If you’ve ever been stuck on what to do with your leftover shrimp, look no further. Here are some of my favorite recipes for using up leftover shrimp. They are all guaranteed to be tasty and very simple to make.
Cocktail shrimp are a classic party appetizer. But let’s be honest – no matter how perfectly you calculate, there are always a few leftover shrimp hanging out after the guests leave. Don’t let those leftover shrimp go to waste! With a little creativity, you can transform leftover cocktail shrimp into all sorts of delicious dishes.
Here are 15 creative ways to use up leftover cocktail shrimp
1. Shrimp Salad
Chop up those shrimp and toss them in a salad for an easy protein punch. Mix with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and your favorite dressing. Top with crumbled feta or bacon bits if desired.
2. Shrimp Tacos
Warm up some corn tortillas and pile on the shrimp, shredded cabbage, avocado, and a spritz of lime. Add salsa, guacamole, and cilantro to finish these tasty shrimp tacos.
3. Shrimp Fried Rice
Leftover shrimp are a natural addition to fried rice. Cook up some veggies, aromatics like garlic and ginger, and day-old rice. Then stir in the shrimp and cook briefly just to heat through
4. Shrimp Pasta
Toss cooked pasta with olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Then mix in the leftover shrimp and let it all come together over low heat. Shower with parsley and parmesan before serving.
5. Shrimp Omelette
Jazz up your morning omelette by folding in a few chopped shrimp Along with cheese, veggies, and herbs this becomes a hearty and protein-packed breakfast
6. Shrimp Pizza
In the mood for pizza? Use leftover shrimp as a fun topping along with tomato sauce, cheese, and your other desired toppings. The shrimp will cook through as the pizza bakes.
7. Shrimp Cocktail Dip
For an easy hot dip, blend together cooked shrimp, cream cheese, salsa, lime juice, cilantro, and seasonings. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers for dipping.
8. Shrimp Stuffing
Mix chopped shrimp into your favorite stuffing or dressing recipe and use it to stuff mushrooms, peppers, or even chicken breasts. The extra flavor and protein from the shrimp amps up traditional stuffing recipes.
9. Shrimp Ceviche
“Cook” raw shrimp in lime or lemon juice along with onion, tomatoes, jalapeño, cilantro, and avocado. The acid from the citrus juice cures the shrimp, resulting in a refreshing ceviche.
10. Shrimp Casserole
Make a creamy shrimp casserole by mixing cooked shrimp with condensed soup, veggies, cheese, and rice or pasta. Top with breadcrumbs or more cheese and bake until bubbly and golden.
11. Shrimp Quesadillas
Jazz up basic quesadillas by including shrimp in the filling along with cheese, onions, peppers, avocado – whatever sounds good! The shrimp takes these quesadillas to the next level.
12. Shrimp Cakes
Make easy shrimp cakes by combining chopped shrimp with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings. Form into patties and pan fry until crisp. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings for shrimp burgers.
13. Shrimp Chowder
Simmer shrimp shells and veggies in broth to make a quick seafood stock. Strain and then add milk or cream, potatoes, corn, and the chopped shrimp meat back to the pot to finish this hearty chowder.
14. Shrimp Fajitas
Sauté onion and bell pepper in a hot skillet. Add shrimp and fajita seasoning and cook just until the shrimp are pink. Wrap up in warm tortillas with your desired toppings for easy shrimp fajitas.
15. Shrimp Dip
Last but not least, whip up an easy hot dip by blending shrimp with cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, lemon juice and spices. Serve with crackers or veggies for dipping.
Don’t let those leftover shrimp languish in the fridge! With a simple change of context, leftover cocktail shrimp can become the star ingredient in all kinds of easy, delicious dishes. Get creative with these recipes and put those extras to delicious use.
Shrimp Stir Fry Recipes
This shrimp scampi recipe is so easy and takes under 30 minutes to make. It’s deliciously saucy and perfectly rich with a buttery flavor that will have you step into dinner heaven!.
To make shrimp scampi, sauté some garlic in a bit of oil. Then add your shrimp and cook until they are pink. Put in a little white wine and chicken broth, and then let the sauce cook for a while.
Once the sauce has simmered, add a bit of butter to thicken it up. Serve the shrimp scampi over a bed of cooked pasta and enjoy!.
Pad Thai is a popular dish in America, Thailand, and beyond. This fast version has an appealing combination of sweet-sour flavors that will have your mouth watering for more!.
First, cook some garlic and ginger in a little oil for shrimp pad Thai. Then add your cooked shrimp and cook for a minute or two. Next, add your noodles and sauce, or other fresh ingredients and cook until the noodles are tender.
Finish it off with a sprinkle of green onions and serve.
There’s a reason this shrimp recipe has been around for a long time: it’s wonderful. It’s creamy, flavorful, and oh-so-satisfying.
To make shrimp Alfredo, reheat your shrimp in a bit of butter until they are pink. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Once they are cooled, chop them up into bite-sized pieces.
In a large pot, cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Once it is cooked, drain it and add it back to the pot.
Add a bit of butter and some heavy cream to the pasta and stir until combined. Then add your shrimp and grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Don’t have time to make dinner or just want something quick and tasty? This shrimp fried rice recipe will save the day. It’s made with homemade ingredients that will taste way better than anything from your local Chinese restaurant!.
It’s quick and easy to make, and you can add whatever vegetables you have on hand. Start by sautéing some veggies in a bit of oil, then add cooked fried rice and leftover shrimp. Give it a good stir and you’re done!.
If you want to make this dish even more hearty, you can add some diced chicken or pork. Leftover shrimp fried rice is a great way to use up those pesky shrimp leftovers!.
Baked Leftover Shrimp Recipes
This Baked Coconut Shrimp dish is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It’s also great for entertaining, as it can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature.
Mix flour, salt, and pepper together and coat the juicy shrimp in it. Bake the shrimp in coconut oil. Then dip them in some beaten eggs, followed by a coating of shredded coconut.
Bake in a preheated oven until the leftover shrimp are crispy and golden brown. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and a dipping sauce of your choice!.
The shrimp in this dish is marinated with spices like cumin, Italian seasoning, and fresh lemon. Then it’s threaded through vibrant veggies that give an exciting flavor profile to the quick dinner!.
Put shrimp on skewers (soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before using them so they don’t break).
Grill over medium-high heat until the leftover shrimp are pink and slightly charred. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly.
Brush them with your favorite BBQ sauce or serve them with any dipping sauce you like after they’re cool.
The best shrimp tacos you will ever try. They have avocado, spicy jalapenos, and the tastiest slaw. They’re great for a quick lunch or a light dinner on Monday.
I like to sauté some garlic and onion in a bit of oil. Add my shrimp and cook until they are pink. Remove from the heat and let them cool slightly.
Once they are cooled, chop them up into bite-sized pieces. Serve on soft tortillas with your favorite toppings. I like to top mine with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream.
Invite your friends over for an appetizer that is both easy and delicious. These shrimp wrapped in bacon are a great way to start any party. They look great, taste great, and fill you up quickly. They can also be used as an appetizer or light meal.
To make them, wrap each shrimp in a piece of bacon. Secure with a toothpick if needed.
Heat the grill to medium-high. Cook the shrimp wrapped in bacon for five minutes on each side, or until the bacon is crispy.
Remove from the grill and let cool slightly. Serve these bacon-wrapped shrimp with your favorite dipping sauce!
The foil-packet shrimp is a quick and easy method for making delicious, tender grilled, or sauteed seafood. That’s not all—you can bake these packets to turn them into an appetizer that everyone will love!
It’s quick and easy to make, and you can add whatever vegetables you have on hand. Just heat some veggies in a bit of oil, then add cooked shrimp. Wrap everything up in foil and bake for about 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
This Cajun shrimp recipe is great for people who like spicy food. It’s quick and easy to make, and you can use any vegetables you have on hand. Sauté some veggies in a bit of oil, then add cooked shrimp.
Season with Cajun seasoning and cook for about 10 minutes.
Make a sweet and sour sauce by mixing together equal parts pineapple juice, ketchup, and brown sugar.
Sauté some garlic and onion in a bit of oil. Add your garlic shrimp and cook until they are pink. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Once they are cooled, chop them up into bite-sized pieces. Serve on soft tortillas with your favorite toppings. I like to top mine with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream.