When making shrimp for a family meal or snack, having some leftovers on hand is always beneficial. They can be used in salads, sandwiches or pasta dishes alike.
Here are our top picks for leftover shrimp recipes – simple to prepare and deliciously delicious!
Fried Rice with Shrimp
If you have leftover shrimp, why not turn it into a delectable fried rice dish? This easy meal can be ready in under 15 minutes and packed with flavor!
You can make this recipe gluten-free by swapping out the soy sauce for coconut aminos or tamari and replacing the eggs with firm tofu. Vegans also have the option to omit the shrimp and substitute vegan oyster sauce for a more plant-based option.
This leftover shrimp dish is ideal for when you don’t have time to prepare something else. Not only is it quick and easy, but you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand for a filling meal that can serve as either the main course or side dish.
To ensure your fried rice turns out perfectly, use cold or chilled rice. Fresh cooked rice absorbs too much water, resulting in soggy results.
To avoid this problem, spread a batch of rice onto a baking sheet and refrigerate before cooking it. Doing this will keep the grains from becoming soggy and guarantee that they are cooked throughly.
Once the rice has cooled, it can be added to the saute mixture. Once heated through, add in the beaten eggs and scramble them until desired consistency.
For an extra flavor and kick of spice, stir in some red chili flakes or cayenne pepper. You could even top your fried rice off with chili garlic sauce or sriracha for a fiery touch!
If desired, you can add other vegetables to this fried rice dish. Mushrooms, corn kernels, edamame or pea pods would all make tasty additions.
Shrimp fried rice is made even more complete with extra vegetables and peanuts! For an extra crunch and delicious finishing touch, add some peanuts at the end for a satisfying crunch!
This delicious fried rice dish is easy to make and perfect for any meal! Plus, it’s gluten-free and dairy-free – making it the perfect healthy side dish!
Honey Soy Shrimp
These Honey Soy Shrimp are sure to please, whether you have leftover shrimp in the fridge or are searching for a tasty new recipe. Not only are they simple and quick to make, but they’re also deliciously flavorful!
This dish’s sauce is composed of soy sauce, honey and garlic. This sweet and savory combination coats the shrimp with an irresistibly tangy taste.
For this straightforward recipe, you’ll need shrimp, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and honey. After having all your ingredients prepped, marinate the shrimp in the sauce for 20 minutes before cooking them.
After the shrimp have marinated, heat up some oil in a skillet and cook them until pink and cooked through. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
Next, prepare the sauce by whisking together soy sauce, garlic, ginger and honey in a small bowl. Doing this will help the sauce thicken slightly.
Once the sauce is prepared, add shrimp back to the pan and simmer in it for approximately 2 minutes. This will guarantee that the shrimp are fully cooked and coated in delicious sauce.
Serve this sauce over rice, potatoes or veggies for a flavorful twist. For extra zest and heat, drizzle sriracha sauce on top for an irresistible finish!
This recipe is low in fat and high in protein – perfect for anyone looking to shed some pounds or simply add more protein into their diet.
If you’re trying to cut back on carbohydrates, this recipe can easily be adjusted by decreasing the amount of flour used. Gluten-free all-purpose flour, arrowroot starch or cornstarch are all great options for keeping this dish low carb.
You can substitute chicken for shrimp in this recipe. Just adjust the amount of water added to the sauce if you opt for chicken instead of shrimp.
One thing to keep in mind when cooking this recipe is that shrimp cook quickly, so work in batches. Otherwise, you could end up with overcooked or undercooked shrimp.
Creamy Shrimp Dip
Creamy shrimp dip is one of my go-to leftover shrimp recipes because it’s simple to make and absolutely delicious. Not only does it make for an impressive party appetizer, but its versatility makes it suitable for any event!
Serve this deceptively simple dip as a snack or with crackers, crudites or fresh veggies. Heck, you could even use it as the filling for your shrimp rangoon!
This dip is made with softened cream cheese, mayonnaise and shrimp. For an extra citrus kick, add a dash of lime juice for zest. It’s best if you make this ahead of time and chill in the refrigerator; however, you can also keep it at room temperature for two hours.
For a thick and creamy texture, you need the correct ratio of cream cheese to mayonnaise. If you don’t have exactly the right amount, add more cream cheese or less mayonnaise until you achieve your desired consistency.
Prior to beginning any recipe, it’s essential that the cream cheese be softened. Doing so ensures the dip will hold together when transferred into a container; thus, allow it to sit out for at least 20 minutes prior to use in your recipe.
Once all ingredients are mixed together in a bowl, you can either do this by hand or with an electric mixer.
For a kick of flavor in your shrimp dip, try adding some chili sauce or hot sauce. You could also sub ketchup or cocktail sauce for something milder. For an even hotter kick, sprinkle in some cayenne pepper or crushed red peppers for extra heat.
For an extra special touch, add some Old Bay seasoning to your dip. Or, mix in a few drops of sour cream for a more tart taste.
Serve this shrimp dip with rice crackers, nachos or other crunchy snacks – but be sure to save a few scoops for yourself! You can also make a large batch and freeze some for later.
Boiled Shrimp Salad
Boiled shrimp is a beloved spring and summer dish that offers both light, healthy eating as well as the opportunity to use up leftover shrimp. This salad requires minimal ingredients and preparation time – under 30 minutes! Making it the ideal lunch or dinner choice for warmer weather occasions!
This recipe from Every Last Bite features an array of ingredients that come together to form a delicious and refreshing shrimp salad. The orange and grapefruit juices in the dressing, along with fennel and creamy avocado give this salad its unique flavors that make it ideal for spring or summer entertaining.
Serve this salad alone with crackers, or pile it into croissants, soft buttered rolls or your favorite bun. It makes an excellent filling for hollowed-out tomatoes, avocado halves or puff pastry shells.
This shrimp salad is incredibly simple to make – you can prep it a day ahead and store in your fridge for up to three days!
Begin by boiling the water and cooking the shrimp for 2 – 3 minutes (I like to check for opaque shrimp that have curled up into C shapes). Drain then submerge in an ice bath to cool; this helps prevent overcooking which could result in rubbery shrimp.
Once the shrimp have cooled, peel and devein them. Mix together mayo mixture, red onion, celery and lemon zest before seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
Add extra flavor and flair to your salad by sprinkling on cilantro, minced garlic or scallions. For an extra protein-packed dish, chop up hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits or avocado and incorporate them into the mix for extra nutrition.
This shrimp salad is the ideal dish to bring along on picnics or potlucks! Not only does the creamy dressing taste delicious on its own, but it can also be used as a sandwich filling or served in lettuce wraps. Why not give something new a try this summer with this shrimp salad?
