This recipe for New Orleans BBQ shrimp is tender and succulent shrimp cooked in a bold and zesty sauce – full of flavor and easy to make! This dish makes for the perfect appetizer or main course option.
Love shrimp? Then you’ll definitely want to try my garlic butter shrimp, grilled shrimp skewers and this fabulous BBQ style shrimp.
I’ve never been to New Orleans, but that doesn’t stop me from making these New Orleans BBQ shrimp. You probably see the word BBQ here and assume that it means the shrimp are grilled, but they’re actually cooked on the stove in a savory butter based sauce. Let me tell you, these shrimp are absolutely amazing, and ready in only 15 minutes! They’re great for an appetizer or as part of a meal, but regardless of when or how you eat them, a loaf of crusty bread on the side is a MUST to sop up that sauce.
How do you make New Orleans BBQ shrimp?
These New Orleans BBQ Shrimp are super simple to make – the shrimp are cooked in a pan with garlic, butter, lemon and seasonings. I buy the largest, highest quality shrimp I can find for this recipe, I think it really makes a difference in the end product. Of course it’ll still be great with smaller shrimp, but if you see the big guys (the ones pictured are the U-15 per pound size), snap them up!
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF SHRIMP IS COOKED?
Shrimp doesn’t take long to cook, especially if you buy the pre-cooked kind (they’re already pinkish when you buy them at the store). If you buy the greyish shrimp, that means they’re uncooked, and once they turn pink and opaque, that’s when you know they’re done. It typically takes 3-4 minutes to cook average sized shrimp. Be sure to watch your shrimp carefully so that they don’t overcook. This recipe calls for uncooked shrimp, if you use the pre-cooked variety they may turn tough during the second cooking process.
This recipe calls for Cajun seasoning – not all seasoning blends are made equal. Some have more heat, others have more salt, so the amount of Cajun seasoning may vary a bit depending on your particular blend. I would start with the 2 teaspoons and if you feel like it needs a little more, feel free to add it. You can also add a little more heat with a splash of hot sauce or sprinkling of cayenne pepper, but I kept it mild because I was feeding kids.
These New Orleans BBQ Shrimp have rocketed to the top of my favorite shrimp recipes list. There’s just something about the combination of spices with the butter sauce, and let’s face it, when it comes to seafood, butter is always a good thing!
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MORE DELICIOUS WAYS TO ENJOY SHRIMP
New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound of large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 5 tablespoons of butter
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped fresh parsley and lemon wedges
Instructions
- Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning on the shrimp; toss to coat evenly.
- Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve; garnished with parsley and lemon wedges if desired.
Jacque Hooper says
I always love trying new Cajun recipes when I can and this looks spot on! Looking forward to making this; so perfect for summer!
Jessica says
This is so yummy! Thank you so much!
Emily says
These shrimp reminded me of the yummy shrimp I got in New Orleans, I’m so happy I found this recipe!
Melissa says
Yum! The shrimp were delicious!
Anna says
This is one of the best shrimp dinners I’ve made in a while! So delicious!
Greg says
Love those shrimp! You can almost taste them from the pictures alone.
Chris Scheuer says
I’m seriously lusting after these shrimp Sara, I would love to serve them at my next get together. It seems everyone loves Cajun! Pinning and sharing!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
A gorgeous dish, Sara. Shrimp is a huge favorite in my house and these spices are making an irresistible dinner. Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to make this! Sharing 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
What a beautiful pot of shrimp and I love the cajun flavours! Pinned!
Debbie says
I just love these tasty shrimp!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
i’ve never been to new orleans either but i sure love all the food and flavours that come from there. such delicious looking bbq shrimp. love how spiced it is!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
What kind of cajun seasoning do you like? There are so many to chose from and I always love the flavor. We are all in on the cayenne too. This is a gorgeous pot of tender shrimp – my husband and I would devour this meal! Thanks for the recipe!
Sara says
I buy my Cajun seasoning from Penzey’s through mail order, it’s flavorful but not spicy which is perfect for the kids!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
That is the most succulent shrimp I think I’ve ever seen — my husband would love this, it’s on the menu for this week!