💡Pro tip: The best skillet for sauteing is aluminum, copper, or cast iron, which gets the best sear and caramelization on the outside of the shrimp. Non-stick works too: there will be less browning, but it will still taste delicious. Turns out, it tastes even better than good: it’s truly great! The tender, juicy savory flavor is so remarkable, you won’t be able to stop taking bites. We can’t, and it’s always a hit with our kids. Here’s our secret seasoning blend and exactly how to make what we think is the best sauteed shrimp.
Find medium or large shrimp. Medium shrimp may be labeled 41 to 50 count, and large is labeled as 31 to 40 count, indicating how many shrimp per pound. Use tail on or peeled. The best shrimp for this recipe is tail on or peeled. Tail on looks nice, but you do have to pull them off when eating. If you accidentally buy shell on shrimp, don’t worry: you can remove the shell with your fingers before cooking, leaving the tail on. Fresh or frozen. Both are essentially the same freshness since most shrimp are immediately flash frozen after they are caught. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp before cooking. Wild caught. Fish wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
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More great shrimp recipes
Shrimp is one of our favorite ways to a fast and healthy meal! Here are a few more great shrimp recipes we make on the regular:
Smoked paprika Garlic powder Onion powder Cumin
Lemon shrimp: Go basic with just salt and lemon juice (optionally, add a sprinkle of chives, basil or oregano). Honey garlic shrimp: A favorite! Go to Honey Garlic Shrimp. Garlic shrimp: Make garlic shrimp with minced garlic. Cajun shrimp: Add Cajun seasonings, or for a milder spin go for blackened seasoning. Teriyaki shrimp: Toss with homemade teriyaki sauce. Shrimp fajitas: Toss with fajita seasoning and serve in a tortilla with fajita veggies!
Day before:Â Place the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight. Day of:Â Place the frozen shrimp in a large bowl with very cold water. Stir the bowl every 5 minutes to break up clumps of shrimp that freeze together. The shrimp should defrost in about 15 minutes. Make sure to pat it dry before using!
Add couscous. This easy couscous (or Israeli couscous) cooks in just 10 minutes! Add rice. Go to white rice or brown rice. You can also try lentil rice (rice made from lentils), which cooks even faster. Add broccoli. Try quick sauteed broccoli or pan fried broccoli. Add a colorful veggie sauté. Try sauteed veggies or succotash. Add a salad. This arugula salad makes an extremely fast dinner.
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Mix up Tuscan Shrimp or Old Bay Shrimp Toss in bright green sauce to this Easy Pesto Shrimp Grab a Shrimp Roll, or a skillet of Cajun Shrimp Pasta or Easy Cajun Shrimp Go for fast dinners, a Shrimp Stir Fry or Classic Shrimp Fajitas Boil up some Old Bay Steamed Shrimp, or bake tasty Coconut Shrimp Bake a 3 Cheese Shrimp Pizza Go retro with Classic Shrimp Salad or classic with Shrimp Caesar Salad Throw shrimp over noodles with Creamy Shrimp Pasta Opt for cozy and comforting with Shrimp Fried Rice
