16 Easy Shrimp Appetizers for Party Season

When it comes to easy recipes that make a huge impression, these baked Garlic Butter Shrimp are a great way to hit a holiday home run. Fresh shrimp (or frozen and thawed) are baked simply in butter, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Serve this easy shrimp appetizer with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Jumbo shrimp or large shrimp work just as well, and they'll require even less cooking time. 

Hot shrimp appetizers are always a good bet for party season. And these sweet and spicy shrimp will be a huge hit at your next party. Serve them on skewers, pile them into phyllo cups for tasty Shrimp Taco Bites. Serve with pickled red onions and jalapeño ranch sauce for the perfect bite for your holiday parties.

Make these shrimp as spicy or mild as you like, then serve with a bottle of hot sauce to let your guests customize their own spice level.

Shrimp Skewers with Pistachio Chimichurri create an amazing main course for your holiday party, or use mini-skewers for appetizer-sized portions. The chimichurri adds huge flavor and freshness to this delicious shrimp appetizer. And it can pull double duty as a dipping sauce for veggies, bread, crackers and other protein options. Make it ahead and have plenty of time to party!

Hungarian wax peppers, banana peppers, or your favorite mild-to-medium spicy pepper will work for this shrimp-stuffed pepper recipe. Anything that is big enough to be stuffed with the cheesy shrimp mixture and baked until golden. We serve our flavorful seafood peppers over a homemade Romesco sauce. It's smoky and rich and the perfect foundation for our fancy peppers. These beauties are the perfect size for serving to family, friends and guests at your next party.

Healthier bang bang shrimp is the perfect appetizer for your next party! Serve them in lettuce cups or on a toothpick for easy eating. Ready in less than 15 minutes, this creamy, spicy shrimp recipe is going to quickly become part of your party rotation!

Tender shrimp paired with sun dried tomatoes and spinach is a delicious and protein-packed appetizer! Serve these tender shrimp on toothpicks, with cauliflower mash or in phyllo cups for a quick and healthier appetizer option. Ready in less than 15 minutes, this flavorful shrimp recipe is going to be the talk of the town!!

We’ve taken all the best parts of the seafood boil, added some gooey cheese, and served it up in a crispy, salty potato skin. Perfect when you want to relive those summer shrimp boil parties at the holidays. Or use small potatoes to make shrimp boil stuffed potato skins for your casual party.

Serve this fun and cheesy shrimp appetizer with sour cream and a bottle of hot sauce for game day!

Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce is having a viral moment, and it's easy to see why. Sweet, spicy, savory, tart - it hits all our favorite flavor zones. You could serve plain popcorn shrimp at your holiday party. But why do that when you could make it extra special?

Make this easy sauce and toss your crispy shrimp into the magic sauce. Serve it on a platter with toothpicks, or pile them in a lettuce wraps or wonton cups for easy eating. Follow the link and check out the recipe card for all the easy details!

Stuffed shrimp is one of the all-time great special occasion dinners. For a low-stress version of the classic recipe perfect to serve as an appetizer that will feed a crowd, make this Baked Crab-Stuffed Shrimp Casserole Recipe. Full of tender shrimp, succulent crab, fresh red pepper and buttery cracker filling, this Old-Bay-spiced seafood dish will be the highlight of your holiday! 

Serve one jumbo shrimp full of crab stuffing for an appetizer portion, or two large shrimp.

These easy shrimp and potato baked samosas are a unique twist on your favorite Indian snack! The traditional samosa filling is dressed up with tender and juicy shrimp, making this baked version an easy and delicious treat. The seafood filling gets wrapped in store-bought phyllo pastry layers, then baked, giving you a healthy-ish and delicious appetizer for your guests. Serve it with my favorite samosa dipping sauce!

Small finger sandwiches are a fun party appetizer for any holiday or weekend party. Using shrimp, lobster or smoked salmon makes them a little fancy and worthy of a big occasion. Choosing unique bread options (mini-croissants, brioche fingers or even cutting your bread into rounds) dial up the party feel, too. Garnish with fresh herbs and edible flowers 

This easy appetizer of shrimp salad tea sandwiches is a perfect make-ahead option, leaving your hands free for shaking hands and kissing babies on party day.

Hibachi-style shrimp is a fabulously flavorful appetizer that will be a huge hit with adults and kids alike. Serve it in a bowl on your appetizer tray, or thread the shrimp onto toothpicks or small wooden skewers. The sweet and savory hibachi grill sauce takes just a few ingredients, but creates a lip-smackingly delicious flavor. 

Your hibachi party won't be complete without hibachi shrimp dip, or Japanese Yum Yum Sauce. Grab all the details for this easy recipe here.

These restaurant-style shrimp wontons bring big shrimp flavor to the party! The seafood dumplings are complemented by fresh cilantro and scallions and deeply savory sesame oil. So simple to make, these pockets of magic are even easier to dip and eat with spicy wonton dipping sauce (sauce recipe included!) Make the wontons ahead and steam when guests arrive, or set up an assembly line and let everyone try their hand at making dumplings! It's an appetizer and a party trick, all in one.

These extra crispy pancakes are chock full of fresh veggies and shrimp. The seafood is suspended in a slightly chewy fritter batter and then dunked in a sweet, spicy, savory dipping sauce (recipe included!)

I first made these savory pancakes for a last-minute happy hour with friends. We cut and ate each pancake as soon as I pulled it out of the pan, screaming hot, chewy and so savory. Include shrimp, or leave the pancakes vegetarian if you need some veggie-focused options for your guests!

These garlicky, smoky, spicy shrimp are a 15-minute appetizer wonder. I love using Argentinian Red Shrimp, but if you're in the US, grab a pack of Florida gulf shrimp or whatever you can find in your grocery store's frozen seafood aisle. Defrost the shrimp overnight in the refrigerator, then dry very well with paper towels to remove as much water as possible. 

The sauce is ultra-flavorful and so craveable. Serve a pile of this Portuguese style garlic shrimp with a basket of grilled or toasted bread and your gusts will be begging for your secret recipe.

Serving a seafood boil as an appetizer at your party is a surefire way to delight your guests with a taste of coastal charm. This classic Southern dish combines succulent shrimp corn on the cob, potatoes, and flavorful spices, creating a savory, finger-licking experience. Keep it a shrimp-only affair, or add crawfish, mussels or clams to the party-in-a-pot.

The vibrant colors and enticing smell of the seafood boil will immediately set the tone for a festive gathering, and the communal style of serving the whole thing from a large pot or newspaper-covered table encourages laughter and conversation among your guests. So, whether it's a backyard barbecue or an indoor soirée, a shrimp boil appetizer is a crowd-pleasing choice that brings a taste of the seaside to any occasion.