This easy baked shrimp has the very best flavor, seasoned with garlic and herbs. Add a crispy breading before it’s roasted for an irresistible crunch!
Shrimp is a big winner around here: it’s delicious, a healthy lean protein, and so fast to cook. (And our 3 year old is obsessed.) Alex and my usual way to cook it is this sauteed shrimp. But the other day we thought: why not try baked shrimp in the oven? Well, you would not believe the “Wow’s!” exclaimed after every bite. This method is so easy and the shrimp come out juicy and perfectly seasoned with garlic and herbs. Add breadcrumbs for a crispy coating; it’s optional but it takes these to over the top incredible status. Move over, all other shrimp recipes! This one is the perfect healthy, fast and easy dinner.
Baked shrimp in 5 minutes!
Baked shrimp could not be simpler. The only hard part is waiting for the oven to preheat. After that: it’s just about 5 minutes in a hot oven. Or if you don’t have time to preheat: use the broiler method in the recipe below! The exact timing will depend on the size of your shrimp. Here are a few pointers for making this roasted shrimp:
- Use any size of shrimp. Just keep in mind the cook time will vary based on the size. Bake the shrimp 4 to 6 minutes until its opaque.
- Bake or broil. The advantage with broiled shrimp is that you don’t have to wait for the oven to preheat!
- Add breadcrumbs if desired. It’s optional, but adding breadcrumbs makes the crispiest crunchy topping. Here’s how to make homemade breadcrumbs, or you can get store bought.
- Check and assess doneness. Pull the pan from the oven and assess doneness. You can always cook more: but you can’t undo overcooking it!
Seasonings for baked shrimp
This recipe uses simple seasonings, but they taste simply perfect. The combination of garlic and herbs takes succulent shrimp to new heights. Here’s what we used in addition to salt and pepper:
- Garlic
- Dried oregano
- Onion powder
- Bread crumbs (optional)
- Fresh lemon juice (after baking)
- Fresh parsley cilantro (after baking)
Variations and add-ins!
Of course, there are lots of other ways to season baked shrimp! Here are some more ideas on adders that would step up this dish — or alternative ways to season:
- Feta crumbles. Top with feta for a Mediterranean or Greek-style vibe.
- Cilantro lime. Switch out oregano for cumin and lemon juice for lime. (See also Cilantro Lime Shrimp.)
- Curry powder or paste. Heighten the flavors by stirring in curry powder or curry paste to taste (skip the oregano).
How to serve baked shrimp
Make it a meal! All you need to dress up this shrimp are some veggies, a grain, or a salad. Here are our top recommendations:
- Couscous: Go Mediterranean style and make the couscous in this Quick Shrimp Couscous recipe.
- Rice or Quinoa: Make a quick pot: go to How to Cook Rice or How to Cook Quinoa.
- Steamed or Sauteed Veggies: Some of our fastest veggie side dishes are: Peas with Lemon, Best Sauteed Mushrooms, Simple Sauteed Broccoli, Amazing Sauteed Spinach, Lemon Herb Cauliflower, or Best Sauteed Kale.
- Salad: Some quick & easy salads to pair: Easy Arugula Salad, Kale Salad, Perfect Italian Salad, or Chopped Salad.
Fresh vs frozen shrimp: which to use?
You can use either fresh or frozen for this roasted shrimp recipe. Frozen shrimp is obviously very convenient! But is it as high quality? Actually, yes:
- Both fresh and frozen shrimp work! A myth about fish is that “fresh is best,” but frozen isn’t necessarily lower quality. In fact, it might be higher.
- Why? As soon as an animal dies it begins to decompose; freezing suspends this process. If a fish is frozen when it was caught and stays frozen until it gets to your kitchen, it will be higher quality than a raw fish that has taken a week to get to your plate.
Want to know the best way to defrost shrimp? Go to How to Thaw Shrimp.
This baked shrimp recipe is…
Pescatarian, gluten-free and dairy-free.
PrintEasy Baked Shrimp
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
This easy baked shrimp has the very best flavor, seasoned with garlic and herbs. Add a crispy breading before it’s roasted for an irresistible crunch!
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, deveined (tail on or off)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt*
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional; homemade* or plain purchased breadcrumbs; best with broiled method)
- Lemon wedges
- Chopped parsley or cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or preheat the broiler.
- If frozen, thaw the shrimp.
- Pat the shrimp dry.
- Mince the garlic. In a medium bowl, toss with the shrimp with the olive oil, garlic, oregano, onion powder, and kosher salt. Toss until fully combined. If using breadcrumbs, add them and toss until all shrimp are coated.
- Baked method (best without breadcrumbs): Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the shrimp on a baking sheet in an even layer.Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until juicy and opaque, about 4 to 6 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp.
- Broiler method (best for crispy breadcrumbs): Place the shrimp on a baking sheet in an even layer. You can add a few additional pinches of breadcrumbs if there were places where they did not stick to the shrimp. Place the baking sheet in the broiler and broil for 3 to 6 minutes, until juicy and opaque, rotating the tray as necessary for even cooking.
- Spritz with fresh lemon juice from lemon wedges, sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro, and serve immediately.
Notes
*Homemade breadcrumbs are the best, if possible! Make sure the breadcrumbs have a fine texture so they stick to the shrimp. If you’re using purchased breadcrumbs, make sure they are plain with no added salt. If they are salted, adjust the salt quantity in the recipe to use less (start with half). Note that nutrition info below is without breadcrumbs.
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Seafood
Keywords: Baked shrimp, Roasted shrimp
More favorite shrimp recipes
Shrimp makes the quickest weeknight dinners! Here are a few more of our favorite healthy shrimp recipes:
- Quick Shrimp Tacos A fast dinner recipe for weeknights or entertaining. They taste stunning drizzled in a creamy cilantro sauce!
- Perfect Sauteed Shrimp This really is the best easy shrimp, with the best seasoning.
- Creamy Shrimp Pasta Easy to make with the best big flavors: garlic, lemon, and Parmesan. A home run dinner idea!
- Shrimp and Broccoli Ultra flavorful, it comes together in minutes for a fast and easy healthy dinner! Serve with rice or over noodles.
- Shrimp Fried Rice Taste just like your favorite takeout!
- How to Cook Shrimp on the Stove Here’s a quick tutorial on how to saute shrimp on the stove: and it takes only 4 minutes to cook!
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