Easy Baked Shrimp with Garlic and Parmesan

Name: Easy Baked Shrimp
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 ceramic baking 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 until plump and juicy. They are delicious when freshly baked, alone or on a bed of noodles or greens, and the leftovers are perfect in salads.

Ingredients and Variations

The ingredients needed to bake shrimp in the oven.

See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.

Raw shrimp: I use large shrimp, peeled and deveined. The tails can be on or off.
Melted butter: I use unsalted butter. Sometimes, I use olive oil instead of butter. Ghee is another tasty option. I like the rich, nutty flavor it adds.
To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
Grated parmesan: It's best to use finely grated parmesan rather than coarsely shredded.

Instructions

The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.

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, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan.

Bake the shrimp in a preheated 400°F oven until pink and opaque, about 8 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter and spoon the pan juices on top. 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 Tips

Shrimp Sizes

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:

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

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.

Dry Them Well

It's important to ensure the shrimp are completely dry before seasoning and baking them. If you thawed them overnight in the fridge and they are still a bit icy, rinse them under cool water and spread them on paper towels to dry completely, as shown in the image below.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp?

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

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 baked shrimp stringy?

Shrimp become stringy when overcooked because of their high protein content. To prevent them from being stringy, avoid overcooking them.

I don't like spicy food. Can I omit the red pepper flakes?

Yes, absolutely. They don't make the dish overly spicy - they simply add a layer of interesting flavor, but it's fine to omit them.

Serving Suggestions

Baked shrimp are incredibly 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:

Zucchini casserole
Broccoli tots
Roasted carrots
Baked shiitake mushrooms
Roasted asparagus
Roasted cabbage
Jicama fries, as shown in the photo below

Baked shrimp are served with jicama fries.

Storing and Using the Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge 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 image below.

Recipe Card

Baked shrimp are served in a white dish.

5 from 50 votes

Easy Baked Shrimp

This easy baked shrimp recipe is made with garlic, butter, and Parmesan. A quick, flavorful shrimp dinner perfect for busy weeknights.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 305kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

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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.
¼ cup butter
Sprinkle the shrimp with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan.
1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Bake until the shrimp are pink and opaque, about 8 minutes. If you want the parmesan to brown, finish by broiling for about 1 minute (use foil rather than parchment if you're going to broil).
Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter and spoon the pan juices on top. Serve immediately.

Notes

Seasonings, especially salt, are just guidelines. Adjust to taste
Need to defrost your shrimp? Fill a large bowl with cool water and add the shrimp. Replace the water once or twice, gently separating frozen shrimp that have stuck together. They should be fully defrosted in about 10 minutes. Drain them using a colander, then dry them thoroughly 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.
It's important to ensure the shrimp are completely dry before seasoning and baking them. If you thawed them overnight in the fridge and they are still a bit icy, rinse them under cool water and spread them on paper towels to dry completely.
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. You can also serve them cold in a salad, or with cocktail sauce or sriracha mayo for dipping.

Nutrition per Serving

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

Baked Shrimp

Ingredients and Variations

Instructions