Crunchy Baked Shrimp

These Crunchy Baked Shrimp are tender and covered in a seasoned butter, then topped with delicious breadcrumbs. This dish is flavorful and simple, with a mouthwatering texture you'll love.

If you love shrimp with great texture, then you are going to adore this Crunchy Baked Shrimp recipe. The shrimp are covered with butter and seasonings, then tossed with crunchy breadcrumbs. Baking this dish instead of frying gives it amazing texture without lots of extra oil and fat. These shrimp pack plenty of rich flavor while still offering a healthy alternative to breaded shrimp.

These Crunchy Baked Shrimp are versatile and so easy to make. I love serving them as a side or right on top of pastas and salads. The seasonings are also easy to substitute so they work with whatever else I'll be serving. Simple, scrumptious, and convenient, this dish is a favorite. Let's talk about what you'll need to make it.

Main Ingredients

• Shrimp. I like using large or jumbo shrimp. Peeled, deveined, and tails off.
• Butter. Or olive oil.
• Garlic Powder. Or fresh garlic.
• Paprika. Adds nice color and a hint of smoky flavor.
• Breadcrumbs. Panko, or homemade are best.
• Salt & Pepper. To taste.
• Parsley. To garnish.

How to Make it

1. Melt the butter and then add garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside.

2. Place the shrimp into a large casserole dish. Pour half of the seasoned butter on top and mix well. Then arrange the shrimp in an even layer.

3. Add the Panko breadcrumbs to the remaining butter and stir well to combine.

4. Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs over the shrimp. Bake at 375°F for 12 minutes. If desired, broil for 1-2 minutes, allowing the breadcrumbs to brown a bit more.

5. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy!

PRESENTATION TIP: If you are planning to transfer these onto a serving platter, the breadcrumbs will start mixing with the liquids from the shrimp and you might need some extra breadcrumbs for a beautiful presentation and extra crunch. To do this, toss ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs onto a skillet, add a drizzle of olive oil and a touch of paprika and salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the breadcrumbs are nice and golden. Sprinkle these right over the shrimp on the serving platter. Voila!

Tips for the best Crunchy Baked Shrimp

• Choose larger shrimp. I like the large or jumbo sized shrimp because smaller ones can get overwhelmed by the breadcrumbs. Larger ones ensure their flavor and texture are at the forefront.
• Buy them already prepped. Save yourself time by buying the shrimp already deveined, peeled, and with their tails off. You can do this yourself, of course, but buying them this way will save you prep.
• Use Panko. Panko has a crunchier texture than regular breadcrumbs, which goes really nicely with these baked shrimp. You can also make your own so they have the right texture for this dish.
• Spread the shrimp evenly. This will ensure even and thorough cooking, but it will also help each shrimp get a good coating of the buttered breadcrumb mix for the best Crunchy Baked Shrimp.

Variations to this Recipe

• Substitute different seasonings. Instead of garlic powder and paprika, you could use Old Bay seasoning, chili powder, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, or others.
• Add citrus. Seafood goes well with tart citrus flavors, so you could add a little fresh lemon or lime juice to the seasoned butter mixture.
• Make it dairy-free. You can substitute olive oil for the butter to easily make this a dish with no dairy.
• Substitute gluten-free Panko. Either buying it or making your own will ensure these Crunchy Baked Shrimp are gluten-free.

How to Store and Reheat it

You can store any leftover Crunchy Baked Shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat it, place the shrimp back in the casserole dish in the oven until warmed through, then broil for a few minutes to help them regain their crunchy texture.

What to Serve this with

• With rice. Enjoy these Crunchy Baked Shrimp over a bed of Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans, Rice and Beans, Spinach Rice, or even some Riced Cabbage for a lighter dish.
• On a salad. These shrimp add protein and flavor to salads, like this Amazing Kale Salad.
• With main dishes. They can be served alongside other proteins, such as Creamy Mushroom Chicken, pork chops, steak, or Baked Cod.
• Over pasta. These Crunchy Baked Shrimp are delicious on top of pasta. Try them with this Easy Angel Hair Pasta or Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta.

I just love the crisp texture and rich flavor of this Crunchy Baked Shrimp recipe. You can serve it in so many ways and these shrimp are always a crowd-pleaser.

More tasty shrimp recipes to try:

• Crispy Fried Shrimp
• Creamy Shrimp and Zucchini Skillet
• Easy Shrimp and Vegetable Skillet
• Shrimp in Roasted Pepper Sauce

Video Tutorial