Leftover shrimp recipes are easy to make. We will show you what to do with leftover shrimp cooked by reheating seafood to tender again. With vegetables or in a soup, you should never throw anything away again. We use it to make new one-pot meals like our Instant Pot shrimp alfredo.
We have a lot of recipes with leftover shrimp you can make. A second dish you’ll love is warmed for one minute and added to pasta, vegetables, or a warm dip. Don’t throw away seafood leftovers because they can be delicious again. (affiliate links present).
As a seafood lover, I tend to make a lot of shrimp dishes for my family. The problem is that shrimp tends to disappear quickly around my house. There’s never much leftover. On the rare occasion that I do have extra cooked shrimp on hand, I’ve learned to take advantage and transform them into easy new meals.
In this article, I’ll share 17 of my favorite recipes for using up leftover shrimp. I’ve organized them into categories based on cooking method to make it easy to find a recipe based on how much time and effort you want to spend.
Reheating Leftover Shrimp
These quick and easy leftover shrimp recipes require minimal preparation. Simply reheat the cooked shrimp gently to avoid overcooking.
Shrimp Pasta
One of the easiest ways to use up leftover shrimp is to toss it with hot pasta. Cook your favorite pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to the pot. Add a few pats of butter, a splash of olive oil or pasta water, and the leftover shrimp. Toss everything together and let sit for 2-3 minutes to allow the shrimp to heat through. Season with salt, pepper, and any other spices you desire.
Shrimp Fried Rice
Transform leftover shrimp into a quick shrimp fried rice. Simply cook rice if you don’t have leftover on hand. Heat oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sauté for 1 minute until warmed through. Add cooked rice soy sauce sesame oil, eggs, and veggies like peas and carrots. Stir fry everything together for 2-3 minutes until piping hot.
Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Shrimp lettuce wraps are a fun way to use up leftover shrimp. Simply warm the shrimp in a skillet with teriyaki or sweet chili sauce. Serve the saucy shrimp in lettuce leaves or tortillas with your favorite fillings like rice avocado cucumber, carrot, cabbage, green onion, and more.
Adding Leftover Shrimp to Soups
Soups are a great way to use shrimp without overcooking them. The hot broth gently warms the shrimp. Simply add them at the very end.
Shrimp Corn Chowder
Make a creamy corn chowder with potatoes, corn, bacon, and milk or cream. After blending and seasoning the soup, stir in the leftover shrimp. Cook just until warmed through, about 1 minute.
Shrimp Ramen
Jazz up instant ramen with extra protein and veggies Cook ramen noodles stovetop In a separate pan, sauté mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and bean sprouts. Add broth, cooked noodles, and shrimp to a bowl. Top with sautéed veggies.
Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo
Make a flavorful gumbo with shrimp, sausage, okra, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning. After simmering the gumbo for 30 minutes, stir in the leftover shrimp and cook another 5 minutes before serving.
Transforming Leftover Shrimp into Entrees
These more involved leftover shrimp recipes convert the cooked shrimp into full entrees. The extra effort yields tasty new meals.
Shrimp Tacos
Give taco night a seafood twist with shrimp tacos. Sauté onions and peppers in oil. Add spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic. Stir in the shrimp just until warm. Serve in warm tortillas or taco shells with all your favorite toppings.
Shrimp Casserole
A shrimp casserole is comfort food at its best. Make a sauce from sour cream, cheese, milk, and seasonings. Combine the sauce with cooked pasta, shrimp, frozen peas, and breadcrumbs. Bake until bubbly for an easy one-dish meal.
Shrimp Stir Fry
Fire up a skillet to whip up a quick shrimp stir fry. Cook rice noodles according to package directions if you want to serve over noodles. Then stir fry shrimp and veggies like broccoli, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, bok choy, snap peas, etc. Toss everything with savory stir fry sauce.
Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skillet
Sauté onion, bell pepper, celery, and andouille sausage until browned. Add shrimp, tomatoes, chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, and okra. Simmer 10 minutes until thickened. Serve over rice for a hearty Cajun-inspired dinner.
Shrimp Quesadillas
Jazz up quesadillas by filling them with leftover shrimp. Simply fold shrimp and shredded cheese into flour or corn tortillas. Cook in a skillet with oil until tortillas are crispy and cheese melts. Serve with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
Shrimp Fried Rice Balls
Elevate fried rice to an appetizer by forming it into compact balls. Mix cold leftover shrimp fried rice with egg, breadcrumbs, and seasoning. Form into balls and pan fry until crispy on the outside. Serve with a sweet chili or duck sauce.
Transforming Leftover Shrimp into Appetizers
These ideas help you repurpose leftover shrimp into easy starters, snacks, and finger foods.
Shrimp Ceviche
Make a fresh shrimp ceviche by marinating cooked shrimp in lime or lemon juice. Add tomato, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, avocado, and seasonings. The citrus juice “cooks” the shrimp. Chill before serving with tortilla chips.
Bang Bang Shrimp Wrap
Spread mayo, hoisin and sriracha sauce on a flour tortilla. Top with shrimp, shredded carrots, cucumber, and lettuce. Roll up for a spicy bang bang shrimp wrap.
Shrimp Salad Lettuce Wraps
Chop shrimp into a tasty salad with mayo, lemon juice, celery, red onion, dill, and pepper. Spoon into lettuce leaf cups for a healthy, portable appetizer.
Shrimp Summer Rolls
Soften rice paper wrappers in warm water. Fill with shrimp, vermicelli noodles, lettuce, carrots, cucumber and herbs. Roll up and serve with peanut or sweet chili sauce.
Coconut Shrimp Bites
Bread leftover shrimp in coconut flakes, panko, and spices. Mist with oil and broil or bake until crispy. Enjoy these tropical bites with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.
Final Thoughts
Is it safe to eat cooked shrimp left out overnight?
No, it is not safe to eat cooked shrimp that has been left out at room temperature overnight. When food is left at room temperature for an extended period, bacteria can multiply rapidly. This increases the risk of you getting sick.
Cooked seafood in general is particularly prone to bacterial growth. It is a protein-rich food with a high moisture content. The general rule of thumb is the 2-hour rule. Before that time, it needs to be put in airtight containers and put in the fridge to stay safe.
Yes, but keep an eye on them. Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium heat and add a small amount of oil or butter. Once hot, add meat to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes until warmed to your liking.
Yes! Place the leftover cooked shrimp in a microwave-safe dish. Cover it with a damp paper towel to help prevent them from drying out. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring or flipping halfway through, until they are heated through.
As long as you allow them to cool and store in a sealed container in the fridge initially. Leftover cooked shrimp should be consumed within 3-4 days. Store in refrigerator for the best quality and safety. Discard any that have been stored for longer than this period to avoid the risk of foodborne illness.
Leftover Shrimp Pasta Recipes
Now this is likely the easiest way to make a new meal from precooked seafood. When your spaghetti or angel hair is al dente, add your shrimp and toss them with your favorite sauce. Then, let them sit and warm up together.
To make a version with fewer carbs, you could air fry zucchini noodles. They taste great with alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, or just butter, salt, and pepper. Take our your refrigerated bag 20 minutes beforehand so they can reach closer to room temperature. Fold together, cover for about 5 minutes and enjoy.
It’s easy to make our Instant Pot Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta. Just follow the steps below. When it’s done, put the meat on top, fold the sides together, and leave the lid open for a few minutes. It is a family favorite and easy to make in one pot. It has meat, noodles, and a creamy sauce.
We have a lot of Instant Pot Shrimp Recipes that you can use. Just add the shrimp at the end to steam until they’re warm. Do NOT heat them for too long, or they will turn out chewy. That is the main point of this post. Instead integrate them into your dish at the end for the best results.
Our Shrimp Rotel Dip isa great party food for sure. There is no need to add anymore heat than needed. Once the cheese and other items are heated you would stir these babies in. It doesn’t take long for that to be done.
You can make our Air Fryer Shrimp Boil or our Instant Pot Shrimp Boil recipes with it too. Just include your pieces at the very end to warm. Once you have the corn on the cob and potatoes tender then integrate your meat and toss together. Set the basket or lid closed for a few minutes and done!!.