The Best Seasonings for Shrimp

Shrimp has a distinct flavor and texture that sets it apart from other meats. It’s mildly salty with a touch of sweetness. These savory little crustaceans taste best with seasoning that complements their unique umami flavor. The top three spice blends for shrimp are garlic butter, Old Bay Seasoning, and blackened seasoning, and they are easy to make at home!

Garlic Butter

Garlic butter is a go-to seasoning for many shrimp fans. Butter and garlic are a perfect mix of sweet and savory. Cooking lean meat, like shrimp, in butter is ideal since it gives the meat a richer flavor. Garlic adds a little bite. This seasoning mix is the base for Italian dishes like shrimp scampi and Asian dishes like honey garlic butter shrimp.

Shrimp cooked in garlic butter also tastes excellent with a dash of lemon zest, basil, red pepper, paprika, or parmesan. If you prefer Asian cuisine, you could add in honey, soy sauce, and green onion.

Simple Garlic Butter Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1 teaspoon fresh basil, diced (optional)

¼ teaspoon Spanish paprika (optional)

Directions

Mix ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.

Old Bay Seasoning

Old Bay Seasoning isn’t just for crab cakes. This unique blend of 18 herbs and spices tastes just as good on shrimp. Old Bay Seasoning was made for seafood. It’s sweet and spicy with earthy undertones. You can add a dash of it to your breading for fried shrimp or sprinkle it over shrimp on the grill. Old Bay seasoned shrimp tastes wonderful over cheesy grits or pasta.

You won’t find a complete list of Old Bay ingredients on their label because they strive to keep their recipe a secret. This Old Bay Seasoning copycat recipe from Food.com has come close to cracking the secret.

Blackening Seasoning

You’ve probably seen blackened shrimp or chicken on a menu before. Blackening is the name of both a Cajun seasoning blend and cooking technique. The cooking technique began in Louisiana. Blackened meats are coated with blackening seasoning and cooked in butter in a cast-iron skillet. This technique gives the meat a dark, “blackened” appearance. The seasoning blend includes spices that brown effortlessly, like garlic powder and onion powder, along with classic Cajun spices like cayenne pepper. If you want your shrimp to have a kick, give this seasoning blend a try! Enjoy blackened shrimp on tacos, tossed with rice and vegetables, or over pasta.

Blackening Seasoning Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 ½ tablespoons Spanish paprika

1 tablespoon ground dried thyme

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Use immediately or store in an airtight container.

Shrimp pairs best with spice blends that have a bold flavor from garlic butter to blackening seasoning. Whether you’re making shrimp taco or shrimp pasta, cooking your shrimp in a flavorful seasoning mix will take your meal to the next level.

You can find a wide selection of fresh shrimp in every size at City Fish Market. We offer peeled, deveined shrimp along with shell-on shrimp. Stop by today to pick up the best shrimp in Connecticut for dinner tonight!