excited to share this delicious shrimp carbonara recipe which features perfectly cooked shrimp tossed with spaghetti in a silky sauce.

The Best Shrimp Salad

This is my favorite shrimp salad recipe. It’s absolutely delicious, thanks to perfectly cooked shrimp, fresh dill, and an out of this world homemade dressing.

Perfect Bang Bang Shrimp

This Bang Bang shrimp recipe with light, crispy fried shrimp tossed in the easiest homemade Bang Bang sauce makes us so happy. Crispy, creamy, a little sweet, and just the right amount of heat.

Easy Shrimp Cocktail

Our favorite shrimp cocktail recipe skips poaching or boiling and roasts the shrimp instead. It’s easy to make and guarantees juicy, tender shrimp every time.

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

This bacon-wrapped shrimp recipe is my go-to party appetizer. The spicy maple glaze, combined with a few simple tricks, makes them completely irresistible.

Shrimp Burgers with Lime Slaw

This shrimp burger recipe with garlic and ginger is a total win in our house. They’re juicy, a bit sweet from the shrimp, and perfect with our creamy lime slaw.

Sesame Ginger Shrimp Marinade

This shrimp marinade recipe is perfect for grilling or roasting! Ginger, garlic, fish sauce, sesame oil, and honey combine for a delicious, sweet, sticky glaze.

Easy Shrimp Ceviche

Our favorite shrimp ceviche recipe combines lightly poached shrimp with lime juice, lemon juice, and avocado. It’s fresh, healthy, and delicious.

The Best Homemade Fajitas

This fajita recipe is truly restaurant-worthy. The secret is cooking the steak, chicken, and shrimp all in one skillet, which builds incredible flavor.

Chile Shrimp Tacos with Slaw

Here are my new favorite shrimp tacos! There’s tender shrimp cooked with the perfect blend of spices and butter, mashed avocado, and a quick and crunchy slaw

Pesto Soba Noodles with Shrimp

You will love this quick and fresh soba noodles recipe with basil pesto, shrimp, and cucumber. Made in under 25 minutes!

How to Thaw Shrimp Quickly

If you are like us, you probably have a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer. This is how we quickly thaw them:

• Option 1 (the quickest): Add your frozen shrimp to a bowl without a bag, then cover them with cold water (cold is important, don’t use warm or hot). They should take 15 to 20 minutes to thaw. Make sure you change the water a few times (keep it cold) and move the shrimp around occasionally to help them thaw. Note: Don’t leave your shrimp in water for much longer than 30 minutes, as their texture may start to degrade.
• Option 2: Place the shrimp into a sealed plastic bag (like a ziplock bag), but squeeze out as much air as you can. Fully submerge the bag of shrimp in a large bowl of cold water, flipping the bag a few times, and changing the water every 30 minutes until the shrimp have thawed.

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