Fried Shrimp Recipes to Make Your Meals a Lot More Exciting

Nothing elevates a meal like a dish of golden and crispy fried shrimp. Their slightly crunchy exterior contrasts nicely with the tender meat while the flavors shift between sweet, briny, and savory.

Best of all, fried shrimp recipes usually take no more than 30 minutes to make, so despite the impressive appearance, these dishes come together with little to no effort.

Types of Oil to Fry Shrimp in

The two most important elements to consider when choosing oil for frying are the smoke point and the flavor. It should have a high smoke point to prevent breaking down and burning from the high heat. The taste should be mild to neutral, so it doesn’t heavily impact the food.

These are some of our suggestions for oils to fry shrimp in:

Avocado Oil

This oil has the highest smoke point - 520°F, making it suitable for all frying methods. It has a subtly sweet and nutty taste that doesn’t overwhelm the food and some nutrients to make frying healthier. The downside is this oil can be much more expensive than other types of oil.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil has a neutral flavor and a nutty undertone that deepens the shrimp’s taste without changing the dish entirely. It also has quite a high smoke point at 450°F and is relatively affordable, so it’s a great alternative if you don’t want to spend money on avocado oil.

Canola Oil

Many like to choose this oil for frying, especially when a large amount is used, because of its affordability. It also has a neutral taste that seamlessly blends in with other foods’ flavors. With a smoke point of 400°F, there’s no worrying about it breaking down and burning in the middle of the cooking process either.

Check Out Our Most Popular Fried Shrimp Recipes

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Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe

This popular dish with Chinese origins showcases regional aromas of savory and umami. The flavors accompany a colorful green pea, carrot, and corn stir fry. Once finished, you’ll have a mouthful of textures that’ll leave you satisfied.

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Shrimp sautéed with broccoli and bell pepper in a black skillet topped with scallion and sesame seeds.

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Pan Fried Shrimp Recipe

This lustrous dish is so shimmery it’s sure to dazzle your world before you taste it. It’s a simple fry with carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli to complete it with crunchy bits.

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Mongolian Shrimp Recipe

What gives this dish an allure is its lustrous gloss, thanks to a delicious dark brown sugar, soy, and hoisin sauce. Serving sweet, umami, and savory tastes, it’s as great to eat as it is to look at!

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Jerk Shrimp Recipe

Jamaican jerk is made by rubbing the meat with spices and letting it marinate. The myriad of seasonings makes the dish a little more complex, but every bit worth it!

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Shrimp Rangoon Recipe

You can’t go wrong with this Rangoon. It’s simple, convenient, and ultimately forgiving. The best part is, for a dish that looks this sophisticated, it’s surprisingly effortless. You won’t regret adding this to your repertoire!

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Firecracker Shrimp Recipe

Fish sauce, sriracha, red pepper flakes, and red chili build an intense flavor profile in this firecracker of a treat. The meal stays true to Chinese flavors with spices like ginger and garlic that further define the dish.

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Salt and Pepper Shrimp Recipe

As well as being inexpensive and easy to make, this meal is delightful. Salt and pepper are a humble seasoning duo that does wonders for a dish. So expect no less when it comes to this recipe. You’ll be blown away by its complex flavors.

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Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Recipe

When it comes to convenient meals, these wraps are just perfect. All they require is 30 minutes, and they make for an excellent healthy snack too!

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Shrimp Balls Recipe

Imagine a bite-sized treat that’s delicious, party-worthy, and ready in 27 minutes. This is the recipe to give you that treat. Serve it with a creamy mayo sauce, and you’ve got a splendid appetizer.

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Shrimp Francese Recipe

Francese is a cooking technique whereby you dredge the meat (in this case, shrimp) first in flour and then in eggs before sauteing it or deep-frying it as we did. Simple—yet it tastes like a dream.

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The Best Tips for Frying Shrimp

In addition to the proper techniques, paying attention to the details can also affect how your fried shrimp turn out. Here are some of the small changes you can make to improve the dish’s quality:

Go for Larger Shrimp

When it comes to frying, medium, large, and jumbo shrimp are more preferential because of their plumpness and tender texture. Whatever you choose, make sure the sizes are consistent so they cook evenly.

Pat the Shrimp Dry

After cleaning, pat the shrimp with paper towels until the surface area is completely dry. This ensures that it browns nicely and there’s no excess moisture to make it soggy. If you want to bread the shrimp, this also helps the crumbs to stick better.

Use the Right Utensils

The pan should be wide so that the shrimp can be evenly spread and don’t overlap one another. If you’re deep-frying, ensure the pot is deep enough so there are still at least 3 inches of space above the oil line. Have a thermometer nearby to know precisely when the shrimp is cooked.

Pay Attention to the Shape and Color

If you don’t have a thermometer, the shrimp’s appearance can give a solid estimation of when it’s cooked. Perfectly cooked shrimp will have a bright orangey red color with some opacity, or golden brown, depending on the specific frying method. Meanwhile, undercooked or overcooked ones tend to be translucent gray or matte white respectively.

In terms of shape, the tightness of the body curl is also usually a solid indicator of doneness. Cooked shrimp have a loose “C” shape while undercooked shrimp are straighter and overcooked shrimp turn almost into a round “O” shape.

Remove Immediately After Finished

Even after the heat has been turned off, the shrimp will likely continue cooking due to the residual heat. This can cause them to become overcooked if left in for too long. Transfer them to a serving plate immediately after they’re done to avoid this.

What to Serve With Fried Shrimp

Being flavorful enough on their own, fried shrimp don’t need much company. However, here are some suggestions for low-effort side dishes that you can make for a complete and filling meal.

Potatoes

The creamy texture of potatoes meshes surprisingly well with the shrimp’s tenderness. Whether it’s french fries, mashed potatoes, or potato salad, it’s never a bad idea to have a side dish made from this golden root vegetable.

Vegetables

Potatoes aren't the only exception; vegetables in general also pair incredibly well with fried shrimp. You can serve the shrimp on a fresh bed of salad or make a side dish with roasted or sautéed veggies. Either way, the dishes will undoubtedly be a lot more exciting, thanks to the diverse flavors and textures.

Rice and Pasta

For rice, you can simply cook it or quickly fry it with a few veggies and seasonings. Pasta's possibilities are endless with numerous sauces to go with it or you can just boil it and leave the flavoring to the shrimp.

Fried shrimp dishes have it all - the impressive appearance, the burst of flavors, and the easy cooking process. They’re the ideal go-to choice for any meal, from parties and gatherings to simple cozy dinners. Whatever it is you’re looking for, hopefully, you’ve found it in our fried shrimp recipes list.