As a seafood lover I often find myself with leftovers when I cook up a batch of shrimp. While having cooked shrimp on hand is convenient it can be challenging to come up with fun new ways to use them up before they go bad.
After one too many sad salads, I decided it was time to get creative with my shrimp so I didn’t get bored. Through trial and error, I discovered endless possibilities for transforming a simple bag of cooked shrimp into all kinds of delicious dishes.
In this article I’ll share my 15 favorite tips for using up a bag of already cooked shrimp. With a mix of classic and innovative recipes there’s something for every palate and occasion.
Easy Appetizers
When hosting guests whip up a couple of these quick and easy appetizers
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Shrimp Cocktail – The classic choice. Serve chilled shrimp with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce for dipping. Garnish with fresh parsley.
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Shrimp Lettuce Wraps – Sauté shrimp with minced garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Spoon into lettuce leaves and top with carrot matchsticks and cilantro.
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Shrimp Deviled Eggs – The perfect party snack. Just mash up boiled eggs with shrimp, mayo, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Pipe into egg white halves and garnish with paprika.
Satisfying Salads
Toss those shrimp in a fresh salad for a filling lunch or light dinner:
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Shrimp Pasta Salad – Toss cooked pasta with shrimp, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, and feta.
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Bang Bang Shrimp Salad – Mix shrimp with shredded cabbage, carrots, wonton crisps, and creamy sriracha dressing.
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Shrimp and Mango Salad – Combine shrimp with mango, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Serve over greens.
Hot Soups and Stews
On chilly days, try one of these warm and comforting shrimp soups:
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Shrimp Bisque – Simmer shrimp shells and veggies into a stock. Puree with cream, sherry, and cayenne pepper. Add cooked shrimp before serving.
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Shrimp Gumbo – Sauté shrimp, sausage, bell pepper, celery, and onion. Add okra, tomatoes, broth, and Cajun seasoning. Simmer until thickened. Serve over rice.
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Shrimp Ramen – Boil ramen noodles, then add broth, shrimp, mushrooms, scallions, lime juice, and chili oil. Top with a soft boiled egg.
Taco Night
Who doesn’t love taco night? Just add shrimp to spice up your routine:
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Shrimp Tacos – Sauté shrimp with tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, and chili powder. Serve in warmed corn tortillas with all the fixings.
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Shrimp Fajitas – Sauté sliced bell peppers and onions. Add shrimp and fajita seasoning. Serve with flour tortillas, guacamole, pico de gallo and lime wedges.
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Shrimp Ceviche Tacos – Marinate shrimp in lime juice, onion, tomato, cilantro and chili peppers. Serve in crispy fried tortillas with avocado slices.
Pasta and Rice Bowls
Serve shrimp as the protein over noodles, grains or veggies:
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Shrimp Scampi – Sauté shrimp with garlic, white wine, butter, parsley, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Toss with linguine.
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Shrimp Fried Rice – Stir-fry shrimp with rice, peas, carrots, onions, eggs, soy sauce, ginger and garlic.
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Shrimp and Avocado Quinoa Bowl – Top cooked quinoa with shrimp, avocado slices, corn, black beans and chimichurri sauce.
Simple Sandwiches
Pile shrimp onto bread or wraps for an easy handheld meal:
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Shrimp Po’ Boy – Stuff a toasted baguette with shrimp, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickle and remoulade.
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Shrimp Salad Sandwich – Mix chopped shrimp with mayo, lemon juice, diced celery and herbs. Spread on crusty bread with lettuce and tomato.
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Grilled Shrimp Wrap – Grill shrimp and fill a tortilla with the shrimp plus shredded lettuce, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo.
Elevated Entrées
For heartier meals, incorporate shrimp into these more involved dishes:
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Shrimp Stir Fry – Stir-fry shrimp with broccoli, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, garlic, ginger and soy-lime sauce. Serve over rice.
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Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skillet – Sauté shrimp, sausage, bell pepper, onion, garlic, Cajun seasoning and tomato paste. Serve over grits.
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Shrimp Risotto – Simmer arborio rice with broth, white wine, Parmesan, garlic, shallots and lemon zest. Stir in shrimp at the end.
So Many Possibilities
As you can see, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using up cooked shrimp. With a little creativity, you can transform shrimp into quick snacks, vibrant salads, cozy soups, fun tacos, bowls, sandwiches, and elevated entrées.
How to Turn a Bag of Frozen Shrimp Into DinnerNameEmail AddressRecipient NameRecipient Email AddressPersonal Message
In my freezer, you can always find frozen shrimp, along with corn that has been frozen and some kind of ice cream. You can make it when you don’t know what to cook, and it goes well with almost any vegetable, starch, or sauce. It’s also astoundingly quick-cooking (and quick-thawing—just follow the instructions on the bag—which is just as important). Our Spanish tapas-inspired.
Switch things up with simple sauces
What marketing team said that tuna was the “chicken of the sea?” I believe shrimp should be that title. Not because shrimp looks or tastes like chicken—it doesn’t—but because both are great with a lot of different spices and sauces. Our broiled ginger and yogurt shrimp is soft and tangy-sweet. The grated ginger, paprika, and lemon zest give it a light smokey flavor and a gentle zing. Moroccan Harissa Garlic Shrimp is a stewed and spicy dish made with tomatoes, lemon, cilantro, cumin, and coriander. It is based on crevettes pil pil, which home cook Houda Mehdi showed us how to make in her kitchen in Fes, Morocco. Our Shrimp in Poblano Chili and Cilantro sauce, which is based on the traditional Mexican fish dish pescado en salsa poblano, tastes earthy, green, and surprisingly creamy, thanks to peppers that have been blended with cilantro, alliums, and Mexican crema. Then there is the shrimp I will not shut up about: Grilled Gochujang Shrimp with Scallions. It’s a perfect shrimp dish. I make it at least once a week, and I think everyone else should too. It’s sweet, spicy, tangy, and full of umami.
Do You Devein Your Frozen Bag Of Cooked Shrimp #food #clips #shorts
What can you do with cooked shrimp?
You can also saute or steam them and then top a dish with them. Another way to use shrimp is to make a salad. If you’re using raw shrimp, you can just add them to the salad and toss it with a vinaigrette. If you’re cooking the shrimp first, you can mix the salad ingredients together and then top with the cooked shrimp.
Can I eat raw shrimp?
Eating raw shrimp is not recommended. Raw shrimp can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is also a good source of purines, which can trigger gout attacks. If you want to eat shrimp, cook it thoroughly to reduce the risk of food poisoning and to help prevent gout attacks. Cook shrimp until it is opaque and pink to ensure that it is safe to eat.
What to do with leftover boiled shrimp?
Stuffing an avocado with shrimp is a fun and unique way to use up leftover boiled shrimp. If you are not a fan of avocados, try stuffed mushrooms instead! They are also a fun and easy way to use up leftover shrimp! 8. Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers This garlic shrimp skewers recipe is a simple yet delicious way to use leftover boiled shrimp.
What can you do with frozen shrimp?
You’ll find delectable ways to use frozen shrimp such as in stir fry, salad, sandwiches, casseroles, sheet pan dinners, tacos, appetizers, curries, and of course, shrimp scampi. Browse these awesome frozen shrimp recipes that are sure to inspire you and delight your family! So good and much faster and easier than a traditional cioppino recipe!