If you're a regular here at Weekday Pescatarian, you know we're crazy for shrimp. We've made Portuguese Garlic Shrimp, Grilled Argentinian Red Shrimp, Hibachi Shrimp and Sweet & Spicy Mexican Shrimp. We have a shrimp recipe for every mood and craving!
Serving a delicious grilled shrimp dinner can be so much fun. But I have found that at least half the fun comes in planning the perfect side dishes to serve with our seafood extravaganza.
Here are 32 of the very best side dish recipes (including delicious sauces) to serve with your next grilled shrimp dinner.
Marinated Asparagus with Eggs and Creamy Dressing
Fresh asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables and this recipe does perfect veggie justice. Fire up the outdoor grill (or indoor grill pan), char your marinated asparagus, top with a delicious creamy dressing and diced hard-boiled eggs. It's the perfect side for a quick meal on Tuesday or a fancy weekend dinner party.
French fries
Grilled shrimp is the perfect pairing for French fries - one of the most popular side dishes for any seafood. And if you really want to take your shrimp and chips meal over the top, go for Parmesan Truffle French Fries, that bring sophisticated flavor to one of the most delicious sides. If you're in the mood for a big orange treat, go for sweet potato fries, which I always tell myself fall in the "healthy side dishes" category. Please don't contradict me, especially if the facts are on your side.
Garlic, Lemon and Almond Seasoned Green Beans
Green beans are one of the most popular low carb side dishes to serve with grilled shrimp. The parmesan cheese in this recipe adds beautiful richness and the toasted almonds bring a rich, nutty flavor. They are buttery and herbaceous and all the best things you look for in a memorable vegetable dish to go with your grilled seafood dinner.
Fresh Corn on the Cob
If you're firing up the grill for your shrimp skewers, throw a few ears of corn on there for 6-7 minutes. Bring them to the table with a stick of butter and watch the crowd go wild. Or make Mexican elote-style corn and take your shrimp dinner over the top. And if you have any leftover corn, use them in Seafood Boil Stuffed Potatoes tomorrow!
Gazpacho Salad
Cucumber gazpacho salad is the best way to bring the cool, refreshing flavors of the famous Spanish chilled soup, but in a fresh, crunchy salad - no immersion blender required! The fresh basil leaves, sweet bell peppers and pumpkin seeds all add the perfecting balancing flavors and crunch, making it a great light side for a healthy grilled shrimp dinner.
Jerusalem Salad
This simple salad is full of crunchy veggies, but the real stars of the show are the fresh herbs and lime dressing. Think of the herbs as a co-star, not just the garnish. This Jerusalem salad is especially delicious paired up with Middle eastern yellow rice and a skewer of grilled shrimp.
Pickled onions
Highly spiced dishes like shrimp Caesar salads and shrimp tostadas and are just begging for acidic condiments to balance out all the salty, rich flavor. These pickled onions do the trick. I like to serve them right over a salad or as a part of a larger condiment tray if I don't want the pickling vinegar infiltrating other toppings before service.
Roasted eggplant
Simple, oven roasted eggplant slices are a great side dish to add rich, earthy tones to a Mediterranean shrimp meal. Dressed simply with olive oil, salt and pepper, roasted eggplant is an easy way to add extra flavor to your shrimp dinner. If you're looking for a vegetarian appetizer to serve before your seafood dish, try Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant bruschetta with cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar glaze.
Mexican Caesar Salad
Fresh green salad is an essential part of life but they can be so....predictable. If you're hoping to create a leafy side dish for shrimp that bucks the trend, you have to make this Mexican Caesar Salad. The rich, spicy and creamy dressing makes even the most blah greens taste like rainbow sprinkles and sunshine. This delicious salad pairs perfectly with Sweet and Spicy Mexican Shrimp.
Middle Eastern Yellow Rice
When grilled shrimp is on the menu, this flavor bomb of a yellow rice is one of the best side dishes to add to the dinner table. The cumin and coriander mix with turmeric and fresh garlic to make a deeply flavorful rice recipe that is ideal with any Middle Eastern or Mediterranean dish. Why make plain white rice when this magic is possible?
Garlic Brown Rice and Quinoa
This nutrient-dense, nutty, garlicky bowl of goodness brings crazy good flavor to the party. If you're looking for a vegan option for your party guests, this will be an all star in your supporting cast. This roasted garlic and grain dish is especially delicious with shrimp and crab stuffed salmon and grilled Argentinian red shrimp.
Baked Potato
A crispy-skinned baked potato with crunchy sea salt and fresh pepper is one of the best sides you can add to your grilled shrimp dinner side dishes. If you're in a hurry, roasted new potatoes give you great baked potato flavor in a fraction of the time. And baked sweet potatoes would be delicious with a pat of butter and drizzle of maple syrup.
Napa Cabbage Slaw
If you're looking for a coleslaw side for your grilled shrimp main dish, this savory napa slaw is a perfect way to add crunchy cabbage, tomatoes, radish and peppers to your menu. The lemon juice adds a beautiful balance to heavy dishes like fried shrimp, and even upscale dishes like crab cakes. This savory slaw is a pretty healthy option and it's especially complementary to the yellow rice recipe, if that's on the menu!
Roasted Green Cauliflower
This gorgeous green cauliflower recipe is roasted and topped with olive oil, anchovies, pine nuts and a squeeze of lemon. It brings memorable flavor and texture for almost any grilled shrimp recipe. Sophisticated enough to sit next to your special occasion main dishes like colossal shrimp, but quick enough to dress up a simple garlic shrimp dish on a Tuesday night.
Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
The sticky sweetness of caramelized onions mix with the earthy flavor of mushrooms to add delicious richness to this onion and mushroom side dish. They are the perfect companion for your grilled shrimp menu, especially when served with crispy-skinned potatoes.
Roasted Baby Dutch Yellow Potatoes with Whipped Feta
Roasting these tiny potatoes and making whipped feta cheese magic is one of my favorite sides for shrimp skewers. The roasted garlic and fresh rosemary pair beautifully with the crispy potatoes and briny, bright feta. Pin this one ASAP!
Seafood Stuffed Potato
If you think regular baked potatoes are delicious, wait til you get your fork into this seafood stuffed potato. Halfway between a fancy jacket potato and your favorite neighborhood bar's stuffed potato skins, these creamy, savory treats bring all the flavors of your summertime shrimp boil in a crispy potato skin.
Authentic Mexican Beans
Are grilled shrimp tacos on the menu this week? If you're looking for a full spread of sides to complement the tacos, look no further than these delicious, creamy Mexican beans. A hearty, savory, satisfying side that's about as frugal as they come! Especially delicious when served with Mexican red rice and pickled onions.
Mexican Red Rice (arroz rojo)
A good rice dish is a lot like shrimp - it's simple and able to take on almost any flavor or twist you throw at it. This Mexican red rice is deeply flavorful and well spiced, the perfect companion for Mexican beans and pickled onions at your next shrimp taco Tuesday party.
Mediterranean Tossed Salad
Any simple green salad will add balanced freshness to a seafood main course. But this Tossed Salad adds a little something extra. It's a great choice if you're looking for an all-in-one veggie side with leafy greens, tomato, pickled veggies, garbanzo beans, parmesan and pumpkin seeds. It's my every-day salad full of all my favorite fresh vegetables and it is endlessly flexible.
Hummus
Greek shrimp skewers or blackened shrimp gyros would be the perfect choice if you want to whip up a batch of Spicy Garlic Hummus . It's rich and creamy and adds both flavor and bulk to a healthy fish dinner. Grab a bag of pita chips to serve with the leftovers!
Tzatziki
If you're going with a Mediterranean type of grilled shrimp preparation, tzatziki would be an easy side dish or sauce to add to the menu. It's a classic Greek yogurt sauce with fresh cucumbers and dill. My go-to version is a take on Alton Brown's recipe, and you just can't go wrong with his original.
Chinese Eggplant
If Udon Noodles with Grilled Shrimp is on the menu, Chinese eggplant in oyster sauce is a phenomenal side dish for your dinner. With just a handful of ingredients, eggplant is transformed into a sweet, sticky, savory veggie that the whole family will enjoy. Try it with Korean vegetable pancake with shrimp.
Mashed Potatoes
Ahhhhh, good old mashed potatoes. The most comforting side dish on the planet. Any simple recipe on the internet will do the trick, but I'm especially fond of this recipe for mashed potatoes. And if you have any leftovers, stay tuned...I've got a great solution for you.
Mashed Potato Latkes
All the best parts of traditional potato pancakes, but without the hours of shredding, soaking, salting and squeezing. Mashed potato latkes can be made with leftovers from last night's dinner, or ready-made mashed potatoes from the grocery store. They are the perfect side for a skewer of grilled shrimp, and so delicious dipped in spicy aioli or lemon dill sauce.
Lemon Dill Sauce
If traditional tartar sauce seems too boring to serve with your shrimp dinner, this sour cream sauce with fresh dill may add the creamy freshness you need on your seafood dinner. Herby and garlicky with a touch of lemon juice, this sour cream-based sauce is a great way to complement your grilled shrimp.
Spicy Aioli
One of my all time favorite dipping sauce options for shrimp is this spicy aioli sauce. It is customizable to your family's spice preference, but brings delicious flavor and a creamy heat to any shrimp dinner. Especially delicious with fried shrimp and parmesan truffle fries.
Ginger Scallion Sauce
I've adopted ginger scallion sauce as my sixth mother sauce. Its simplicity is its genius. Fresh green onions, pungent grated ginger, neutral oil and a pinch of salt. But add it to simple steamed rice with grilled shrimp, sprinkle on a little soy sauce, and you'll be transported to a hawker stall in Singapore, breathing in the sights and sounds of Asia, at your very own kitchen table.
Hibachi Vegetables
Hibachi Vegetables are the perfect side for grilled hibachi shrimp, and even better when served with Japanese white sauce (yum-yum!) and Japanese ginger sauce.
Baked Carrots
These sticky, sweet Baked Carrots are topped with fresh parsley and crunchy pistachios, making them the perfect, balanced side dish for your next shrimp dinner, and something even the kids will like!
Mediterranean Basmati Rice with Lemon and Dill
This Mediterranean basmati rice is fragrant with dill and light and bright with lemon zest and juice. Lovely with any seafood dinner or meal prep Sunday.
Mango Habanero Salsa
It's one of the best fruit / veggie / side / sauce all combined into one magic bowl! Mango habanero salsa brings a delightful sweet heat to shrimp tacos, blackened shrimp or just a bag of tortilla chips. Habaneros sound like a super spicy pepper, but they also add a lot of flavor. You can substitute a milder jalapeno or even poblano pepper, if that is a better fit for your palate.
So there you have it, team! 32 of the very best sides for your grilled shrimp dinner, lunch, brunch or party. Mix and match your favorites and create a full menu that is balanced and memorable.
What are your favorite grilled shrimp side dishes? Share with me in the comments! I'd love to hear from you.
Leave a Reply