What Goes with Shrimp? 45 Sides To Eat with This Shellfish
Bye, store-bought potato salad. It’s time to up your game for your next shrimp dinner. Whether you skewer them on the grill, fry them gambas al ajillo-style or sear them for ceviche, your entrée will come alive with these 45 sides for shrimp.
How to Thaw Shrimp
Fresh shrimp is delicious, but frozen shrimp is convenient and, if we’re being honest, tastes just as good. It’s also quick and easy to thaw. If you have 12 hours (and can remember to do it ahead), thaw the frozen shrimp in a lidded container in the fridge overnight. If you have 20 minutes (or forgot to put the shrimp in the fridge overnight), transfer the frozen shrimp to a colander and submerge them in a bowl of cold water, making sure all the shrimp are covered with water. After ten minutes, drain the water, refill the bowl once more and wait another ten minutes until the shrimp are thawed before draining and using.
RELATED: 60 Go-To Seafood Recipes You Can Whip Up in No Time
1. Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus
It’s ready to eat and on the table in 20 minutes.
2. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
It’s fresh and easy, and requires little more effort than choosing your favorite veggies.
3. Ginger Jasmine Rice
Swap the tofu for shrimp and you’re in business.
4. Patatas Bravas with Saffron Aioli
Crispy, tomato-laced fried potatoes? You simply can’t go wrong.
5. Seasoned Steamed Eggplant
This eggplant is silky soft, tender and creamy, not to mention perfectly seasoned with soy, vinegar, ginger and sesame.
6. Pan-Roasted Broccoli ‘Steaks’ with Garlic-Sesame Vinaigrette
Peep our new favorite way to prepare broccoli. The cut surface gets super caramelized for extra flavor.
7. Cast-Iron Cornbread
Cooking in a searing hot cast-iron skillet is the key to golden-brown edges.
8. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
Honestly, this side dish might steal the show (but we’re not complaining).
9. Sweet and Spicy Plantain Salad
Bonus: This dish is completely plant-based.
10. Creamy Oven Polenta
This gives a new meaning to “shrimp and grits.”
11. Keto Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice
Time to jazz up your basic cauliflower rice.
12. Avocado, Radish and Walnuts with Carrot-Miso Dressing
Who said salads need lettuce? We’re going all in on avocado.
13. Zoodles with Summer Vegetables
A quick trip to the farmers market and dinner is halfway done.
14. Jicama Mango Slaw with Cilantro and Lime
This is the perfect bed for a couple of shrimp skewers, don’t you think?
15. Summer Millet Salad
If you're tired of quinoa as a base, it's time to try millet. Did we mention it's gluten-free and cooks quickly?
16. Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad
Six ingredients, zero complaints.
RELATED: 13 Picnic-Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes
17. Sesame Garlic Roasted Asparagus
And here we thought asparagus was boring.
18. Sweet Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Grain Salad with Peach-Dijon Vinaigrette
This makes ideal lunch leftovers, too.
19. Summer Panzanella
Never had panzanella before? Think of it like bread salad.
20. Zucchini Rice
Eat your heart out, cauliflower.
21. Greek Tabbouleh Salad
Pretend you’re gazing at those blue rooftops in Santorini.
22. Sesame Honey Quinoa and Carrot Salad with Sliced Avocado
Avocado makes everything better.
23. Avocado Rice
It’s creamy, rich and anything but boring.
24. Slow-Cooker Creamed Corn
This is one winter dish we’ll gladly eat year-round. Using the slow cooker means you won’t heat up the whole house, either.
25. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
Mayo-haters, take note.
26. Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Chèvre Ranch
Take advantage of those crispy snap peas while they’re in season, people.
27. Whole Roasted Carrots
With onion, lemon zest and lots of cumin, you might never go back to glazed carrots.
28. Chilled Cucumber Salad
This refreshing side dish is exactly what we crave on a hot day.
29. Heirloom Tomato, Beet and Burrata salad with Basil Oil
Goes with every crustacean.
30. Cauliflower Rice
Our go-to vegetable is at it again.
31. Roasted Parmesan Pesto Potatoes
If you thought you liked potatoes before, wait until you try them with Parmesan pesto.
32. Mediterranean Farro Salad
Behold the easiest dinner ever: Just top this with shrimp.
RELATED: 16 Quick and Easy Dinners You Can Make with Farro
33. Lemon and Spinach Orzotto
It’s creamy like traditional risotto, in much less time.
34. Corn and Tomato Salad with Feta and Lime
We paired two of our favorite in-season vegetables into one summery side dish. Behold the corn and tomato salad.
35. Sprightly Biscuits
Introducing the easiest, fastest, fluffiest southern biscuits (with a little secret).
36. Roasted Poblano and Corn Guacamole
Seriously upgrade Taco Tuesday with shrimp tacos and a heaping bowl of this guac. You won't be disappointed.
RELATED: 21 Easy (and Unexpected) Guacamole Recipes You Need to Try
37. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Sriracha and Lime
If there’s a sweet potato fan club out there, we’d like to join.
38. Grilled Corn with Spicy Aioli
It’s a summer classic (and for good reason).
39. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
Psst: If you’re not a cauliflower fanatic, pack in a veggie punch with whatever produce you have in your fridge.
40. 15-Minute Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna
What looks totally fancy but takes virtually no effort to make? Why, this 15-minute couscous number. Trade out the tuna for grilled shrimp and you’ll love it even more.
41. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry
Your new go-to dish when you want to impress someone (or just really want curry).
42. Vegan Chilaquiles with Red Sauce
This dish is entirely plant-based and brunch-ready. We should also mention it takes just 15 minutes to make. (Grilled shrimp, tossed in hot sauce, would go great with this, BTW.)
43. Crunchy Asian-Inspired Ramen Noodle Salad
Sweet, tangy and crispy, this potluck favorite is tossed with a simple sesame vinaigrette and loaded with healthy veggies.
44. Cauliflower Chili
It’s the bowl of our wildest dreams, plus it's super healthy and ready in about 30 minutes.
45. Charred Pineapple Salad
Pair this with our coconut shrimp, and you're basically on vacation.