This is the best seasoning for shrimp because it gives baked, grilled, sauteed, and air fryer shrimp an addictive savory-smoky flavor. Use your perfectly seasoned shrimp in tacos, salads, fajitas, grain bowls, and more!
When you want to take shrimp from good to great, you have to pick the right seasonings. Luckily, choosing the best seasonings for shrimp isn’t hard! Toss them in garlic butter sauce, add some heat with a Cajun seasoning, or, for the best all-around flavor, turn to this easy shrimp seasoning recipe.
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Why you’ll love it
Like my chicken wing rub and salmon dry rub recipe, this shrimp seasoning blend is made with a handful of pantry staple seasonings. You likely have most or all of them in your kitchen already!
The blend features a well-balanced mix of savory flavors. It’s similar to blackening seasoning but skips the herbs and cayenne to give the shrimp a mild crowd-pleasing flavor. This also helps it pair well with countless dishes, like shrimp tacos, fajitas, salads, pasta, grain bowls, and so much more!
Ingredients needed
The best spices to enhance the flavor of shrimp are likely in your pantry already. Here’s what you need:
- Paprika – The type of paprika you use will affect the flavor of the shrimp. Use smoked paprika for shrimp that tastes like it was cooked in a smoker or, for a mild and slightly sweet flavor, use regular or sweet paprika.
- Garlic powder and onion powder – These give the seasoning blend a balanced savory flavor.
- Salt and black pepper – To round out all of the flavors.
Before cooking, it helps to toss the shrimp in olive oil so the seasoning blend sticks to the outside. I also like to garnish cooked shrimp with fresh parsley but you can leave this out if you want.
What kind of shrimp should I use?
Any kind! Any size or variety of shrimp can be seasoned; it all depends on the dish you plan on making.
Shrimp usually comes in colossal, jumbo, extra large, large, medium, small, and miniature sizes. I typically buy large or jumbo shrimp when I’m serving the shrimp in tacos, salads, or as an appetizer with any of these 20+ dipping sauces for shrimp.
Pro tip: Always remove the vein from larger varieties of shrimp (AKA the shrimp’s digestive tract) before seasoning and cooking as its gritty texture can ruin your dish.
How to season and cook shrimp
To make the shrimp seasoning, whisk all of the spices together in a small bowl or glass jar.
Prep the shrimp by rinsing them and patting them dry with paper towels. Add them to a large bowl and toss them with olive oil and the shrimp seasoning.
Grill, air fry, pan fry, or bake the shrimp, garnish with fresh parsley, then enjoy!
Tip: Here’s how to tell when shrimp are done.
Variations
- Make it spicy – Add up to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes to give the spice blend a spicy twist.
- Add dried herbs – Like dried oregano, basil, and/or thyme.
- Make it a marinade – Stir the dry spices and olive oil together in a large bowl, then add the shrimp and toss to coat. Marinate the shrimp for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking, then enjoy!
Serving suggestions
Once the shrimp is seasoned and cooked, use them in any of these delicious dishes:
- Tacos – Layer the seasoned shrimp in flour or corn tortillas and top them with this fish taco sauce, pineapple salsa, guacamole, and/or pico de gallo.
- Fajitas – Just like in tacos, shrimp is a fantastic protein for zesty and fiery fajitas! Load them with grilled peppers and onions, shredded lettuce, green or red salsa, and any other fajita toppings you love.
- Salads – Smoky grilled shrimp is a perfect fit for Southwest salads with this Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing. Otherwise, feel free to use the shrimp on a simple arugula salad, Caesar salad, or an avocado chickpea salad.
- Rice or pasta – Use the shrimp as a topping on your favorite pasta recipe, pair it with plain rice or Mexican rice, or as a topping on a grain bowl.
- Appetizers – Enjoy the smoky-savory shrimp as an appetizer paired with dipping sauces, like bang bang sauce, seafood boil sauce, romesco sauce, lemon butter, remoulade sauce, or chipotle crema.
- Main dish – Make the shrimp the main event for dinner and pair it with any of these 37+ Best Sides For Shrimp.
FAQs
This shrimp seasoning recipe makes enough to season 1 pound of shrimp.
Good news: this spice blend isn’t JUST for shrimp. Its smoky and savory flavors are also a great match for seasoning salmon, white fish, potatoes, tofu, chicken, and roasted vegetables.
The shrimp seasoning blend will stay fresh for up to 6 months. Keep it in an airtight glass jar on your spice rack or in your pantry.
More seasoning blends you can use for shrimp
More shrimp recipes
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Full Recipe
Shrimp Seasoning
Ingredients
Seasons 1 Pound of Shrimp
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh chopped parsley (to garnish (optional))
For Tossing
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Whisk together all the spices in a small bowl.
- Rinse shrimp and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil and spices.
- Cook as desired.
- Enjoy!
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