This simple baked shrimp recipe boasts fantastic flavor and requires no hands-on effort! It’s perfectly seasoned with garlic and herbs.
A shrimp recipe baked in 5 minutes
This baked shrimp dish couldn’t be any easier. The only challenging part is waiting for the oven to preheat. Then: it’s merely 5 minutes in a hot oven. If you’re short on time to preheat: consider the broiler method outlined in the recipe below! The exact duration will vary with the size of your shrimp. Here are some tips for preparing this roasted shrimp:
- Any shrimp size works. Just remember the cooking time will differ based on size. Bake the shrimp for 4 to 6 minutes until it becomes opaque.
- Broil or bake. The benefit of broiled shrimp is you don’t need to wait for the oven to heat up!
- Add breadcrumbs if you wish. This is optional, but breadcrumbs create the crispiest crunchy layer.
- Verify doneness. Remove the pan from the oven to check doneness. You can always cook it longer, but you can’t reverse overcooking!
Seasonings for baked shrimp
This recipe employs straightforward seasonings, yet they taste absolutely fantastic. The blend of garlic and herbs elevates the juicy shrimp. Here’s what I include alongside salt and pepper:
- Garlic
- Dried oregano
- Onion powder
- Fresh lemon juice (after baking)
- Fresh parsley or cilantro (after baking)
For a Latin twist, which I enjoy when creating our shrimp bowl with cilantro lime rice, consider adding ½ teaspoon each of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin.
Flavor options and additions
There are certainly numerous other ways to season this baked shrimp recipe! Here are additional ideas for enhancements, or alternative seasoning methods:
- Feta cheese. Top with feta for a Mediterranean or Greek-inspired touch.
- Cilantro lime. Replace oregano with cumin and lemon juice with lime—or sample my favorite cilantro lime shrimp.
- Curry powder or paste. Intensify the flavors by mixing in curry powder or paste to taste (omit the oregano).
Serving ideas for oven baked shrimp
Turn it into a meal! You just need to complement this shrimp with some vegetables, a grain, or a salad. Here are our top picks:
- Go for a Mediterranean flair and prepare couscous or Israeli couscous.
- Prepare a quick batch of rice, coconut rice, cilantro lime rice, or seasoned quinoa.
- Consider steamed or sautéed veggies like peas, sautéed mushrooms, sautéed broccoli, sautéed spinach, steamed cauliflower, or sautéed kale.
- Add a fresh green salad such as arugula salad, goat cheese salad, kale salad, Italian salad, or chopped salad.
Fresh versus frozen shrimp: which is better?
You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp for this roasted shrimp recipe. Here are some insights:
- Both fresh and frozen shrimp are suitable! A common belief is that “fresh is better,” but frozen isn’t always of lower quality. In fact, it can be superior.
- Why? Once an animal dies, it begins to decompose; freezing halts this process. If fish is frozen at the time of catch and stays frozen until it reaches your kitchen, it will be of a higher quality than a fresh fish that has taken a week to arrive at your table.
Storing any leftovers
I suggest enjoying this baked shrimp on the day it’s made (Alex and I usually aren’t fans of shrimp as leftovers). However, it can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. We prefer transforming it into dishes like shrimp salad or even shrimp rolls on the second day.
Dietary considerations
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