Name: How to Cook Frozen Shrimp
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Seafood
Ingredients: 1 ½ pounds medium frozen shrimp, deveined (tail on or peeled); ¾ teaspoon kosher salt; ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika (or substitute standard paprika); ¾ teaspoon garlic powder; ¾ teaspoon onion powder; ¾ teaspoon cumin; 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil; 3 lemon wedges; Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish

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Learn how to cook frozen shrimp on the stovetop in 10 minutes! You’ll get perfectly juicy, seasoned shrimp ready to serve as an appetizer or entree.

How to cook frozen shrimp, frozen shrimp recipes

Staring at that bag of frozen shrimp and don’t know what to do with it? You’re in the right place! I’m sharing my fool-proof method for cooking frozen shrimp on the stove (and how to thaw it beforehand!).

Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins to cook on weeknights because it’s healthy, quick to cook, and stores well in the freezer. It’s also incredibly versatile. I can turn frozen shrimp into a quick appetizer, toss it into pasta, or even use it to build a flavorful shrimp bowl. Here’s how to have juicy, tender, sautéed shrimp on the table in no time!

Thaw the Shrimp First

It’s best to thaw the shrimp before cooking it to avoid rubbery, overcooked shrimp. Rubbery shrimp happens when you cook fish from frozen, and the outer layer starts cooking before the inside has fully thawed. As a result, the outside can become overcooked by the time the inside is done.

The best way to thaw frozen raw shrimp is to place them in the refrigerator for 12 hours to allow them to defrost. If you don’t have those extra hours on hand, though, don’t worry! Here’s my quick method for defrosting shrimp:

Place the shrimp in a large bowl of cold water.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and stir the bowl every 5 minutes to break up clumps that freeze together. The shrimp should be defrosted in about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp (larger shrimp can take up to 20 minutes).
Pat the thawed shrimp dry. This is important; otherwise, the shrimp will steam instead of cooking (unless you plan to boil or steam them).

What Ingredients Are Needed

While I love making a variety of shrimp dishes and cooking shrimp in different ways (as I’ll discuss later on), sometimes it’s best to go back to the basics. For my classic frozen shrimp recipe, I use the following main ingredients:

Frozen shrimp (thawed): I use medium, frozen, deveined shrimp (which means the main central vein is removed). You can use either tail-on or peeled shrimp!
Smoked paprika: I personally love using smoked paprika for this shrimp recipe. It gives the shrimp an extra layer of flavor and adds some spice to the dish. If I don’t have smoked paprika on hand, I can always opt for standard paprika instead.
My classic seasoning mixture: I combine garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and kosher salt to create a savory, earthy flavor profile.
Butter: Butter adds richness when cooking shrimp. You can also substitute the butter with olive oil, if desired, for dietary needs or flavor preference.

See the list of full ingredients with exact amounts in the recipe card below.

Time to Get Cooking

Once the shrimp are thawed and you’ve gathered all the ingredients, it’s time to start sautéing them on the stovetop. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of how to perfectly cook frozen shrimp:

Place the shrimp in a large bowl of very cold water for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to break up clumps that freeze together. (After 15 minutes, rinse off any remaining ice.)
Pat the shrimp completely dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with the salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin.
In a large skillet, heat the butter on medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until just opaque and cooked through.
Spritz with lemon juice from the wedges and serve immediately.

Dietary Notes

This frozen shrimp recipe is pescatarian and dairy-free with olive oil.

Featured 5-Star Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This was the best shrimp recipe! So easy, quick & delicious!”

– Valorie

20 Frozen Shrimp Recipes

While my basic cooking recipe is great, I like to change things up and get creative with shrimp recipes in my kitchen. Here are all my favorite cooking methods and ways to prepare shrimp to make a delicious, healthy, seafood-inspired entree or appetizer.

Sauteed Shrimp

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Old Bay Steamed Shrimp

Here’s a fun way to cook shrimp without all the hassle of a full-on shrimp boil: Old Bay Steamed Shrimp! This cooking method combines boiling and steaming, resulting in succulent, seasoned shrimp. Bonus: The cook time is only 2-3 minutes!

Easy Baked Shrimp

This oven-baked shrimp is simple, juicy, and beautifully seasoned with garlic and herbs. It’s a fantastic, healthy, and quick dinner option.

Broiled Shrimp

Broiled shrimp is exceptionally delicious, and you don’t even need to preheat the oven! It’s seasoned with garlic and lemon and is perfectly tender. Want some extra texture? Add breading for an irresistible crunch!

Boiled Shrimp

The most popular way to use boiled shrimp is for shrimp cocktail, but you can boil it for any type of preparation. The advantage of boiling? It keeps well at room temperature, making it perfect to sit out on a platter while entertaining family and friends.

Grilled Shrimp

Grilled shrimp is one of the fastest and easiest ways to cook this tasty shellfish. The only part that takes time is preheating the grill! Thaw your frozen shrimp while you preheat, then grill them up with this perfect seasoning blend.

Blackened Shrimp

Blackening is a Cajun cooking technique that’s all about the spices. Combine homemade blackened seasoning with grilled or pan-fried shrimp, and you’ve got an irresistible mix of savory, herbal, and salty flavored shrimp!

Easy Cajun Shrimp

This easy Cajun shrimp recipe takes just 5 minutes and is packed with savory and garlicky flavors. Pair it with a quick veggie side dish or salad, and you’ve got dinner!

Honey Garlic Shrimp

There’s nothing like the sweet, savory combination of honey garlic glaze and juicy shrimp. The best part? It takes 10 minutes to make and has lightning-fast prep time. This is one of my favorite easy dinner ideas in over a decade of creating recipes!

Easy Pesto Shrimp

This pesto shrimp is a dinnertime win! Savory basil pesto is a natural pairing with juicy shrimp; serve with pasta or rice for an easy dinner idea. This bright green, garlicky sauce is the perfect pairing for this succulent shellfish!

Shrimp Scampi

The Italian American shrimp scampi: a classic that’s been stealing hearts and minds for decades. Sauté shrimp and toss with a luxurious lemony garlic butter sauce. Sop it up with bread, or pour it over pasta – either way, it’s divine!

Quick Shrimp Tacos

These easy shrimp tacos are a fast dinner recipe for weeknights or entertaining. They taste stunning drizzled in a creamy cilantro sauce!

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

This Italian-style dish features tender shrimp swimming in a garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. Typically, this dish has intense heat. Make it homemade, though, and you can customize the spiciness to taste!

Classic Shrimp Fajitas

Every time I serve this Tex-Mex favorite, it gets rave reviews from everyone around the table. The fajita veggies are seasoned to perfection, and the shrimp are juicy and buttery. You can also make them in the oven for sheet pan shrimp fajitas!

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

This vibrant cilantro lime shrimp is ready in just 10 minutes! Juicy shrimp coated in zesty lime and fresh cilantro makes a quick, flavorful protein perfect for tacos, rice bowls, or a simple family dinner.

Easy BBQ Shrimp

This BBQ shrimp recipe is quick and easy, with big, bold flavors. It’s the perfect fast dinner served with a side of rice, bread, or a salad.

Sheet Pan Shrimp & Veggies

This sheet pan shrimp dinner has become a reader favorite for its big flavors and easy prep! Combine juicy shrimp with colorful Mediterranean veggies, like cherry tomatoes and tangy artichoke, and top it off with a squeeze of lemon and a hearty sprinkle of feta cheese.

Shrimp and Broccoli

This recipe is a family favorite and a healthy and easy weeknight meal. Cook up tender broccoli and juicy shrimp with soy sauce and rice vinegar. Depending on what you serve it with, dinner can be on the table in just 20 minutes!

Quick Shrimp Stir Fry

This shrimp stir fry recipe is versatile and customizable based on your tastes. All you need is shrimp, savory stir-fry sauce, and whatever veggies you love! Just add rice or noodles to make it a meal!

Shrimp Bowl with Cilantro Lime Rice

This shrimp bowl recipe consistently gets 5-star reviews! Mix up a batch of cilantro lime rice, then top it with tender shrimp and a quick black bean and corn salad. The best part is the creamy, zingy chipotle ranch dressing goes on top of everything.