The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (2024)

Jump To Recipe

35 Comments »

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

The easiest way tocook shrimp — pop it in the oven! This delicious baked shrimp recipe is always a winner, it only takes 10 minutes total, and it’s easy to customize with whatever seasonings you love.

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (1)

Alright, after talking last week about how to bakechicken, pork and steak in the oven, we’re moving on in our series this week to the world of baked seafood and tofu. Beginning today with what is quite possibly the easiest recipe in the world…

…baked shrimp.

A few weeks ago on Instagram, I shared a quick tutorial in my storiesabouthow to cook shrimp in the oven. Andtons of you reported back that you gave it a try for yourselves and couldn’t believe howquick and easy it was. Which isprecisely why I’m such a big fan of this method!

Baking (or technically, broiling) shrimp is by far the easiest and quickest and most reliable way I know to cook shrimp. An entire batch can be ready to go in less than 10 minutes from start to finish. The shrimpare always perfectlycooked, with a bit of crisp on the outside, yet still nice and tender inside. You can use this method to make a small or huge batch of shrimp. And — as has been the case with all of the proteins in this series — this method is totally versatile when it comes to flavor,so you can canadd in whatever seasonings or marinades you prefer.

Trust me. If you love shrimp, you’ve gotta give this one a try.

HOW TO COOK SHRIMP IN THE OVEN | 1-MINUTE VIDEO

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (2)

Baked Shrimp Ingredients:

To make thisbakedshrimp recipe, you will need:

  • Raw shrimp:Ideally large or extra-large shrimp, de-veined and peeled (tails on or off). If you have purchased frozen shrimp, be sure to thaw it completely before cooking.
  • Oil:Whatever your preferred high-heat cooking oil may be. I like to use avocado oil for this recipe.
  • Seasonings:I usually just use a generoussprinkle of Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper. But feel free to add in whatever other dry seasonings you prefer.

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (3)

How To Cook Shrimp In The Oven:

To bake shrimp in the oven, simply:

  1. Pat the shrimp dry. Blot with some paper towels to remove any excess moisture, especially if your shrimp were frozen and have just been thawed.
  2. Toss with oil. Toss with oil until the shrimp are evenly coated, either in a mixing bowl or just directly on the baking sheet.
  3. Arrange on the baking sheet. It’s essential that the shrimp are in an even layer (no overlapping) for even cooking.
  4. Season. I typically justsprinkle my shrimp withKosher salt and lots of freshly-cracked black pepper (plus maybe a bit of garlic powder). But feel free to add any other dry seasonings that you might prefer.
  5. Broil.Then, just pop the baking sheet into the oven and broil for 2 minutes, or until the shrimp are a bright reddish-pink. Keep a really close eye on the shrimp to be sure that they do not over- or under-cook. Also, no need to flip the shrimphalfway through, since they cook so quickly. Plus, the bottom of the pan gets nice and hot too, so the underside of the shrimp willalsobe nicely cooked.
  6. Serve. As soon as the shrimp are ready to go, remove the baking sheet from the oven, transfer the shrimp to a serving dish right away (or incorporate into whatever shrimp recipe you may be making), and serve warm. Voila!

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (4)

Shrimp Seasonings:

Again, I typically just use lots of salt and pepper (plus maybe a good sprinkle of garlic powder), as mentioned in the baked shrimp recipe below. But if you’d like to mix things up, feel free tosprinkle on any of your favorite dry seasoning mixes, such as:

  • Italian Seasoning
  • Cajun Seasoning
  • Za’atar Seasoning
  • Taco Seasoning
  • CurryPowder
  • Caribbean Jerk Seasoning

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (5)

Side Dish Ideas:

Looking for some side dishes to serve with thisshrimp recipe? Here are a few of my faves:

  • Everyday SaladorOur Family’s Favorite Salad
  • Scalloped PotatoesorThe Best Baked PotatoesorBaked Sweet Potato Fries
  • Perfect Roasted Brussels SproutsorRoasted Asparagus
  • Berry Fruit SaladorWinter Fruit Salad

More Baked Protein Tutorials:

Be sure to check out our other baked protein tutorials here on the blog too!

  • Baked Chicken Breasts
  • Baked Pork Chops
  • Baked Salmon
  • Baked Tofu
  • Baked Steak (How To Cook Steak In The Oven)

Enjoy, everyone!

Print

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (6)

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (Baked Shrimp)

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 17 reviews

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 4 -6 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

The easiest way tocook shrimp — pop it in the oven! This delicious baked shrimp recipe is always a winner, it only takes 10 minutes total, and it’s easy to customize with whatever seasonings you love.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined(tails on or off)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil(or yourpreferred high-heat oil)
  • Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the broiler on your oven. Arrange the baking rack about 5 inches away from the top heating element.
  2. Place shrimp in a large mixing bowl, and pat dry with paper towels.Add oil and toss until the shrimp are evenly coated.
  3. Transfer the shrimp to a large baking sheet, and arrange in an even layer. (Be sure that the shrimp do not overlap.) Season generously with salt and pepper, and any other desired seasonings.
  4. Broil for 2 minutes, or until the shrimp are bright reddish-pink and opaque. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving dish.
  5. Serve warm. Or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (7)

posted on September 17, 2018 by Ali

Gluten-free, Main Dishes

35 Comments »

The Easiest Way To Cook Shrimp! (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest way to cook a lot of shrimp? ›

Season your shrimp to your liking, lay them out in a single layer on a big pan, and cook under the broiler for 3–5 minutes. Pair with a carb and/or a veg, and dinner is served. You can broil shell-on shrimp, peeled shrimp, big shrimp, little shrimp, any kind of shrimp.

How to cook shrimp for beginners? ›

Heat the oven to 450°F. On a half sheet pan, toss the shrimp, salt, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Let sit for 10 minutes. Roast for 7 to 9 minutes, until pink and just cooked through.

What is the secret to juicy shrimp? ›

Soak shrimp in brine

Soak quickly in brine to keep lean seafood moist as it cooks and season it throughout.

How do you make shrimp soft and not chewy? ›

"But by using the cold water-start method, you can restrict that upper bound." The sweet spot for perfectly cooked edge-to-edge tender shrimp, just stop heating your water once it hits 170°F (77°C). It's that simple (and at roughly seven minutes, still pretty darn quick).

What not to do when cooking shrimp? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Shrimp
  1. Mistake #1: Buying the Wrong Shrimp.
  2. Mistake #2: Improper Thawing.
  3. Mistake #3: Overcooking the Shrimp.
  4. Mistake #4: Not Deveining.
  5. Mistake #5: Throwing Away the Shells.
Jul 1, 2020

What do you soak shrimp in before cooking? ›

Mix ¼ cup kosher salt with ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 cup boiling water and 2 cups of ice. Add shrimp into a bowl of brine and let sit for 20-30 minutes for peeled shrimp and 40-60 minutes for your unpeeled shrimp. Rinse well with cold water and pat dry afterward. That's all there is to it!

Do you cook shrimp with oil or water? ›

large peeled deveined shrimp with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to the pan, then arrange shrimp in a single layer on the bottom of the skillet. Cook without moving for 2 minutes for medium shrimp, 3 minutes for large shrimp, or 4 minutes for jumbo shrimp.

What makes shrimp taste better? ›

You can add citrus juice to a marinade or brine to flavor the shrimp before cooking (just be careful not to leave the shrimp in too long, unless you're making ceviche), or you can squeeze the juice on top once the shrimp has been prepared and plated. The zest can also be used to add flavor and aroma.

Why do you soak shrimp in milk before frying? ›

Should I Soak My Shrimp? This one comes down to the chef's preference. Some prefer to soak seafood in milk before cooking to keep it from tasting too fishy. If you choose to soak your shrimp, you should do so with whole milk for at least 10 minutes.

Why add baking soda to shrimp before cooking? ›

When we make shrimp co*cktail, shrimp skewers, shrimp scampi, or shrimp wontons, we've found that a quick brine of salt and baking soda works wonders. The salt helps keep the shrimp moist and juicy as they cook, while baking soda gives them a crisper, snappier texture.

How to cook large raw shrimp? ›

large peeled deveined shrimp with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to the pan, then arrange shrimp in a single layer on the bottom of the skillet. Cook without moving for 2 minutes for medium shrimp, 3 minutes for large shrimp, or 4 minutes for jumbo shrimp.

How to steam a lot of shrimp? ›

Fill the pot with about 1 inch of water, making sure there are at least two inches between the bottom of the basket and the waterline. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the shrimp. Steam the shrimp, covered, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through.

Is it better to cook or boil shrimp? ›

But here's why you might want to steam your shrimp. With boiling, there's a little more room for user error and you can end up with overcooked shrimp. Boiling shrimp can sometimes cook them a little too aggressively and make it difficult to remove your crustaceans from the pot in time.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6211

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.