Quick Shrimp Recipes: Delicious Shrimp in Minutes

Are you looking for some time saving ways to prepare shrimp? Our quick shrimp recipes will help you whip up a delicious meal.

We will suggest some cooking methods, provide you with handy tips, and offer a selection of flavorsome recipes for you to choose from.

Quick Methods to Cook Shrimp

Shrimp rarely takes very long to cook, but the cooking time of each technique can vary. Here we share the pros and cons of each method.

Pan-sear

A pan on medium-high to high heat will rapidly cook the shrimp. The entire cooking process will take around 6-7 minutes. The shrimp will come out tender, packed with flavors absorbed from other ingredients in the pan.

Roast

Roasting will give you tender and flavorful shrimp. Simply toss the shrimp with the seasoning of your choosing, and roast in the oven for 7-9 minutes. The evenly-distributed heat in the oven will ensure that the shrimp is cooked through..

Boil

This is arguably the simplest method. Prepare a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Add the shrimp and let it cook for 5-8 minutes. You get to enjoy the natural flavors of shrimp with minimal effort. To add a tangy touch to the dish, squeeze a few drops of lemon on the shrimp.

Broil

You need a broiler for this method, or, if you’re using an oven, place the shrimp on the top rack. The shrimp only need 2-3 minutes per side to be cooked through. This gives you ample time to season the shrimp before placing them in the oven.

You must check the internal temperature of shrimp after cooking. The USDA recommends that shrimp is safe to eat at 145°F.

Best Quick Shrimp Recipes

Check out our quick shrimp recipes to whip up a variety of delectable cuisine in minutes.

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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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Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe

There’s something so irresistible about garlic and butter together and how they interact with honey. Your palate will appreciate the sweet and nutty dynamic. And taking up only 17 minutes of your time, you’ll find it hard to fault this dish.

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Shrimp Tikka Masala Recipe

Infusing shrimp with Indian flavors is one of the best ways to complement its fleshy texture. Amazing how a garam masala, heavy cream, and tomato sauce base adds deep flavor in less than 30 minutes.

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Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe

This recipe champions shrimp with a luscious honey-walnut glaze. A magnificent mix of juicy and crispy textures and sweet, nutty aromas best complemented with a bowl of cooked rice.

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Shrimp Curry Recipe

Your favorite Indian aromas will never get old with this complex, spicy stew. A dish of rich and earthy tastes, it naturally pairs best with a bowl of hot rice.

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Air Fryer Shrimp with Mayo Sauce Recipe

This recipe makes for a delicious meal with just the right amounts of crisp and creamy. An aromatic marinade, some mayo, and ketchup sauce complete it with appreciated tangy flavors.

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Shrimp Marinara Recipe

With this deep red Marinara sauce, you can pull off a hearty meal in just 20 minutes. It’s the perfect pasta finish.

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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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A close-up shot of red shrimp sauteed with green beans and sprinkled with white sesame seeds

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Hunan Shrimp Recipe

We sought to keep this recipe as close to the original as possible. Slight changes like replacing regular soy sauce with a low-sodium version ensure you’ll get a healthy and authentic Hunanese dish with no compromise on flavor!

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Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi Recipe

This one-pot meal is only 25 minutes away. Add the spaghetti, garlic seasoning, and shrimp one after another into the instant pot and leave it to do the rest.

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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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Popcorn Shrimp Recipe

Crispy, tasty, and made in 25 minutes with a few pantry ingredients, this treat is as party-friendly as it gets. And regardless of your level of cooking skills, we can guarantee you’ll nail this recipe.

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Shrimp Piccata Recipe

Piccata centers around a creamy butter, lemon juice, and capers sauce, giving the shrimp a tremendous flavor boost. There’s nothing like a zesty dressing to complement pasta.

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Stir-fried Shrimp and Egg Recipe

This protein-powered main course warrants a meal of eggs stir-fried to perfection and seasoned with scallions. The best part? Anyone can crack it!

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Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe

A dish that looks this fascinating will adorn your table time and time again. Perfectly so because it’s crispy, nutty, utterly delicious, and ready in under 30 minutes; it’s everything you want in a go-to side dish!

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Grilled Shrimp Salad Recipe

This dish is a bowl full of surprises. It features beets, cucumbers, oranges, and honey for a burst of sweet essence. Bonus: you can convert it into a full dinner if you double the serving!

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Shrimp Egg Foo Young Recipe

Make this Shrimp Egg Foo Young when you’re short on time but want big flavors. It doesn’t stray far from the original. Only, with umami-seasoned shrimp thrown in the mix, the dish has much more to offer!

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Shrimp Fajitas Recipe

Fajitas are one of those cozy, hold-in-your-hand meals you always want to eat. You won’t get tired of them with this cumin-seasoned crustacean version with Greek yogurt to tie the flavors together.

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Japanese Teriyaki Shrimp Recipe

The key to busy weeknights is often choosing the right recipe. Our Teriyaki Shrimp special will help you tackle a hectic schedule with a 20-minute cooking time, while the deep umami final tastes exhibit no sacrifice on flavors.

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Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Recipe

This dish will be great the first time you make it and even better the second time. It’s simple enough to master, with smoky sausage and plump shrimp that come together in 20 minutes.

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Shrimp Lo Mein Recipe

With dishes like this one, who needs to order Chinese? Especially if you can simmer those brown sugar and sesame flavors down to authentic Chinese aromas from the comfort of your kitchen!

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Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe

This crustacean twist on mac and cheese is ideal for raising the bar at any dining table. It’s semi-sophisticated, creamy, and comfort food you can serve for guests. Or, gorge on it alone—no one’s judging.

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Pineapple Shrimp Recipe

Fresh pineapples make this a game-changer. Add brown sugar-caramelized shrimp, and you’ll get a semi-sweet finish that’s savory and refreshing. A not-so-typical meal you’ll love!

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Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe

Our spin on this recipe saves you both the calories and precious time. A hearty rice wine vinegar sauce transforms broccoli into a vibrant veggie you’ll enjoy thoroughly. The result is a dish of sweet, savory, and nutty aromas best enjoyed with cooked rice.

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Instant Pot Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Long having held a place at the dinner table, this Instant Pot Shrimp reimagines classic garlic and butter flavors for a family-friendly version. The dish takes 25 minutes to prepare but rewards tenfolds in taste.

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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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Shrimp Newburg Recipe

Our Newburg recipe centers around a rich, elegant sauce made with milk, butter, paprika, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. After that, give it just five minutes to simmer and thicken up. The result is a fragrant dish best enjoyed with cooked rice.

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A dish full of cooked shrimp, green beans, and carrot strips, surrounded by a soup bowl, a rice bowl, a soy sauce bowl, a watermelon drink, and split cashews

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Cashew Shrimp Recipe

The best part about a dish like this is how it combines crunchy textures with a meaty substance. You’ll love every single bite! Serve it with rice for a meal that’ll draw compliments from each guest.

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Sesame Shrimp Recipe

This recipe features crispy atop crispy components; broccoli, snow peas, and a sprinkle of crunchy toasted sesame seeds. If it isn’t enough that the dish is a texture haven, it’s topped with a honey-sriracha sauce that takes it way above average.

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Chili Lime Shrimp Recipe

Two dynamic flavors go head to head in this chili and lime recipe to create a knockout dish. Add a bit of Cajun seasoning and paprika to complete a robust flavor profile. Whenever you have 15 minutes to spare, you can whip this recipe out!

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Shrimp Mozambique Recipe

Don’t let fear of the unfamiliar intimidate you out of taking a shot at this classic. Such a dish requires only one attempt to nail it. It’s a simple saffron-infused wine, tomato, and garlic stew teeming with floral essence and chock-full of delicious flavors.

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Shrimp Tacos Recipe

Tacos made from scratch are delicious. These are simple, with no over-the-top ingredients. Rustics like cabbage, avocado, onion, and cheese create the bulk of each taco, yet they taste like a fortune.

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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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Cajun Shrimp and Rice Recipe

You’ll enjoy this Cajun-seasoned relish if you love Louisiana flavors. We added bell pepper and onion chunks to complete flavorful, hefty portions and create a wonder of a meal.

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Shrimp Remoulade Recipe

The boiled and the beautiful. Our remoulade is mayonnaise taken up a notch with cayenne and mustard seasonings. Add the sauce to bland, boiled shrimp, and you get this delectable dish. Now you’re onto a foolproof Louisiana secret!

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Orange Shrimp Recipe

This gorgeous dish is visually appealing and flavorful. It pops with colors that’ll make a rainbow jealous, and the quenching citrus is refreshing. An overall sweet and savory dish for the books.

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Marinated Grilled Shrimp Recipe

As evident, a short and quick marinade can work wonders. Paprika, sriracha, and cayenne carry the heat in this dish, leaving lime juice to mellow its flavors. By the end of the cook, the shrimp is infused with intense aromas that no one will guess it’s a 20-minute meal!

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Garlic Shrimp Recipe

What can you learn from a dish like this? That simplicity is indeed the ultimate sophistication. You’ll be amazed at how 20 minutes and a garlic butter sear can produce a splendid and restaurant-worthy meal.

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Shrimp Louie Recipe

Few dishes walk the talk like Shrimp Louie. It has seafood’s fresh, oceanic essence paired excellently with avocado’s creamy texture so that you can eat it as is and love it! But even served with toasted buns, as we’d recommend, you couldn’t fault it if you tried.

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Tuscan Shrimp Recipe

Traditional Italian flavors never get old in this Tuscany special. Olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes create the base for a savory meal with spaghetti.

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Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe

This dish gives you a bit of everything — crunch, substance, and refreshment in one bite. It consists of a light shrimp, cucumber, and celery mix with a small dose of carbs. Isn’t it the perfect side treat?

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Shrimp Fra Diavolo Recipe

This Fra Diavolo, which translates to “Brother Devil,” depicts the fiery red sauce in this recipe. For subtle heat, a garlic, tomato, and paprika relish with a touch of red pepper.

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Shrimp Primavera Recipe

Looking for a spring dish? Primavera is your best bet. With crunchy asparagus and green peas in season, this dish will carry fresh, succulent flavors that are hard to replicate at any other time of the year.

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Shrimp Toast Recipe

This toast comes to mind when we talk of innovative dishes. Sliced bread is coated with a smooth paste and deep-fried until golden and crispy. Sprinkle with sesame seeds for an extra crunch!

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A plated colorful saute of Moo Shu Shrimp, carrot, peppers, and cabages

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Moo Shu Shrimp Recipe

You’ve had Moo Shu pork; now it’s time to try Moo Shu shrimp! This recipe incorporates eggs and stir-fried veggies for a lightning-quick, fulfilling meal. And you’ll love how easy it is to prepare!

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Shrimp Parmesan Recipe

While there are several ways to beautify shrimp, a breadcrumb and parmesan topping is a popular favorite. And for a good reason. You won’t rack up these irresistible flavors anywhere else in 25 minutes!

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Shrimp Burrito Recipe

Here’s a burrito your family will request repeatedly. Straight from the stovetop, the filling is stuffed and rolled between tortillas, along with lettuce and avocados for a filling meal that comes together in minutes.

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Pickled Shrimp Recipe

This pickle and brine concoction is the perfect burger or steak topper if you want to kindle your meal. It gives a vinegary taste that simultaneously imparts a sweet tinge to nudge your taste buds.

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Shrimp Chow Fun Recipe

This is a Chow Fun recipe we can get behind. It’s no fuss and no shortage of flavor! Plus, anything that takes 20 minutes to prepare and tastes this good should be on your menu immediately.

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Shrimp Cocktail with Red Sauce Recipe

Do appetizers right with this savory cocktail. Its combination of ketchup, sriracha, Tabasco, and lime juice puts other sauces to shame and lends the lifeless shrimp succulent flavors.

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Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe

The heart of this recipe lies in tossing shrimp in a buttery, herb-infused sauce for a glossy finish. Meanwhile, the al dente pasta is the perfect vehicle to help soak up these flavors.

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Lemon Garlic Shrimp Recipe

If you’ve never tried lemon and garlic flavors together, this is your time to do so! In five simple steps, you can create a seasoned dish that tastes like it’s been cooked in a fine restaurant. Sprinkle fresh coriander and serve with rice.

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Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

This cheese-stuffed tortilla includes bell peppers for a pop of color and an added crunch. Typically served as a snack, this dish's popularity lies in its being easy to prepare and inexpensive.

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Kung Pao Shrimp Recipe

Take your meals to serious new heights by adding this recipe to your menu. You can count on hoisin, soy sauce, and brown sugar to pack a punch of flavors into the shrimp in just 20 minutes! Now that’s how you serve a truly flavorful meal.

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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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Shrimp Cakes Recipe

In this 25-minute masterpiece, chewy, chunky patties are cooked until crispy outside and then topped with a ketchup-mayo sauce. A winning side you can serve at your next brunch!

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Tips to Cook Shrimp Quickly

Cooking the shrimp is one thing, preparing it quite another. Most of the time is spent on cleaning the shrimp and other ingredients instead of the actual cooking process. Follow our tips to speed up the preparation process.

Prepare ingredients ahead of time

Making other ingredients alongside shrimp can take a lot of time. We recommend using ingredients that require minimal preparation. For example, a salad is a quick meal option since you don’t need to cook the vegetables. Cleaning and chopping them is easy and doesn’t take up too much time.

Season the shrimp

Marinating shrimp beforehand and taking it out of the marinade to cook after some time may seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Shrimp cannot be marinated for too long because of its delicate flesh. More specifically, certain seasonings can cook the shrimp if you let it marinate for too long.

If you season it with acidic components like lemon juice or vinegar, you can leave the shrimp in the marinade for up to 30 minutes. For other ingredients, the maximum time is 2 hours.

For frozen shrimp: defrost

You can skip through the entire preparation process by buying frozen shrimp. Defrosting shrimp takes a bit of time, but it’s way easier than cleaning them.

You need a bowl of cold water to swiftly defrost the shrimp. Put the shrimp in a ziplock bag and submerge the entire bag in water. This will defrost the shrimp in 20-30 minutes.

Placing the shrimp directly into the water will shorten the time to about 10-15 minutes.

For raw shrimp: peel, devein shrimp

Peeling and deveining shrimp is an acquired skill, so it will take quite some time to learn if you’re not aware of the technique.

First, pull off the head and trim the legs.
Next, remove the shell. Start at the head and gradually pull off the outer shell. You can choose to leave the shell and tail tip on. Don’t throw the shells away because they can be used to make delicious seafood stock.
Cut along the back of the shrimp, about 1/4 inch deep, to find the vein.
Remove the vein using the tip of your knife or a toothpick.
Place the shrimp in a bowl of cold water, until you’re ready to cook.

What Happens if You Don’t Devein Shrimp?

Deveining shrimp is rather tedious if you are not used to the process. However, this is an important step in preparing shrimp.

The vein is the shrimp’s digestive tract. It’s filled with sand and grit, hence the dark color. We advise you to remove it because it contains bacteria.

However, you can also eat shrimp without deveining it. Multiple dishes cook shrimp with the shells on, making them difficult to devein.