Shrimp Old Bay Recipe

This Old Bay Shrimp recipe has readers calling it โ€œAmazing,โ€ โ€œFantastic, โ€ โ€œTasty and easy,โ€ and โ€œLoved it!โ€ย  As a shrimp aficionado who has created countless shrimp recipes and tested every trick in the book, I can confidently say this Old Bay Shrimp is next-level easy and delicious. Follow along for your step-by-step guide to bold, buttery, garlicky, lemony, perfectly spiced shrimp!

quick and easy Old Bay Shrimp (Grill or Stove top) is so juicy and flavorful and the homemade Cocktail Sauce is amazing! ย Serve it as an appetizer or add some sides and call it dinner!ย 


 

Why you’ll love This Old Bay Shrimp Recipe

  • Big Flavor, Minimal Effort: Just a handful of ingredients deliver restaurant-worthy taste in under 30 minutes.
  • More Flavorful than Traditional: Unlike the classic Old Bay shrimp method of boiling in water and beer, this recipe seasons the shrimp from the inside out with a quick marinade for maximum flavor in every bite.
  • Old Bay Magic: The iconic seasoning is paired with garlic and cocktail sauce to create a quick marinade that delivers a bold, zesty, slightly spicy flavor.
  • Juicy & Succulent Shrimp: Expertly cooked so the shrimp stay plump, tender, and never rubbery.
  • Versatile Serving Options: Serve it as an appetizer, over rice, in tacos, on salads, or straight from the skillet.
top view of easy Old Bay Shrimp in a large stainless steel skillet
ingredient icon

Old Bay Shrimp Recipe Ingredients

Let’s take a closer look at what you need to make this recipe (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

FOR THE SHRIMP 

  • Purchase large shrimp. Look for 31/40 count per pound, meaning there are about 31 to 40 shrimp in one pound. This size is ideal for most recipes, offering, so the shrimp stay extra juicy when cooked.
  • Purchase wild caught shrimp.  Wild caught shrimp has superior flavor and texture over farm-raised.
  • Purchase raw, deveined shrimp.  Look for shrimp that is raw (not precooked), peeled and deveined.  Buying prepared shrimp saves you TONS of time!
  • Frozen shrimp is awesome!ย  Frozen shrimp is frozen shortly after itโ€™s caught which means itโ€™s frozen at peak freshness.ย  It’s also more economical than fresh which means you can keep it stocked and read to use any time.ย 

FOR Cooking

  • Old Bay Seasoning: The star of this recipe, Old Bay brings a unique blend of spices that are both bold and aromatic. Itโ€™s traditionally used in seafood dishes and adds a signature kick to the shrimp.
  • Most grocery stores should carry it, or purchase it on Amazon HERE.
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps to sear the shrimp to golden perfection. The butter enhances the overall flavor and gives the shrimp a slightly crispy exterior.
  • Olive oil: Used in the marinade, olive oil helps coat the shrimp for a smooth, flavorful base and prevents them from sticking during cooking.
  • Garlic: Itโ€™s a perfect balance with the Old Bay Seasoning and elevates the dish with its fragrant, savory depth.
  • Salt and Pepper: Salt enhances the overall flavors, while pepper adds a slight heat and balance to the seasoning.
  • Homemade Cocktail Sauce: The sauce combines chili sauce and ketchup for a sweet and tangy base, while prepared horseradish adds a spicy kick. Fresh lemon juice balances the richness, and Worcestershire sauce brings depth and umami. Hot sauce can be added to adjust the heat level, making the sauce perfectly balanced and flavorful for dipping.
  • Make sure to purchase a TOMATO-BASED chili sauce, such as Heinz. (You can buy it HERE.) Do not use a chili pepper-based sauce, which will be super spicy.

How to Cook Old Bay Shrimp

Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Step 1: Make Cocktail Sauce. ย Once you try this homemade version, you will never be tempted to buy the store version again! It’s a quick whisking of chili sauce, ketchup, horseradish sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce to taste.
  • Step 2: Make Quick Marinade. Add one tablespoon of this Cocktail Sauce to your shrimp, along with olive oil, fresh garlic, and Old Bay seasoning, and let marinate for 20-30 minutes.
showing how to make  Old Bay Shrimp by mixing shrimp with seasonings in a bowl
  • Step 3: Cook Shrimp. Next, melt some butter in a large skillet and sear the shrimp for literally 3 MINUTES and you have the quickest, easiest, tastiest appetizer or meal!
showing how to  make Old Bay Shrimp by cooking in a skillet

TIPS FOR cooking old bay Shrimp

Make the best Cajun Shrimp with these tips and tricks:

  • Make it your own!ย  Bump up or down the garlic, add more or less seasoning, lemon juice, etc.
  • Purchase prepared shrimp.  Use shrimp that comes shelled and deveined to save you TONS of prep time.
  • Donโ€™t add shrimp until the pan is hot.  Be patient and wait until the pan is smoking or the shrimp won’t sear beautifully.
  • Donโ€™t overcrowd the shrimp. Cook the shrimp in batches so it has room to spread out and sear and not just steam for the best flavor and texture.
  • Donโ€™t over-cook shrimp.  Cook shrimp just until opaque for the juiciest shrimp- donโ€™t be tempted to cook a second longer or the shrimp wonโ€™t be as juicy and can even taste rubbery or chalky. 
  • If it’s opaque but not seared: This means your pan wasn’t hot enough to begin with. Next time, wait a few more minutes after preheating your skillet and make sure it’s smoking hot.
  • Cook shrimp with the tails on. The tail shells contain flavor that seeps out and we get more robust shrimp flavor (like cooking meat on the bone). Once your shrimp is cooked and resting you can remove the tails if desired.

Serving Stove Top Shrimp

You can turn this Old Bay Shrimp recipe into a complete meal by serving it with some stir fried veggies and rice or serving it with some of these sides:

top view of Old Bay Shrimp (Grill or Stove top) in a skillet garnished by lemons

Making a Salad With Old Bay Stove Top Shrimp

This Old Bay Shrimp can also easily transform into a salad!  To Make Old Bay Shrimp Salad, cook shrimp according to directions then cut shrimp into bite size pieces.  Mix shrimp with:

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to tastes
  • pinch of cayenne
  • Old bay seasoning to taste

Cover and chill Old Bay Shrimp salad for at least two hours.  The chilled salad is perfect for a light lunch or appetizer,  It can be served over lettuce, in a lettuce wrap, or scooped onto crackers.

Shrimp Old Bay Recipe FAQs

WHAT IS OLD BAY SHRIMP and How did it originate?

Old Bay Shrimp is shrimp cooked with Old Bay seasoning.ย ย If you arenโ€™t familiar with Old Bay Seasoning, its a world famous, top secret spice blend of rumored 18 herbs and spices that pairs deliciously well with seafood.

It is produced in the ย Chesapeake Bay area where it was developed by German immigrant Gustav Brunn in 1939 and was later purchased by McCormick in 1990 (and no, this is not a sponsored post, I just love Old Bay seasoning). ย It is named for the Old Bay Line, a passenger ship that sailed between Baltimore and Norfolk Virginia at the time.

During the 1930s, crabs were so plentiful in Baltimore, Maryland that bars actually offered them for free! ย In order to not only season the crabs, but to encourage patrons to purchase more beverages, several salty crab seasonings were created, including Old Bay Seasoning. ย Old Bay is one of the surviving spice mixes of that era. ย Who knew?!

CAN I MAKE MY OWN OLD BAY SEASONING?

This Old Bay Shrimp isnโ€™t called Old Bay Shrimp for nothing -it is ALL about the complex spice blend!ย  There are many โ€œcopycat, do it yourselfโ€ Old Bay seasoning mix recipes out there, but Old Bay survived since 1939 for a reason. ย In my opinion, Old Bay seasoning isnโ€™t like making your own taco seasoning, after all, it does boast 18 different herbs/spices such as paprika, celery salt, bay leaves, thyme, cayenne, dry mustard, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, etc.

So if you donโ€™t own the bright yellow can with a bold blue stripe, then I suggest investing in some. ย Not only does it go great with anything seafood and produce stellar Old Bay Shrimp, but add a sprinkle to French fries, chicken, hamburgers and sandwiches, dips, potatoes, veggies, pizza, popcorn, eggs, soups and immediately delishify your plate!

showing how to serve Old Bay Shrimp by dipping in cocktail sauce

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ยฉCarlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

quick and easy Old Bay Shrimp (Grill or Stove top) is so juicy and flavorful and the homemade Cocktail Sauce is amazing! ย Serve it as an appetizer or add some sides and call it dinner!ย 

Old Bay Seasoning Shrimp

Old Bay Shrimp is is juicy, flavorful and on your table in less than 30 minutes! It can be made on the grill or stove top, served hot or cold and is super simple to make!ย  Old Bay Shrimp can be served as an appetizer with homemade Cocktail Sauce or add some sides and call it dinner!
Servings: 4 servings
Total Time: 25 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

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Ingredients

Shrimp

  • 1 1/2 pounds uncooked large shrimp (31/40 count per pound), peeled and deveined
  • 1 tablespoon butter

20 Minute Marinade

Cocktail Sauce

Garnish

Instructions

Cocktail Sauce

  • Add all of the Cocktail Sauce ingredients to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Remove one tablespoon to a large bowl or freezer bag (for your shrimp marinade). Store the remaining Cocktail Sauce in the refrigerator.

Marinade

  • Add all marinade ingredients to 1 tablespoon cocktail sauce and whisk to combine. Add shrimp and stir until evenly coated. Marinate at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.

STOVETOP DIRECTIONS:

  • Melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add shrimp and cook just until opaque, about 3 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Remove shrimp to a plate. Serve with Cocktail Sauce. NOTE: You will need to work in 2 batches unless you have an extra large skillet (as pictured in video) or your shrimp will steam instead of sautรฉ.

GRILL DIRECTIONS:

  • NOTE: Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes in water before grilling or broiling.
  • Thread shrimp onto skewers.
  • Grease grill and heat to medium high heat. Grill shrimp for 3-5 minutes on each side or just until shrimp has become pink and firm being careful to not overcook.
  • Remove shrimp from grill and generously brush with 1-2 tablespoons melted butter. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste if desired.

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12 Comments

  1. Danielle M. says

    I have some some Old Bay in the spice drawer and I’ve been looking for things to do with it! This is perfect, and it looks SO delicious – I’ll have to try it soon!!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Danielle, I hope you love it! Its the perfect meal to dust off that Old Bay seasoning for!

      • Connie Catucci says

        Can you do shrimp cocktails with this recipe?

  2. Ruth says

    I made this the other night and it was so amazing. My daughter reheated leftovers the next day and said how good it was.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Ruth, I’m so happy it was such a hit and that even the leftovers were tasty!

  3. Laurie Miller says

    I made this tonight and it was fantastic! It’s the first time I’ve cooked shrimp (I’m 65…go figure). This recipe was so tasty and easy. I paired it with creamy cheese grits, and it was soooooo good. My husband’s taking the leftovers to work for lunch tomorrow.

    Thank you, Jen! Every recipe I’ve made from your website has been perfect (and, apparently, foolproof!).

    • Jen says

      Welcome to the world of shrimp Laurie, I’m so pleased (and relieved) your first experience was a delicious success! Your old Bay Shrimp sound fantastic with creamy cheese grits – mmmmm! Thank you for your kind words – I’m honored you’re enjoying my recipes!

  4. Lauren says

    Iโ€™m a Maryland girl now living in Montana who loves Old Bay and this recipe! Relatively easy to put together and super flavorful. This time around, the shrimp will be the main course with a side of cheddar bay biscuits. Great recipe, thanks!

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome Lauren! I’m so pleased this could bring a taste of home!

  5. Sharon says

    We really loved it. My husband said always make this way. We enjoyed with rice and green beans.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Sharon, I’m so pleased it was a hit!