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Love shrimp? Then you need to try my homemade Shrimp Seasoning recipe! It's easy to mix together in a minute using typical pantry seasonings, and perfect for any method of cooking shrimp, from grilling to oven-baked, sauteed, or even steamed.
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Seasoning for Shrimp
Recently, I ordered shrimp tacos from my favorite local Mexican restaurant. Usually, their tacos are the best; so flavorful and always perfectly cooked. Unfortunately, this time, it was a big mistake!
They were totally bland and completely without seasoning. It's times like these that I remember just how critical a good shrimp seasoning blend is. It's the difference between delicious shrimp and shrimp that aren't even worth eating!
Luckily, it's so easy to whip up a seasoning that will complement just about any shrimp recipe you make. My tried-and-true shrimp seasoning blend only takes easy pantry staples and is the perfect shrimp seasoning for grilling, air frying, steaming, and more!
Spices for Shrimp
- Garlic Powder: I highly recommend powder instead of fresh garlic! It has a lovely, mellow sweetness and coats the shrimp well, with no risk of it falling off and burning in the pan or on the grill.
- Onion Powder: Onion powder is lovely and sweet with just a bit of aromatic earthiness to bring out something special!
- Cumin: Cumin is earthy and rich, which complements the natural flavor of the shrimp and emphasizes the other ingredients. It has a strong flavor, so make sure to use it in moderation.
- Cayenne: Just a pinch of cayenne adds a bit of bite you won't want to miss out on, making this shrimp seasoning lively and hot without adding too much spice!
- Salt: Salting shrimp is critical! I recommend a nice flake salt like sea salt or kosher salt. But don't use any flakes that are too big, or they won't stick to the shrimp.
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper adds great warmth and peppery heat that gets mellowed out by the rich shrimp!
- Optional: Smoked Paprika, Green or White Pepper
Isabel's Top Tip
Don't overdo it on the cayenne. As I was developing this recipe, I kept getting overzealous with the cayenne. Don't be like me! Shrimp doesn't contain a lot of fat to soak up the heat, so just a little cayenne goes a long way.
How to Season Shrimp
1: Add to a bowl
Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl.
2: Mix and enjoy
Stir until well combined, then sprinkle over shrimp or toss the shrimp in a mix of the seasonings and olive oil, melted butter, or lemon juice!
When should I season shrimp?
How you're cooking shrimp can decide how and when you should season it.
- For grilled shrimp, brush the shrimp in butter or oil and then sprinkle the seasoning on liberally. You don't want to add too much oil or it will drip all the seasonings off. This is my favorite way to cook shrimp; it's a perfect grilled shrimp seasoning!
- For steamed or oven-baked shrimp, add the seasonings right away and toss well to coat. The seasonings will cook on like a coating.
- For sauteed shrimp, brush the shrimp in butter or oil and coat well with seasonings, then add another sprinkle on top once the shrimp is fully cooked.
Also try...
Easy Shrimp Recipes to Use with Shrimp Seasoning
Seasoning for Shrimp Tips
- Add more seasonings to fit your supper! I love adding a mix of Italian herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, and parsley if I'm serving these shrimp over pasta or with a cream sauce. Or, add in some chili powder for a bold flavor perfect for serving with rice or on tacos!
- Cook as you see fit! I love air frying my shrimp for an easy dinner, then tossing them into tacos or a big salad.
- This seasoning works great mixed into a butter sauce, or as a garnish. I love adding extra garlic powder and mixing it with butter for garlic butter shrimp!
Reduce Food Waste!
If you're working with shrimp that still have shells or tails, save those shells! You can use them to make super delicious, super easy homemade Shellfish Stock, perfect for bisques, chowders, and more!
How to Store Shrimp Seasoning
This seasoning is made entirely from shelf-stable ingredients, so it lasts pretty much indefinitely. I like making a double or triple batch. If you run out of shrimp, it tastes great on vegetables, chicken, pork, and more!
Shrimp Seasoning FAQ
This seasoning recipe makes enough to season 1 lb of shrimp, or enough for about 4 people. However, this shrimp seasoning recipe is great for making big batches, and stores indefinitely in the pantry!
While I designed it specifically for shrimp, the great news is that it tastes great with all sorts of shellfish! You can just as easily use it for crab, lobster, crawfish, or even clams.
Homemade Seasoning Recipes
- Cajun Seasoning & Creole Spice Mix
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Elote Seasoning
- Chicken Wing Seasoning
- Our Famous Burger Seasoning
Shrimp Seasoning Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Small jar for storage
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl.1 teaspoon Garlic powder,1 teaspoon Onion powder,½ teaspoon Salt,1 teaspoon Pepper,¼ teaspoon Cumin,¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- Mix well, then sprinkle over shrimp and cook as desired!
Notes
- Add more seasonings to fit your supper! I love adding a mix of Italian herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, and parsley if I'm serving these shrimp over pasta or with a cream sauce. Or, add in some chili powder for a bold flavor perfect for serving with rice or on tacos!
- Cook as you see fit! I love air frying my shrimp for an easy dinner, then tossing them into tacos or a big salad.
- This seasoning works great mixed into a butter sauce, or as a garnish. I love adding extra garlic powder and mixing it with butter for garlic butter shrimp!
Chris H. says
Perfect seasoning for my rice & shrimp dish. I keep it handy for quick stir fries w/fish. Delicious!
Isabel Laessig says
Thanks so much, Chris! I'm so glad to hear it!