This is the best blackened shrimp recipe! It's full of bold flavors and so simple to make.
This easy shrimp recipe is great for busy weeknights. It cooks in less than 5 minutes, and you can add it to pasta, salads, lettuce wraps, or rice to make an easy complete meal. You can also serve it with a side dish and eat it on its own.
You'll first make a quick blackening spice blend to coat the shrimp. And I highly recommend making a big batch to keep in your spice cabinet. You can use it in so many different ways.
Shrimp is so wonderful because there are so many ways to cook it. You can make a Gulf Shrimp, a Lemon Herb Shrimp or a Honey Garlic Shrimp (to name a few), but this may be my new favorite way to make it because it's so versatile.
You can make it at the beginning of the week and use it for different recipes for lunch and dinner. It will save in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Blackening season is a staple of Cajun cuisine, which I love! Try out some of our other favorite Cajun recipes - Blackened Tilapia, Grilled Red Snapper, or our Cajun Butter Sauce for Seafood.
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Ingredients
This easy recipe is made by coating shrimp in a good amount of seasoning and cooking it at a high temperature for delicious flavor. Here's what you'll need!
- Shelled and deveined shrimp - You can get shrimp from your local grocery store or the fish market. Uncooked fresh shrimp is best for flavor and results. You can use pre-cooked shrimp, but it may not be as flavorful. Larger shrimp and jumbo shrimp will work. Completely thaw frozen shrimp before using.
- Seasonings - If you make a big batch of this blackening seasoning in advance, you can substitute 3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of the seasoning for the mix below.
- Butter - You're going to melt the butter and use it to coat the shrimp with the seasoning. It adds a delicious flavor and helps the seasonings stick. If you're sensitive to salt, use unsalted butter, or reduce the salt in the seasoning mix.
- Cooking oil - I prefer olive oil for this recipe, but you can use avocado oil or vegetable oil if you prefer.
- Optional for serving - You can add a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs and lime wedges for serving.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Combine the smoked paprika, kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, thyme, oregano, and cayenne in a small bowl and stir till mixed.
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Place in a large bowl and toss with the melted butter. Then, toss with the mixture of spices until each piece of shrimp is covered.
Heat a large frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and once hot, add the seasoned shrimp to the hot skillet. Spread out the shrimp so they are in a single layer.
Cook for 1 ½ minutes and flip each shrimp over and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until the shrimp are no longer opaque.
Remove the shrimp from heat and serve immediately over pasta, with rice, or on its own with a side dish.
Cooking Tips and Storage
- Storage - Store cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Make it spicier - If you want to make this a spicy shrimp recipe, add more cayenne pepper to your liking.
- Using pre-cooked shrimp - Raw shrimp is best in this recipe to absorb the spice mix flavors, but if you prefer pre-cooked shrimp, you'll reduce the cooking time by about half.
How to Use Blackened Shrimp
Here are a few delicious ways to serve this flavorful, juicy shrimp:
- It's delicious in rice bowls, lettuce wraps, burrito bowls, and blackened shrimp tacos.
- Add to a salad like this Black Bean and Corn Salad or this delicious Green Salad.
- Add it to your favorite pasta recipes like this Roasted Red Pepper Pasta or this Creamy Zucchini Pasta.
What to Serve with Shrimp
Check out our full list of side dishes for seafood, or try one of these delicious recipes.
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Blackened Shrimp
This delicious, robust blackened shrimp recipe couldn't be easier to make! It's a wonderful way to season and cook shrimp for maximum flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- optional - serve with a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs and lime wedges
Instructions
- Combine the smoked paprika, kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, thyme, oregano, and cayenne in a bowl and stir till mixed.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Place in a large bowl and toss with the melted butter. Then toss with the mixture of spices until each piece of shrimp is covered.
- Heat a large frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and once hot, add half the shrimp to the pan. Spread out the shrimp so they are in a single layer. Cook for 1 ½ minutes and flip each shrimp over and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until the shrimp are no longer opaque.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the rest of the shrimp to the pan and cook for 1 ½ minute and flip and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Remove the shrimp from heat and serve immediately over pasta, with rice, or on its own with a side dish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 400Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 494mgSodium: 2826mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 53g
