This recipe for breaded Baked Shrimp has just the right amount of heat, seasonings, and crunch on the outside, making for a tasty shrimp dish with a kick.
For a full and tasty meal, serve this baked shrimp with Easy Rice Pilaf and Light Creamy Cucumber Salad.
I love how this Baked Shrimp recipe tastes and how crunchy the outside is. Plus, it only takes about 30 minutes to make and serve.
As much as I love Garlic Butter Shrimp, we all know that sometimes we just want a crispy breaded shrimp. Am I right? My mouth starts to water just thinking about it.
Breaded shrimp is a classic appetizer or main dish that is crispy flavorful and delicious. While frying may seem like the default cooking method, baking breaded shrimp in the oven can yield fantastic results without the added calories from frying. When baking breaded shrimp, the oven temperature and cook time are key factors that determine whether you end up with undercooked rubbery shrimp or perfectly cooked, tender and juicy shrimp encased in a crispy, golden breading.
In this article, we’ll provide a complete guide to baking breaded shrimp at 375°F including ideal cook times based on shrimp size tips for monitoring doneness, and techniques for achieving the perfect oven-baked breaded shrimp every time.
The Benefits of Baking vs Frying Breaded Shrimp
Frying breaded shrimp delivers an undeniably crispy texture, but it also adds a lot of excess oil and calories. Baking offers a healthier cooking method while still producing delicious, crunchy breaded shrimp. Here are some of the biggest advantages of baking over frying:
- Uses little to no oil, lowering calories and fat
- Allows you to use healthier breadcrumbs as opposed to heavy batter
- Provides even cooking with no chance of burning
- Doesn’t heat up the kitchen as much as frying
- Easy to make large batches for entertaining
The key is to use a hot enough oven temperature and pay close attention to cook times. Follow the tips below and you can enjoy all the crunchy, flavorful goodness of breaded shrimp without the deep fryer.
How Long to Bake Breaded Shrimp at 375°F
When baking breaded shrimp at 375°F, the optimal cook time can range from 10-18 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp:
- Small shrimp: 10-12 minutes
- Medium shrimp: 12-15 minutes
- Large shrimp: 15-18 minutes
Shrimp cooks very quickly, so going over the recommended bake times can lead to overcooked, rubbery shrimp. It’s better to slightly undercook and then return to the oven for a minute or two if needed.
Always use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should reach 140-145°F when done. Continue monitoring closely and remove shrimp immediately once they hit the target temp.
Prep Steps for Baked Breaded Shrimp
Proper prep is key to achieving the right balance of crispy breading and tender shrimp when baking. Follow these steps:
- Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge if using frozen
- Pat dry shrimp with paper towels
- Set up breading station – flour, egg wash, breadcrumbs
- Bread shrimp evenly, pressing to help coating adhere
- Arrange in single layer on oiled baking sheet
- Bake at 375°F, following size guidelines for time
- Check often, removing immediately at 140°F
Making homemade breadcrumbs and letting them brown slightly before breading the shrimp can help them crisp up better in the oven.
How to Tell When Breaded Shrimp is Done
It can be tricky to identify when breaded shrimp reaches the ideal level of doneness as it bakes. Here are a few signs to look for:
- Golden brown exterior breading
- Firm texture when breading is pressed
- Meat thermometer reads 140-145°F
- Shrimp flesh is opaque throughout when cut into
- Flakes apart easily when poked with a fork
The breading may brown before the shrimp is fully cooked, so always rely on temperature and checking the inner shrimp as well. Immediately remove shrimp once the target temperature is reached.
Tips for Perfect Oven-Baked Breaded Shrimp
Follow these handy tips for baking breaded shrimp at 375°F to achieve the perfect texture and flavor:
- Use fresh or thoroughly thawed shrimp to ensure even cooking
- Form an even, thin coating of breadcrumbs so they bake up crispy
- Don’t overcrowd the pan which can cause soggy breading
- Rotate the pan halfway through for even browning
- Let rest 5 minutes after baking so coating crisps up further
- Serve with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, or other fun dipping sauces
With the right prep and cook time, baking breaded shrimp at 375°F results in tender, juicy shrimp encased in a crispy golden coating. Monitor temperature carefully and adjust cook times as needed based on size. In no time, you’ll be serving up restaurant-quality breaded shrimp straight from your own oven.
Frequently Asked Questions about Baking Breaded Shrimp
What temperature should I bake breaded shrimp at?
375°F is the ideal temperature for baking breaded shrimp. It allows the breading to crisp up properly without overcooking the shrimp.
Can I bake frozen breaded shrimp?
Yes, frozen breaded shrimp can be baked straight from the freezer. Add a couple extra minutes to the cook time. Defrost first for more even cooking.
How can I tell when the shrimp are done baking?
Check for an internal temperature of 140-145°F with a meat thermometer. The breading should be golden brown and the shrimp opaque.
Should I flip the shrimp halfway through baking?
Flipping isn’t necessary. Shrimp cooks fast, so opening the oven repeatedly can lead to overcooking.
What’s the best way to bread shrimp for baking?
Use flour, egg wash, then homemade or panko breadcrumbs. Press the crumbs on firmly so they adhere. Make an even, thin layer.
Baking breaded shrimp in the oven at 375°F is a healthy and delicious cooking method that rivals deep frying. Follow the guidelines provided for cook times based on shrimp size, and rely on a thermometer for doneness. In no time, you’ll be serving up perfection golden brown, crunchy baked breaded shrimp to rave reviews.
How to Make Shrimp
Total time: 20 minutes
Just a handful of steps and you will have delicious Baked Shrimp. First, prepare the oven and baking sheet for baking. Next, melt butter over the stove top and cook garlic, hot sauce, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Then, in a bowl toss shrimp with spices and some of the butter mixture. Then coat the shrimp with breadcrumbs, vegetable oil spray, and bake. Lastly, serve Baked Shrimp with the remaining warmed butter mixture with parsley and lemon wedges. Enjoy!.
Step one: Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheet
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Meanwhile, coat a baking sheet with vegetable oil.
Step two: Heat Butter, Lemon Juice, Hot Sauce, and Seasonings.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until it smells good.
- Stir in lemon juice, hot sauce, and salt and pepper.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
Step three: Season Shrimp with Spices and Butter Mixture.
Put the mustard, shrimp, ¼ tsp of salt, ⅛ tsp of pepper, and 2 TBS of the butter mixture in a large bowl. Toss to combine.
Step four: Coat Shrimp with Breadcrumbs.
Put the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Dip one side of each shrimp at a time into the breadcrumbs, pressing down on them to help the breadcrumbs stick.
Step five: Bake Shrimp.
Place the shrimp breaded side up on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart. Then spray shrimp with vegetable oil spray and bake until just cooked through, about 8-9 minutes. Note: Breadcrumbs should be golden and crisp.
Step Six: Serve Shrimp with Warmed Butter Mixture with Parsley and Lemon Wedges.
If needed, rewarm butter mixture in the microwave and then stir in parsley. Serve shrimp with butter mixture and lemon wedges.
Making this recipe is Eazy Peazy…
- Most hot sauces are pretty much the same, but Frank’s Hot Sauce is the best. Since most hot sauces are just red peppers, vinegar, and salt, it seems like any would do. I usually tell people to use whatever they have on hand, but when I tested this recipe, it was clear that Frank’s Hot Sauce worked better. It really steps it up with heat that you can taste and flavor notes that are bright and tangy. Trust me on this one.
- Make sure that there are enough breadcrumbs on the shrimp. If there aren’t enough breadcrumbs on the shrimp, they won’t get crispy in the oven. And you want the shrimp to be really crispy and tasty, so coat them well.
- Plan the sides around when the shrimp are done; fresh seafood tastes the best. Making and cooking Baked Shrimp does not take long. Be aware of time when planning other sides. Make sure the sides are done before the shrimp. This could mean starting the sides before making the Baked Shrimp. I recommend sides that cook quickly or don’t need to be cooked at all, like roasted asparagus or corn salad.
- To help make sure the shrimp cooks evenly, make sure they are all the same size. Cook similar sized shrimp together.
- As you cook the shrimp, make sure the bottom coating is golden brown. Follow the cooking time instructions, but make sure the shrimp are slightly white and the coating is golden brown.
What You Need to Make Oven Baked Shrimp
Let’s satisfy that craving of delicious breaded Baked Shrimp and get those ever so important ingredients!
- Vegetable Oil Spray
- Unsalted Butter
- Garlic Cloves, minced
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Hot Pepper Sauce
- Salt and Pepper
- Extra Large Shrimp
- Paprika
- Cayenne Pepper
- Dijon Mustard
- Breadcrumbs
- Chopped Fresh Parsley
- Lemon Wedges