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If you’re wondering what to serve with your shrimp, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 42 of the most popular side dishes for shrimp.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with shrimp are jalapeno cheddar grits, creamy lemon pasta, cucumber and jicama slaw, and Vietnamese noodle salad. You can also try squash puppies, crusty bread rolls, or Southwest quinoa salad. For something fun, make shrimp tacos.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Creamy lemon pasta

Shrimp is fabulous with pretty much any pasta dish, but I especially love them with this lemon pasta.

The luscious white sauce is perfectly balanced – creamy, with just a hint of citrus to prevent it from becoming overly rich.

Psst… this recipe calls specifically for heavy cream. Be careful with substitutes because they’re more likely to curdle.

Why we love this recipe: it transforms basic pantry staples into a restaurant-worthy dish.

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Creamy lemon pasta
Skip the cream
Lemon pasta (no butter or cream)
Make it low-carb
Lemon garlic zucchini noodles

Cucumber jicama slaw

Trade in your usual mayo-based slaw for this refreshing alternative.

The cucumber and jicama matchsticks are crunchier and juicer than cabbage, and the whole dish is lighter and brighter.

It’s my go-to slaw for dishes like shrimp tacos or Cajun shrimp.

Why we love this recipe: the cucumbers have a cooling effect, making this slaw perfect for summer.

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Cucumber jicama slaw
Add a fruity note
Mango jicama slaw
Make it tangy
Pickled jicama

Jalapeno cheddar cheese grits

Shrimp and grits are a classic Southern combo.

The cornmeal-based porridge is usually flavored with cheddar cheese, but this recipe takes it up a notch by adding chopped jalapenos to the mix.

They add a bit of heat and spice to the meal, contrasting perfectly with your mildly sweet shrimp.

Why we love this recipe: you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

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Jalapeno cheddar cheese grits
Make it dairy-free
Vegan cheese grits
Make it Italian-inspired
Creamy polenta with parmesan

Vegetable kabobs

Want something fun to go alongside your grilled shrimp?

Serve them with these grilled veggie kabobs. You can set up a ‘make your own’ station where your guests can pick what they want on their skewers.

Then chuck them on the grill next to your shrimp.

I’d go for zucchini, red onion, mushroom, and halloumi.

Why we love this recipe: you can even put the shrimp on the kabob.

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Vegetable kabobs
Make it simple
Grilled eggplant
Make it sweet
Grilled fruit kabobs with spicy glaze

Squash puppies

Jazz up your usual hushpuppies by adding squash to the batter.

It helps keep the insides moist and brings a subtle nutty-ness to these crispy treats.

Pro-tip: make sure to steam your squash until tender so you won’t have any stray chunks, just a smooth mash.

Serve these hushpuppies with fried shrimp and cocktail sauce.

Why we love this recipe: they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

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Squash puppies
Skip the squash
Okra hushpuppies
Make it spicy
Hot and spicy hush puppies

Vietnamese noodle salad

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3377768462909484/

Take inspiration from Vietnamese cuisine and whip up this noodle salad to go with your shrimp.

It’s loaded with fresh slivered carrots, cucumbers, and green onions, all tossed in a sweet-tangy dressing called nuoc cham.

Shrimp is the perfect pairing for a bit of protein.

Why we love this recipe: it’s light and refreshing, ideal for a light dinner or lunch.

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Vietnamese noodle salad
Skip the noodles
Vietnamese zucchini and carrot salad
Change the flavor
Soba noodle salad

Southwest quinoa salad

Looking for something healthy and filling?

This quinoa salad has got you covered.

It features a medley of classic Tex-Mex veggies like corn, grape tomatoes, black beans, and bell peppers.

It doesn’t need shrimp, but shrimp definitely makes it better.

Why we love this recipe: it’s fantastic for meal prep because the flavor improves as it sits.

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Southwest quinoa salad
Make it decadent
Southwestern pasta salad
Make it simply
Mexican street corn salad (esquites)

Homemade bread rolls

Homemade bread rolls are the perfect side for any saucy shrimp dish.

Shrimp curry, Spanish-style shrimp tapas, or some simple creamy shrimp.

The only must-have for your bread is rip-ability, so you can rip a chunk off and dunk it into your sauce.

Yum!

Why we love this recipe: you can get them baked from scratch in just over 2 hours.

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French bread rolls
Make it cheesy
Homemade cheese bread
Make it flavorful
Garlic bread

Tostones

From Vietnamese to Southern, to South American.

Shrimp ceviche is a favorite of mine, and it’s delicious with some smashed tostones next to it.

This recipe keeps things simple with the seasoning, so you don’t remove any focus from the shrimp.

But you can go wild here and flavor the tostones with whatever you want.

Why we love this recipe: they’re highly addictive and bring some much-needed crunch.

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Tostones
Make it familiar
Smashed potatoes
Make it effortless
Baked tortilla chips

Sun-dried tomato cream cheese risotto

Elevate your shrimp by serving them over a bed of this brightly-hued risotto.

This upgraded risotto is made extra creamy and decadent, thanks to the addition of cream cheese and a heavy dusting of parmesan cheese.

Then the sun-dried tomatoes add some tang.

Psst… other risotto flavors I like are pea risotto or lemon risotto.

Why we love this recipe: it’s Insta-worthy!

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Sun-dried tomato cream cheese basil risotto
Keep it light
Cilantro lime rice
Make it different
Garlic parmesan orzo

Tacos

These aren’t technically a side dish, but I couldn’t resist including them because who doesn’t love shrimp tacos?

All you need are some corn tortillas, a selection of slaws and salsas, plus some sauce.

Set up a taco station and let everyone make their own.

Why we love this recipe: it’s so easy to customize and make your own.

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Shrimp tacos
Make a sandwich
Shrimp roll
Make it crispy
Shrimp tostadas

Rainbow salad

Keep things light with this Asian-inspired rainbow salad.

It’s chock-full of vibrantly, crisp veggies and finished off with a spicy mango dressing.

Don’t be tempted to use a different dressing because the mango is what makes this dish so unique and tasty.

Why we love this recipe: it’s perfect for summer.

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Healthy rainbow salad
Skip the mango
Avocado corn salad
Make a salsa
Fresh mango salsa

Cocktail sauce

Cocktail sauce is my go-to dipping sauce for seafood.

It adds a pop of bright flavors and a hint of heat and spice to your sweet, meaty shrimp.

Skip the store-bought stuff, though! Making your own will give you a more flavorful sauce, plus it’s easy and affordable too.

Psst… want to make it spicier? Add a dash of hot sauce.

Why we love this recipe: you can’t go wrong with the classics.

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Homemade cocktail sauce
Make a Mexican classic
Restaurant-style salsa
Make it creamy
Mississippi comeback sauce

Sauteed lemon garlic spinach

Keep things simple with sauteed spinach.

It’s a healthy side dish that you can whip up at a moment’s notice.

The acidity from the lemon pairs well with the shrimp, and the garlic adds some warmth.

Why we love this recipe: it’s great when you’re in a real rush.

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Sauteed lemon garlic spinach
Change the veggie
Sauteed broccolini
Fire up the grill
Grilled asparagus

What sauce goes well with shrimp?

I love serving shrimp with a spicy cocktail sauce. But if you want something mayo-based, try Thousand island, bang bang, or tartar sauce. For an Asian-inspired dip, try Thai sweet chili sauce.

Best sauces to serve with shrimp

What to serve with grilled shrimp

The best side dish to serve with grilled shrimp include salads such as classic slaw, a simple arugula salad, a grilled zucchini salad, or a heavier pesto pasta salad. For a more tropical vibe, try a mango salsa or coconut rice. Steak, vegetable kabobs, or crusty bread are also great ideas.

The best side dishes to serve with grilled shrimp