6 Shrimp Dinners That Are Ready in a Hurry

No longer relegated to an appetizer tray, quick-cooking shrimp can star in your dinners too. Check out these easy, speedy recipes.

By: Foodlets

LEMON_SHRIMP_GRITS_24.tif

Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

Any dinner that comes together in 30 minutes or less hits the sweet spot at my house, which makes quick-cooking shrimp a favorite for weeknight meals. Shrimp cooks so quickly, in fact, that the most-important advice I ever learned about preparing shrimp was simple: Don’t overcook it! For the best taste and texture, keep a watchful eye for those little beauties until they just turn pink. That mean’s dinner’s on!

This Southern favorite cooks up in just 30 minutes, and though it’s packed with the bold flavors of nutty Parmesan cheese, garlic and bright lemon, it’s a surprisingly healthy option.

Delicious inside buns or croissants, Ina’s cold shrimp salad is a go-to pick for nights you’re offering a DIY sandwich dinner. Whip it up ahead of time to ensure it’s waiting for you in the fridge later.

This lighter, vegetable-packed version of shrimp fettuccini was a hit with even the littlest members of my family, and it comes together in minutes.

You’ll be surprised that a pizza can be both satisfying and refreshing at the same time. Bonus: It’s also awesome in lunchboxes the next day.

GeneralTsoShrimp_077.tif

Photo by: Charles Masters

Charles Masters

The key to getting the crispy-crunchy coating on the exterior of shrimp comes down to two everyday ingredients you almost certainly have on hand. Hint: You may have had one of them for breakfast this morning.

You can’t help but be tempted to try this mouthwatering dish full of tender noodles coated in a lemony sauce and juicy bites of shrimp. This recipe has more than 700 user reviews and a 5-star rating, so there’s no doubt it will turn out craveable results every time.

Charity Curley Mathews is the mom of four small kids and lives in North Carolina on a mini farm in the making. She’s a contributor to InStyle, The Huffington Post and eHow Food and the founder of Foodlets.com, a food and parenting blog where every recipe is full of fresh ingredients, simple to make and kid-tested x4. You can follow her on Facebook.

Next Up

6 Party-Ready Ways to Take Watermelon Off the Rind — Summer Soiree

Take watermelon off the rind in celebration-worthy recipes that will delight (and cool down) warm-weather gatherings.

6 Shrimp Recipes to Try on Taco Night

You’ll taco 'bout them all week long.

6 Best Speakers for Every Kind of Dinner Party

Whether you're planning a beachside picnic or an intimate dinner party, these are the best speakers for every occasion.

Short on Time? These Healthy Dinners Are Ready in a Flash

You’ll spend less time cooking than you will getting your daily dose of cardio.

6 Easy Dinners You'll Want to Cook at Your AirBnb

Keep vacation simple with these smart, no-stress recipes.

6 Delicious Dinner Party Recipes You Can Make Ahead of Time

Sometimes the most important ingredient is extra time.

6 No-Cook Pasta Sauces That Take the Sweat Out of Dinner

You'll want these no-cook pasta sauces on hand when the temperature reaches an all-time high.

We'll Take This Sheet Pan Shrimp Dinner Over Scampi All Summer

Don't worry, there's still plenty of garlic butter.

So, You Need Dinner in a Hurry? No Problem.

Find out how to get dinner on the table quickly. Hint: It starts with these super-speedy family-friendly recipes.