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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Seafood » Marinated Shrimp Recipe

    Marinated Shrimp Recipe

    Published: Aug 14, 2022 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A bowl of marinated shrimp cocktail.

    This marinated shrimp recipe will take your shrimp cocktail to the next level. Marinated overnight in an Old Bay lemon dressing, they’re so good you won’t even need cocktail sauce.

    A pink bowl of marinated shrimp next to a bowl of cocktail sauce.

    Whether it’s hot outside and you don’t want to turn on the oven, or you’re having friends over and want an appetizer that will get their attention, give this marinated shrimp recipe a try.

    It’s simple to make and marinates all night so the flavors seep into the shrimp. You’ll have a no fuss healthy dinner or a delicious appetizer. It’s especially great on those scorching summer days when you want a cold dinner. Throw in some simple homemade biscuits or a loaf of Irish soda bread and that’s all you need.

    You could throw in some veggies and add a creamy cucumber salad or a corn and blueberry salad.

    If you love the flavors in an Old Bay seafood boil, then you’ll also like this recipe for marinated shrimp, they both have my favorite Old Bay seasoning.

    The marinade is mostly lemons, you’ll need 6 of them. Added to the lemon juice is Old Bay seasoning or you can use crab boil seasoning. You can find them both on the spice aisle in the grocery store.

    The marinated shrimp are lemony but not spicy. If you want a spicy kick, then add some cayenne to the marinade or some sliced jalapenos.

    While no sauce is needed, a little cocktail sauce is always great for a boost of flavor to cold shrimp.

    A shrimp being dunked in a bowl of cocktail sauce.

    When the weather starts to get a little cooler, try you hand at making crawfish etoufee using frozen crawfish, it’s great when you have a crowd.

    What’s the best way to cook shrimp for shrimp cocktails

    The easiest way to cook shrimp for shrimp cocktails without over cooking them is to add them to boiling water for about two minutes, if using medium to large shrimp. Smaller shrimp will take less time.

    I’ll roast shrimp in the oven if making shrimp and asparagus, or saute them in a skillet if making shrimp carbonara. However, for marinated shrimp, it’s best to quickly boil them.

    When you roast or saute the shrimp, it seals them so that the marinade will not absorb into the shrimp as well.

    You can save a little time and buy shrimp that has already been boiled, but it really doesn’t save you that much time and it costs quite a bit more. When I’m in a hurry or just don’t feel like peeling the shrimp, I’ll get raw shrimp that has been peeled. For me, it’s worth the extra money not to have to peel them.

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      What is cocktail sauce

      Shrimp is frequently served with cocktail which is made up of ketchup, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce and Lemon juice, but the distinct flavor of cocktail sauce comes from horseradish. You can find it pre-made in the ketchup section of the grocery or it’s easy to make your own. This shrimp cocktail sauce looks pretty good.

      A black bowl of shrimp next to a bowl of lemons.

      Why you’ll love marinated shrimp

      • By marinating it overnight, it adds more flavor to the shrimp
      • Cold shrimp on hot days is a great meal!
      • They make the best shrimp cocktails
      • It’s a make ahead meal that just gets better in the fridge
      • Great for cookouts or picnics

      What you’ll need

      The ingredients needed for marinated shrimp recipe.
      • Shrimp – fresh or frozen, any size you choose. If using small shrimp, then you won’t need to cook it as long. You’ll need to peel and devein the shrimp first, I like to leave the tails on for easy eating.
      • Old Bay or crab boil seasoning – These are similar, so use what you have on hand, for me there is always Old Bay in my cabinet.
      • Lemons & Lemon juice – this is a lemon marinade so you need lots of them, about 6, but it doesn’t have to be exact. You will squeeze out the juice first and then put about half of the squeezed lemons in the bowl with the shrimp.
      • Vidalia onion – in the South we love Vidalia sweet onions, but you can use any type of onion.
      • Parsley – this is not just for decoration as in most dishes, it actually adds flavor to the marinade.
      • Bay leaves – you need a bunch, about a half a jar or about 18 bay leaves, again it doesn’t need to be exact.
      • Pantry staples – olive oil and Garlic

      Step by step directions

      Step 1

      First boil the shrimp. They only need to be in the boiling water about 2 minutes and then chill them in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Be sure to drain the shrimp thoroughly.

      Cooked shrimp in a bowl of ice.

      Step 2

      In a medium bowl, whisk olive oil with lemon juice and old bay seasoning.

      A glass measuring bowl with an Old Bay lemon marinade.

      Step 3

      In a large glass bowl, layer the shrimp, garlic, onion, bay leaves parsley and 6 of the lemon halves. Pour the lemon dressing over the top and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap.

      Shrimp and lemons in a glass bowl.
      A bowl of marinated shrimp with lemons.

      Step 4

      Place the bowl in the fridge to marinate overnight or up to 24 hours.  Just drain and serve.  

      Pro tip: This shrimp with lemon has so much flavor that you won’t need cocktail sauce, although it’s still a nice addition.  If you want to make it a bit more interesting, add some cayenne, hot sauce or fresh jalapeños to the onion, lemon mixture.

      I love cold food on hot summer days, especially when you can make dinner the day before.

      FAQs and Tips

      What goes well with shrimp salad

      If you are making this a meal, try adding some zucchini packets or if you want a completely cold dinner, add a broccoli salad or Ranch potato salad.

      Can you pan fry the shrimp instead of boiling it?

      For marinated shrimp, it is best to boil the shrimp so that the marinade can seep into the shrimp. Pan fried shrimp will not absorb as much of the flavor from the marinade.

      How long will marinated shrimp cocktail last?

      You can keep marinated shrimp in the fridge for about 3 days. It’s best to freeze any leftovers. You can freeze in an airtight container or freezer bags where they will stay fresh for about 3 months.

      MORE seafood recipes

      • Crab and Shrimp Boil Recipe
      • Southern Shrimp and Grits
      • Pasta with Prosciutto and Scallops
      • Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
      A bowl of shrimp next to a bowl of cocktail sauce.

      Marinated Shrimp

      Author: Barbara Curry
      This marinated shrimp recipe will take your shrimp cocktail to the next level. Marinated overnight in an Old Bay lemon dressing, they're so good you won't even need cocktail sauce.
      5 from 2 votes
      Print Pin
      PREP: 1 day 15 minutes
      COOK: 2 minutes
      TOTAL: 1 day 17 minutes
      Servings: 6

      Ingredients
       

      • 1 ½ lb shrimp shelled and deveined
      • 1 ½ cups olive oil
      • 1 cup lemon juice and lemons from 6 lemons
      • 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
      • 1 medium vidalia onion thinly sliced
      • 18 bay leaves
      • ½ cup parsley
      • ¼ cup Old Bay seasoning
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      Instructions
       

      • In a saucepan, boil 8 cups of water with a handful of salt. Add shrimp and boil for about 2 minutes until cooked. Drain and put the cooked shrimp into an ice bath. Drain again and place in a very large bowl.
      • Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl. You should get at least ¾ cup of lemon juice. Save the lemon halves.
      • In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and Old Bay seasoning. To the shrimp, add garlic, onion, bay leaves, parsley and 6 of the lemon halves. Pour the lemon dressing over the shrimp. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
      • Drain the shrimp prior to serving.
      Barbara’s Tips + Notes
      • If using smaller shrimp, you won’t need to cook them for 2 minutes, take them out when they are pink.
      • Make sure to drain the shrimp before adding the marinade and also before serving.
      • If you want to make them spicy, add a little cayenne pepper to the dressing or some jalapeno slices. 

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1serving | Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 525IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg
      Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

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      Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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