If you’re not sure what to serve with shrimp, check out this list of the best side dishes possible.
These vegetables and sides are healthy but definitely not boring. Look through the list and get ready to be inspired! It has everything from zucchini alfredo and feta pasta to fresh asparagus and Caprese salad.
Youll find the perfect dish for weeknight dinners and a dinner party menu. Make your choices based on the occasion, what vegetables are in season, and the shrimp dish youre making.
That’s right—shrimp cooks quickly, so your side dishes should be simple too! Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with a bunch of creative, easy recipes that go with shrimp and make your whole meal even better!
There is nothing better than cheesy cauliflower grits with lemon-garlic shrimp, blackened shrimp, or shrimp sautéed with butter and garlic.
Riced cauliflower replaces traditional grits in this easy recipe with cheddar cheese that comes together in 10 minutes. This quick meal is a winner if youre looking for a Cajun-inspired dish.
Elegant roasted asparagus is a great option for just about any main dish with shrimp. Various seasonings and sauces can be used to dress up this crisp, vibrant-colored veggie.
Shrimp is a versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways. But what should you serve alongside this popular shellfish? The right vegetable side dishes can perfectly complement shrimp’s sweet briny flavor. Here are 12 of the best vegetable pairings for shrimp.
Overview of Complementary Vegetables
Many vegetables make excellent partners for shrimp. When selecting sides, consider vegetables that offer contrasting flavors textures, and colors that work well with shrimp.
Aim for a balance of sweet and savory. Crisp bright vegetables help offset shrimp’s soft richness. Vibrant green veggies provide visual appeal.
Some guidelines for picking vegetables for shrimp:
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Choose sweeter produce like corn, peppers, and squash to echo shrimp’s sweetness.
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Go for crunchy textures with broccoli, green beans, or snap peas.
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Seek out umami flavors that enrich shrimp’s savoriness like mushrooms, tomatoes, and asparagus.
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Mix colors with red peppers, orange carrots, yellow summer squash.
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Roast, grill, or sauté to add char for more dimension.
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Steam or quickly boil to retain brightness.
With those tips in mind, here are 12 of the top vegetable pairings for shrimp.
1. Sauteed Spinach
Sauteed spinach is a classic accompaniment to shrimp. Spinach has a slightly sweet, earthy flavor that complements shrimp beautifully. Sautéing adds richness and intensifies the taste.
To make:
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Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
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Add shredded spinach and sauté until just wilted.
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Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.
The lemon brightens the dish while the wilted spinach offers a lovely contrast to plump, juicy shrimp.
2. Sous Vide Asparagus
Few vegetables go as well with shrimp as springtime asparagus. Its delicate flavor teams up flawlessly with shrimp. Sous vide asparagus turns beautifully tender while retaining its bright green vibrance.
To make:
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Trim the ends off asparagus spears.
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Place in a sous vide pouch with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
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Cook at 185°F for 10-15 minutes until just tender.
The gentle cooking preserves the asparagus’s sweetness and crunch. Drizzle with lemon juice or aioli for added richness.
3. Roasted Delicata Squash
The subtly sweet flavors of delicata squash mesh wonderfully with shrimp. Roasting accentuates the squash’s natural sweetness through caramelization.
To make:
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Cut delicata into 1/2 inch slices. Toss with oil, salt and pepper.
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Roast at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until browned and tender.
The browned edges offer nutty, roasted flavors that pair ideally with shrimp.
4. Elote-Style Carrots
Drawing inspiration from Mexican street corn, charred, spice-coated carrots are an exciting match for shrimp. The smoky spiciness plays off the shrimp beautifully.
To make:
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Toss carrot coins with oil, salt, chili powder and cayenne.
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Grill or broil until lightly charred and just tender.
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Finish with a squeeze of lime, cotija cheese and cilantro.
The lime brightens while the spice mix and cheese boost the savory umami flavors.
5. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
What’s better with shrimp than sweet summer corn? Pressure cooking corn on the cob intensifies its natural sweetness and yields tender, juicy kernels.
To make:
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Add corn cobs to the Instant Pot with 1 cup water.
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Pressure cook at high pressure for 1 minute, then quick release.
The corn comes out incredibly sweet and tender, complementing the shrimp flawlessly. Just slather with butter or mayo.
6. Zucchini Fries
For a fun, different take on veggies with shrimp, make zucchini fries. Their mild flavor balances shrimp’s brininess, while the crunchy exterior contrasts the shrimp’s texture.
To make:
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Cut zucchini into fry shapes. Toss with oil, salt and pepper.
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Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes until crisped and browned.
Serve these flavorful fries with spicy aioli for dipping to take the flavor up a notch.
7. Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts caramelize beautifully when air fried, turning wonderfully crisp on the outside while retaining a bit of lush softness within. Their mild cabbage flavor works as a perfect counterpoint to shrimp.
To make:
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Toss halved brussel sprouts with oil, salt and pepper.
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Air fry at 400°F, shaking halfway, until browned and just tender.
The high heat of the air fryer brings out brussel sprouts’ nutty essence. Sprinkle with lemon juice and Parmesan cheese for extra dimension.
8. Shishito Peppers
Shishito peppers offer a nice balance of sweetness and gentle heat. Their crisp texture and versatility make them a great shrimp side. Try them simply sautéed or blistered on the grill.
To make:
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Toss shishito peppers with just oil, salt and pepper.
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Grill or sauté over high heat until blistered and browned in spots.
The peppers develop a wonderful charred flavor along with a pop of chili spice. Their combination of sweet, heat and crunch pairs perfectly with shrimp.
9. Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes
Bright, sweet cherry tomatoes sautéed with garlic and herbs make a quick, easy vegetable pairing for shrimp. Their sweetness echoes the shrimp’s natural sweetness.
To make:
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Heat oil in a pan. Add halved cherry tomatoes and sauté until softened.
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Add minced garlic during last 1-2 minutes.
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Finish with torn basil and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
The burst sweet-tart tomato flavor contrasts shrimp beautifully. The garlic and basil provide aromatic accent notes.
10. Grilled Eggplant
Meaty grilled eggplant has a wonderfully smoky flavor and lush texture that stands up well to shrimp. Try thicker Japanese or Chinese eggplant varieties.
To make:
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Slice eggplant into 1/2 inch rounds. Brush both sides with oil.
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Grill over medium-high heat until tender and char marks show.
The grilled eggplant offers great rich smokiness along with meaty texture to balance the shrimp.
11. Green Beans
For a classic, easy vegetable pairing, you can’t go wrong with green beans. Their snap-tender crunch and versatility make them a perfect shrimp side.
To make:
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Boil or steam green beans until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
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Toss with butter or olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice.
The bright green beans look beautiful with shrimp while delivering color, texture and flavor contrast.
12. Sauteed Mushrooms
Sautéed mushrooms are a stellar choice alongside shrimp, thanks to their deep, meaty umami flavor. They add substantial richness and savory depth.
To make:
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Heat oil in a pan. Sauté mushrooms until golden brown.
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Season with salt, pepper, thyme and garlic.
The browned mushrooms offer umami-rich savoriness that enriches the shrimp beautifully.
Discover More Winning Pairings
Shrimp and vegetables are natural partners that can be prepared dozens of ways. From sweet corn to earthy mushrooms, the options for veggie pairings are nearly endless.
Use the recipes and guidelines here to discover your favorite shrimp and vegetable flavor combinations. Play with textures, colors and cooking methods like grilling, roasting or steaming to highlight each ingredient. With so many possibilities, you’ll never get bored pairing veggies with this delicious seafood.
1 Ramen Noodle Cabbage Salad
Sweet, tender shrimp are ideal with Napa Cabbage Salad. Crisp, refreshing cabbage is dressed with a finger-licking sesame soy dressing.
But its the crunchy ramen noodle topping that adds an unexpected twist to the meal. This delicious salad is always a crowd-pleaser!.
Broccoli is another great side dish with shrimp. You can roast broccoli florets, just as you do any other vegetable. Another great way is to roast riced broccoli until its caramelized and a tad nutty!.
If you want to avoid grains, you can make this yourself or buy it fresh or frozen at the store. ).
You can grill shrimp and vegetable kabobs at the same time. You can use red bell pepper, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, and other fresh vegetables.
Heres how to do it:
- Cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
- Thread them onto pre-soaked skewers.
- Use olive oil, salt, pepper, or other spices to coat the vegetables.
- Turn the vegetables over a few times during the 8–10 minutes of cooking at a medium temperature until they are soft and charred.
Caprese is a brightly colored salad with simple ingredients that goes well with a lot of different main dishes, from grilled shrimp to shrimp scampi. This Italian-inspired salad is made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
For a unique take on this classic, try making it with roasted grape or cherry tomatoes that are ripe. Get the recipe for grape tomato Caprese salad here.
Crispy Green Beans
A green bean side dish perfectly complements sweet, slightly salty shrimp. Some ways to cook this healthy vegetable are to sauté it, steam it, or roast it in the oven or air fryer.
The beans pictured were air-fried until they were melt-in-your-mouth crispy. You can also make green bean fries with a Parmesan crust! Who doesnt love fries?!.
