Baked Shrimp with Butter and Parmesan

Name: Baked Shrimp with Butter and Parmesan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pound raw shrimp (large, peeled and deveined); 1/4 cup butter (melted; or olive oil); 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)

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This 20-minute recipe for baked shrimp with butter, garlic, and parmesan is the ultimate weeknight dinner - easy, fast, and delicious.

Baked shrimp are served in a white dish.

This baked shrimp recipe is a family favorite. My family loves it because it's so flavorful, and I love how easy it is to make. To make it, you will coat the shrimp in melted butter, season them simply, then bake them to plump, juicy perfection. They are delicious when freshly baked, alone or on a bed of noodles or greens, and the leftovers are perfect in salads.

Ingredients

Here's an overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.

Raw shrimp: I use large shrimp, peeled and deveined. The tails can be on or off.
Melted butter: I use unsalted butter.
To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
Grated parmesan: It's best to use finely grated parmesan and not coarsely shredded.

Variations

Sometimes, I use olive oil instead of butter. Ghee is another tasty option. I like the rich, nutty flavor it adds.
You can add more spices. A generous pinch of dried thyme or paprika is delicious.
Instead of garlic powder, you can toss the shrimp with a teaspoon of minced fresh garlic. However, garlic powder coats the shrimp more evenly, and that's why I like to use it.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Arrange the shrimp on a large, rimmed, broiler-safe baking sheet. Pour melted butter or olive oil on top and toss to coat.

Sprinkle the shrimp with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and grated Parmesan.

Bake the shrimp in a preheated 400°F oven until they are pink and opaque, about 8 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter and spoon the pan juices over them. Serve immediately.

Such an easy, delicious dish that tastes and looks like you spent lots of time preparing. Watch the shrimp cooking time closely since all ovens are a little different. I served this for Valentine's Day, along with baked potato and arugula salad with lime vinaigrette, slivers of parmesan cheese, and croutons. I have permanently saved this recipe to my hard drive!
Julie Harcrow
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Recipe Tip

I typically use large shrimp (31-40 shrimp per pound) in this recipe. It's OK to use other sizes, slightly adjusting the baking time as follows:

Medium shrimp (51-60 per pound) will need 6-7 minutes in the oven.
Extra-large shrimp (21-25 per pound) will need around 9 minutes.
Jumbo shrimp (16-20 per pound) will need about 10 minutes.

Shrimp are done when their flesh turns from gray and translucent to pink or orange and opaque. Another hint is that their tails will curl slightly when done, but not overly so. When they're overcooked, their tails curl into a tight circle.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp?

It's best to thaw them first. It's easy! Fill a large bowl with cool water. Add the shrimp. Replace the water once or twice, gently separating frozen shrimp that have stuck to each other. They should be fully defrosted in about 10 minutes. Drain them using a colander, then dry them on paper towels.

Note that if your shrimp are very cold (this can happen if you just defrosted them), the melted butter will harden when it touches them. In this case, it's better to use olive oil.

Can I use pre-cooked shrimp?

No. This recipe uses raw shrimp. If you use pre-cooked ones, they will become overcooked.

Why are my shrimp stringy?

Shrimp become stringy when overcooked because of their high protein content. The secret to preventing that is high heat and avoiding overcooking them. On the stovetop, you'd want to sear them on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. In the oven, about 8 minutes in a 400°F oven is all they need.

Serving Suggestions

Baked shrimp are truly versatile and pair well with many side dishes. But since I bake them in a 400°F oven, I like to serve them with a side dish I can cook in the same oven. So, I often serve them with one of the following:

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge in a shallow, airtight container for up to three days. Reheat them, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. Or serve them cold with cocktail sauce or sriracha mayo for dipping. They are also delicious when served cold in a salad, as shown in the photo below.

Recipe Card

5 from 47 votes

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Baked Shrimp with Butter and Parmesan

This 20-minute recipe for baked shrimp with butter (or olive oil), garlic, and parmesan is a staple in my house. It's the ultimate weeknight dinner!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 305kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Video

Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ pound raw shrimp - large, peeled and deveined
▢ ¼ cup butter - melted; or olive oil
▢ 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ½ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
▢ ¼ cup parmesan cheese - grated

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer on a large, rimmed, broiler-safe baking sheet.
Pour the melted butter or olive oil on the shrimp and toss to coat.
Sprinkle the shrimp with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and grated parmesan.
Bake until the shrimp are pink and opaque, about 8 minutes. If you want the parmesan to brown, finish by broiling them for about 1 minute.
Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter and spoon the pan juices over them. Serve immediately.

Notes

Need to defrost your shrimp? Fill a large bowl with cool water. Add the shrimp. Replace the water once or twice, gently separating frozen shrimp that have stuck to each other. They should be fully defrosted in about 10 minutes. Drain them using a colander, then dry them on paper towels.
If your shrimp are very cold (this can happen if you just defrosted them), the melted butter will harden when it touches them. In this case, it's better to use olive oil.
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge in a shallow, airtight container for up to three days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. Or serve them cold with cocktail sauce or sriracha mayo for dipping. They are also excellent when served cold in a salad.

Nutrition per Serving

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Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

Baked Shrimp

Ingredients

Variations

Instructions

Recipe Tip

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Storing Leftovers

Recipe Card