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My easy, Creamy Shrimp Bisque Recipe is a perfect start to a holiday meal or a fun Sunday Supper! I make it every year at Christmas time for my family, and everyone who tries it raves about it.
This easy shrimp bisque recipe uses simple ingredients, takes less than an hour to make, and is easy to make ahead of time and reheat. It’s a perfect stress-free starter to a holiday meal.
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Bisque
I have to tell you, this is the best recipe for bisque you will ever try. Trust me, it’s a keeper. I have the ingredients and instructions for this dish written down in a family cookbook of recipes and am so excited to share it with you.
The first time I made this seafood bisque recipe, I knew it would be an instant classic and a regular around the holiday table. My family raves about it, my friends rave about it – everyone who tries this dish loves my bisque recipe!
This might be my favorite recipe I’ve made on Pinterest. Super good! Everyone loved it.
Misty
Shrimp Bisque Ingredients
- unsalted butter
- celery stalks finely chopped
- garlic minced or paste
- shrimp chopped
- green onions finely chopped
- olive oil
- flour
- tomato sauce or tomato paste
- white wine
- chicken broth
- half & half
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt & cayenne pepper to taste
- Candied bacon pieces (optional for topping)
Recipe for Shrimp Bisque
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and swirl it around to evenly distribute it.
- Add chopped celery stalks and garlic (minced or garlic paste) and saute for about 3 minutes.
- Add chopped shrimp.
- Add finely chopped green onions and saute both for about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Melt stick butter in the pot and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over the ingredients in the pot. Cook for 5 minutes, constantly stirring.
- Pour in white wine while continuously stirring. Let it simmer and thicken. When it is thick enough, it will take longer to pool back to the center of the pot when pushed with a spatula.
- Add tomato sauce and let it bubble and thicken while continuing to stir.
- Once it thickens, add chicken broth and let it simmer. Turn the heat to low and wait for it to cool off somewhat.
- Add in half & half SLOWLY while stirring for about 1 minute!
- Sprinkle in Parmesan SLOWLY while continuing to stir for about 2 minutes!
- Turn the heat back to medium and let the soup sit until it starts to bubble. Season with salt & pepper to taste, and serve!
This shrimp bisque soup was easy to make, and it is delicious.
Kathy on Pinterest
Bisque Recipes Tips
- Make sure you are constantly stirring throughout making the bisque. This keeps everything consistent and prevents burning.
- Mix ingredients slowly when adding flour and dairy ingredients like half & half and Parmesan.
- Turning the heat down and allowing the bisque to cool a bit before adding the half & half will prevent it from curdling.
- You can substitute brandy or sherry for white wine.
- If using whole shrimp, make sure to remove shrimp shells.
Shrimp Bisque Recipe FAQs
It is a creamy French soup recipe, using shellfish like shrimp, lobster, or crab. It is a smooth, creamy soup that is very rich in flavor.
You could use lobster for a lobster bisque, or even crab for a crab bisque. Any of your favorite seafood will work in this recipe, even your favorite fish.
Bisque is a thick and creamy soup. Some soups may be thickened with flour, but a bisque is always made to be thick and creamy by adding cream and reducing it. Once you try bisque, you will never look at soup the same again.
The Bisque is smooth and decadent. Chowder is thick and chunky. Traditionally, chowder is filled with pieces of vegetables and seafood.
I love any seafood soup recipe, so I’m a big fan of chowder, too. Try my favorite Seafood Chowder recipe – you can make it shrimp chowder, crab chowder, or any mix you want, and it tastes amazing!
Yes, you can! Both fresh and frozen shrimp work really well in this recipe. Just make sure to defrost the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
Fresh shrimp bisque will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. It’s a perfect dish for making ahead for a party.
How to Reheat Bisque
You can reheat your shrimp bisque in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Microwave in 1-minute intervals until heated through. Stir well between intervals.
- Reheat on the stove over low heat until heated through, stirring well while it heats.
Seafood Bisque Recipe Variation
This soup can use any seafood. I have made lobster bisque and a king crab bisque and it is amazing. Just substitute your favorite seafood for the shrimp and follow the directions. It will be amazing!
Shrimp Recipes
See more of my Easy Soup Recipes!
Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love
📋 Recipe
Shrimp Bisque Recipe
Equipment
- Large heavy pot
- Spatula
Ingredients
- ½ stick butter
- 2 celery stalks finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp. garlic minced or paste (about 2 cloves if minced)
- 2 lbs. shrimp chopped
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 5 Tbsp. flour
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup white wine
- 64 oz. chicken broth
- 2 cups half & half
- ½ cup Parmesan
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Candied bacon pieces (optional for topping)
See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- Heat a deep soup pot over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil and swirl it around to evenly distribute it.
- Add 2 finely chopped celery stalks and 2 Tbsp. garlic (minced or paste) and saute for about 3 minutes.
- Add 2 lbs. chopped shrimp.
- Add 2 finely chopped green onions and saute both for about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Melt ½ stick butter in the pot and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Spread 5 Tbsp. flour over the ingredients in the pot. Cook for 5 minutes, constantly stirring.
- Pour in 1 cup white wine while continuously stirring. Let it simmer and thicken. When it is thick enough, it will take longer to pool back to the center of the pot when pushed with a spatula.
- Add 2 cups of tomato sauce and let it bubble and thicken while continuing to stir.
- Once it thickens, add 64 oz. chicken broth and let it simmer. Turn the heat to low and wait for it to cool off somewhat.
- Add in 2 cups half & half SLOWLY while stirring for about 1 minute!
- Sprinkle in ½ cup of Parmesan SLOWLY while continuing to stir for about 2 minutes!
- Turn heat back to medium and let the soup sit until it starts to bubble. Season with salt & pepper to taste, and serve!
Video
Notes
- Stir constantly:Â Make sure you are constantly stirring throughout making the bisque. This keeps everything consistent and prevents burning.
- Especially with dairy:Â Stirring is especially important when adding dry ingredients like flour and dairy ingredients like half & half and Parmesan.
- Turn the heat down:Â Turning the heat down and allowing the bisque to lower in heat before adding the half & half will prevent it from curdling.
- Adding candied bacon:Â I like to top my shrimp bisque with bits of candied bacon. The recipe for my candied bacon is linked in-post!
- Serve with bread and shrimp:Â Serve with a slice of crusty toasted bread and cooked shrimp coated in a little bit of cayenne. Yum!
Nancy says
Did not add the bacon. My husband and I loved it.
Em Beitel says
Awesome, Nancy! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Personally, this is one of my favorites. I can’t wait to make it again myself!
Rose says
Do I have to add the white wine, and if so what brand.
Em Beitel says
Hi Rose! White wine really helps the flavor of this dish, but if you don’t want to use white wine, you could also use chicken stock or chicken broth (just mind the salt levels). As for the brand of wine, it really doesn’t matter – you can use any kind of white wine you wish. I tend to buy whatever is on sale to cook with.