15 Delicious Ways to Use Up Leftover Cooked Shrimp

If you frequently find yourself with leftover cooked shrimp after a meal or party, you’re not alone! Shrimp is one of those foods that seems to disappear quickly, but every so often you end up with extras.

Rather than tossing those leftover crustaceans in the trash get creative with them! There are so many tasty ways to transform leftover shrimp into brand new dishes.

As a busy mom who loves throwing dinner parties and barbecues, I’m always looking for ways to repurpose leftovers Over the years, I’ve come up with some genius recipes for using up extra shrimp. Keep reading for 15 of my favorite ideas!

Why You Shouldn’t Waste Leftover Shrimp

Before we get into the recipes, let’s talk about why it’s worth the effort to reuse shrimp.

First, shrimp can be pricey, so throwing leftovers away feels wasteful. If I’m splurging on sustainably-sourced wild shrimp for a special occasion, you bet I’m going to wring every last bite out of them!

Second, cooked shrimp has a relatively short shelf life of just 3-4 days. If you don’t eat them quickly, they’ll spoil. The best way to preserve leftover shrimp is to transform them into a new dish.

Finally, shrimp freezes poorly. The texture just isn’t the same after freezing and thawing. So freezing isn’t a great option for leftovers.

The bottom line: use it or lose it! Now let’s talk about how to deliciously use up leftover shrimp.

Salad Toppers and Fillings

Tossing cooked shrimp on top of a fresh salad or stuffing it into a wrap or sandwich is one of the easiest ways to reuse it. The possibilities here are endless!

• Shrimp Caesar salad: Chilled shrimp, crunchy romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and a creamy Caesar dressing are a match made in heaven.

• Shrimp Cobb salad: Top a salad of lettuce, chicken, bacon, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese with leftover shrimp for a protein powerhouse.

• Shrimp salad sandwiches: Mix chopped shrimp with mayo, celery, onion, lemon juice, and your favorite seasonings and pile it onto bread or lettuce wraps.

• Shrimp tacos: Warm tortillas stuffed with shrimp, pico de gallo, avocado, Cotija cheese, and a spicy crema will become your new go-to.

• Shrimp spring rolls: Wrap shrimp, fresh herbs, vermicelli noodles, and cucumber in rice paper for a light, refreshing bite.

Pasta Dishes

Pasta and shrimp are a match made in culinary heaven. Take cooked pasta, mix in extra shrimp, and you’ve got an easy, impressive meal.

• Shrimp scampi: Sauté garlic, lemon, white wine, and red pepper flakes in olive oil, then toss with pasta and shrimp. Sprinkle with parsley.

• Shrimp Alfredo: Toss fettuccine with an easy homemade Alfredo sauce, then mix in extra shrimp and broccoli. Divine!

• Shrimp pad Thai: Stir fry rice noodles with shrimp, eggs, peanuts, and a sweet and tangy tamarind sauce.

• Shrimp carbonara: Sauté shrimp with bacon and toss with spaghetti, eggs, Parmesan, and black pepper for a decadent pasta dish.

• Shrimp primavera: A medley of spring veggies, pasta, shrimp, and a light cream sauce makes for a fresh, flavorful meal.

Soups and Chowders

Warm up with a hearty bowl of soup starring leftover shrimp. Seafood and soup just go hand in hand.

• Shrimp bisque: Purée shrimp shells into a silky, rich broth, then add cream and extra shrimp. Garnish with fresh parsley.

• Shrimp gumbo: The Holy Trinity of onions, celery, and bell peppers, spicy andouille sausage, okra, shrimp, and dark roux make this Cajun soup special.

• Shrimp and corn chowder: Cut corn off the cob and simmer in a velvety base along with potatoes, shrimp, bacon, and spices.

• Shrimp ramen: Transform leftover shrimp and veggies into a flavorful noodle soup by simmering them in broth with ramen noodles, mushrooms, and soy sauce.

• Tom Yum Goong: Spicy, sour, and utterly addictive, this Thai shrimp soup gets its signature flavors from lemongrass, lime juice, chilies, and fish sauce.

Easy Appetizers

Having people over? Whip up a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer using that leftover shrimp.

• Shrimp cocktail: Chilled, cooked shrimp with a side of cocktail sauce for dipping makes for an elegant starter. Fancy yet easy!

• Shrimp skewers: Thread shrimp onto skewers alternated with cherry tomatoes, pineapple, or veggies. Brush with a sweet chili glaze.

• Garlic shrimp flatbread: Sauté garlic shrimp in butter and herbs, then pile them on top of toasted flatbread with melty mozzarella.

• Bang bang shrimp cups: Toss shrimp in a spicy mayo sauce and stuff them into mini phyllo cups for a fun finger food.

• Shrimp salsa: Dice mango, avocado, red onion, cilantro, and shrimp. Mix together with lime juice for a fresh pico de gallo-style dip.

Hearty Mains and Casseroles

For a hearty family dinner, you can’t go wrong with shrimp mixed into a flavorful casserole, stew, or stir fry.

• Shrimp fried rice: Toss chilled shrimp with leftover rice, eggs, peas, carrots, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.

• Shrimp étouffée: Simmer shrimp in a flavorful sauce with the Cajun trinity, tomato, and seasonings over steamed rice.

• Shrimp jambalaya: This Creole rice dish packs a punch with spicy sausage, shrimp, tomatoes, celery, onion, and zesty Cajun seasoning.

• Shrimp pot pie: Make a creamy sauce from broth, milk, and flour. Add shrimp, carrots, peas, and potatoes. Top with flaky pie dough.

• Shrimp enchiladas: Stuff tortillas with cheesy shrimp, roll up, cover with sauce, and bake until bubbly for a crowd-pleasing casserole.

Global Flavors

Leftover shrimp is the perfect protein to liven up your favorite global recipes from enchiladas to stir fry.

• Coconut shrimp curry: Simmer shrimp in an aromatic Thai red curry sauce featuring coconut milk, red curry paste, and lime juice served over rice.

• Shrimp fajitas: Sizzle shrimp with onion, bell pepper, spices, and lime juice. Wrap it all up in a warm flour tortilla with toppings like guac, pico, and sour cream.

• Shrimp tacos: Warm corn tortillas topped with spicy shrimp, crunchy cabbage, avocado, and a creamy cilantro sauce are pure magic.

• Tom Yum soup: This popular Thai soup features an addicting balance of spicy, sour, salty, and sweet flavors from shrimp, lemongrass, chilies, lime, and fish sauce.

• Shrimp stir fry: Toss shrimp with veggies like broccoli, carrots, peppers, and soy sauce for a quick and easy Asian-inspired dinner.

Shrimp for Breakfast

Don’t forget about breakfast! Shrimp isn’t just for dinner. Wake up to protein-packed shrimp in the AM.

• Shrimp omelet: Sauté shrimp with onion, tomatoes, spinach, and cheese, then fold into fluffy eggs for an omelet the whole family will love.

• Shrimp hash: Pan fry shrimp, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and spices for a hearty Southern breakfast hash. Top with eggs.

• Shrimp breakfast burrito: Scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes, salsa, avocado, and shrimp wrapped up in a warm tortilla is pure breakfast bliss.

• Shrimp and grits: Cheesy grits topped with spicy shrimp, bacon, green onion, and tomato elevates this Southern classic.

• Shrimp toast: Spread Sriracha mayo onto toast. Top with a sauté of shrimp, garlic, ginger, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and peppers.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, leftover cooked shrimp can be repurposed in so many creative ways! From salads to pasta, soup to burritos, the possibilities are nearly endless.