What to serve with fried shrimp? Fried shrimp is a staple at almost any seafood restaurant, and it’s easy to see why.
With its crispy, golden coating and tender, juicy interior, fried shrimp can be delicious.
However, sometimes you want more than fried shrimp, and that’s where what to serve with fried shrimp comes in.
Fried shrimp pairs well with almost any dish imaginable, but some go better than others.
Read on to learn about what to serve with fried shrimp!
1. French Fries
The first on our list of what to serve with fried shrimp is French fries. Fried shrimp is the perfect summer dinner, and they go well with french fries.
Of course, you could buy a package of frozen fries and do all the work in your kitchen. But if you have extra time, why not fry some fresh potatoes?
Slice them about 1/4 inch thick so they cook evenly, and then toss them in salt, pepper, paprika, and flour before frying.
Drain on paper towels after flipping them over for a few minutes until golden brown. Then sprinkle some lemon juice on top for that extra taste of sunshine.
2. Cocktail Sauce
This delicious and easy recipe is perfect for serving with fried shrimp, and it is a particular favorite.
Keep the mixture of horseradish, ketchup, and hot sauce simple and mild so you can put on as much or as little as you want!
Chop up a tomato into small chunks. Add salt and pepper, then add horseradish. Next, add ketchup, followed by hot sauce. Lastly, mix in olive oil for extra creaminess!
3. Tartar Sauce
To get the best fried shrimp, you should have a variety of sides available. First and foremost is tartar sauce.
Tartar sauce can be made by chopping up boiled eggs and mixing in mayonnaise, chopped pickles, capers, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper before stirring it all together.
4. Coleslaw
The next best side to serve with fried shrimp is coleslaw. It’s important not to overcook the cabbage so it has a crunchy texture.
Meanwhile, some people like including carrots in the slaw since they offer color and a different taste profile.
After this, you could also serve hot mashed potatoes or french fries, depending on your cooking vessel.
5. Fried Squash
A great side dish for fried shrimp is fried squash. Here’s how you make it: Cut the squash into wedges and boil them in water until they are tender.
Drain them, pat them dry, and then fry them in olive oil until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm alongside the fried shrimp.
6. Roasted Vegetables
The best side dish is often a matter of personal preference. Roasted vegetables are a healthy and tasty alternative if you are looking for what to serve with fried shrimp recipes.
They can be tossed in oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and other spices of your choice for a rich flavor. It’s possible to make them any way you like them.
From dicing potatoes into thin strips or throwing broccoli spears into a blender before roasting them
Meanwhile, sauté diced onion and toss it with bell peppers and tomatoes before roasting, which is always the go-to.
The sweetness complements the shrimp perfectly, and it all cooks at once!
7. Asparagus
Seasoned Asparagus is an excellent side dish for fried shrimp. If you are looking for what to serve with fried shrimp, Asparagus is a great option. A side dish doesn’t get much simpler than this one.
Asparagus is very quick and easy to make. It only needs a few minutes in the pan (just long enough for the asparagus spears to soften up), or you can steam them if you prefer them softer.
Asparagus’s flavor is best when it’s a little undercooked, so it’s crisp around the edges.
Once the spears are cooked through, remove them from the pan and allow them to cool off before slicing each spear on an angle into two pieces of equal length. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
8. Orzo Salad
As you’ve learned, the best types of seafood are those high in omega-3s and have a low density of mercury. The king oyster, clams, tilapia, and shrimp will serve you well when fried!
This brings us to a question many folks find difficult: what to serve with fried shrimp? And who better to answer that question than the orzo salad?
Combine a bowl of grape tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, and parsley. While whisking the ingredients together, add salt and pepper until they’re salty enough.
Add olive oil to the mixture until it’s well coated. Stir in orzo and serve as an accompaniment for fried shrimp.
9. Black Bean & Corn Salad
When it comes to what to serve with fried shrimp, black beans, and corn salad. Heat canned corn in butter on medium-high heat.
Once fully heated, mix onion, garlic, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro into corn.
Next, season with lime juice, salt, and pepper, then stir in one can of black beans to mix. Toss the salad over cooked rice, then top with chopped cilantro leaves before serving with fried shrimp.
10. Potato Salad
One of the most classic side dishes for fried shrimp is potato salad. You can use mayonnaise, mustard, or both, and add finely chopped onion and green pepper to the dressing.
Adding dill pickles can also be a nice twist if you have them on hand.
11. New Orleans-Style Potatoes
These are sliced potatoes that are dredged in seasoned flour before frying.
They go well if you are looking for what to serve with fried shrimp and are served alongside red beans and rice or jambalaya (but they also work great when served just by themselves).
But we recommend seasoning them with salt, pepper, butter, and bacon if desired.
12. Corn Salad
This summer dish is perfect for the peak of the fresh corn season. In addition to corn, this salad is seasoned with olive oil, onion, and vinegar.
Feta cheese makes a great addition because it adds creaminess and salty flavor.
For a vegan option, replace the feta cheese with cubes of tofu or chickpeas.
The correct choice is corn salad if you are looking for what to serve with fried shrimp.
13. Elote
What to serve with fried shrimp? You will surely enjoy Elote (corn on the cob in spicy mayo and covered in melted cheese) as a side dish for fried shrimp.
This will be an excellent side to serve if you’re looking for something different to elevate your shrimp party.
If you don’t have fresh Mexican crema, consider using a more traditional ranch dressing as your dipping sauce.
There is not as much Mexican taste, but it is just as delicious! The perfectly ripe avocado makes everything better; it’s healthy, easy to work with, and cuts through salty flavors nicely.
14. Chopped Green Salad
Are you looking for something to serve with fried shrimp? We recommend a great side dish: a chopped green salad.
You can toss this in the dressing or serve it on the side. The first benefit of this idea is that you can make the salad in advance and store it in an airtight container.
Once your guests arrive, you can have it sitting out, waiting for them as they start dinner. Plus, as we know, shrimp are already fried so that this side dish will be straightforward.
Next up is cooking time! Depending on your time, everything from stovetop to table takes 20 minutes, including getting your vegetables and fruit prepped, cutting up any bacon if necessary, and so on.
15. Greek Salad
This is a classic Greek side dish of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and olives dressed in vinegar and olive oil.
It is perfect if you are looking for what to serve with fried shrimp because it will relieve you from the fried coating while still having a bite that contrasts the shrimp.
16. Mango Salad
Add a refreshing mango salad for the perfect side dish for fried shrimp. This recipe will take about 20 minutes or less, including prep and cooking time.
Add shredded cabbage, avocado slices, mango chunks, green onions, and cilantro to a bowl. Toss in freshly squeezed lime juice and a pinch of salt.
Stir until the ingredients are well combined, then top the salad with extra fresh-squeezed lime juice. Place shrimp on top of the mound of mango salad, and serve right away!
17. Pesto Zoodles
Are you looking for something to serve with fried shrimp? Pesto zoodles are one of the best options. They’re a low-carb alternative to pasta and taste fantastic!
First, start by spiralizing a couple of zucchini (these will make about two cups of noodles). Add one cup of pine nuts, two garlic cloves, one/fourth cup of extra virgin olive oil, and two cups of fresh basil leaves.
Season the mixture generously with salt and pepper. With your food processor running, slowly pour one cup of Parmesan cheese until it becomes a paste-like consistency.
Stir in a dash more extra virgin olive oil. You’re done! You’ll want to cover this while it sits because otherwise, it will oxidize over time – that’s how you get an off-flavor.
18. Sweet Chili Sauce
Asian food is widely loved for its flavor, exotic ingredients, and complicated techniques.
That’s why it should be no surprise that fried shrimp are just as iconic in Asian cuisine as beef stir fry or salmon teriyaki.
But do you know what to serve with fried shrimp? Sweet chili is undoubtedly the option. Different countries have their preferred way of cooking the dish.
Vietnamese cooks often skewer shrimp before deep frying them and serving them over rice vermicelli, and Thai chefs batter the crustaceans and coat them in hot oil.
19. Pina Colada Dipping Sauce
It is a deliciously sweet sauce that compliments fried shrimp and is perfect for dipping any seafood or crustacean in.
To make Pina Colada Dipping Sauce, mix equal parts canned coconut milk and pineapple juice until well blended. Add some minced ginger and a clove of garlic.
Next, whisk in the juice from one lime (or lemon) and brown sugar until dissolved. Continue whisking the sauce while adding half-and-half until you reach your desired consistency.
The more liquid retained on fried shrimp, the thinner the sauce. Pour into a serving dish or sauce cup, garnish with thin slices of mango or pineapple, and you’re done! This is an excellent option for serving with fried shrimp for your next meal.
20. Cilantro Jasmine Rice
Cilantro and jasmine rice go well together, adding freshness and floral aromatics. Plus, they are a good idea for what to serve with fried shrimp.
The best way to make jasmine rice is to start with a dry pan (no oil). Heat over medium-high heat until the pan gets hot, then add in the fat of your choice: butter, olive oil, or other cooking fat. Let the butter/oil heat up before stirring in the rice.
In addition, keep stirring for about 10 minutes until you see that it’s no longer sticking to the bottom of the pan and making those lovely crispy edges.
Then add in your liquids: water, fish sauce (optional), vinegar (optional), and soy sauce (optional). Cover and cook for about 20 minutes until all liquid has been absorbed.
21. Spanish Rice
A tried-and-true favorite, Spanish rice is excellent with fried shrimp. To make this dish even more straightforward, pour a box of Spanish rice into boiling water and cook until tender.
Combine olive oil, minced garlic, chicken broth, and the cooked rice in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat for about five minutes.
Next, season to taste with salt and pepper before adding the frozen peas and corn kernels. Cook for another two minutes before removing the pan from the heat. Enjoy!
22. Sweet Potato Fries
When finding what to serve with fried shrimp, sweet potato fries are a great option. To make it
- Add oil, cornstarch, and thyme leaves to a large bowl. Toss shrimp in the mixture until coated.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 450°F for 6-8 minutes until cooked.
- Warm milk and mix with melted butter in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, then stir in the flour until smooth
- In another bowl, whisk together eggs and cream, then beat them until they’re frothy
- Drain the bread crumbs onto paper towels so they are not too moist
- Dip each shrimp into the egg mixture, then toss it in breadcrumbs
- Fry or oven fry on low heat
23. Buttered Noodles
Buttered noodles are the most popular side dish for fried shrimp. This recipe is relatively simple and requires few ingredients.
After all, fried shrimp is already delicious, so it doesn’t need much more than some carbs and protein.
Meanwhile, it takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and serve two people;
- Add salted water to a large pot
- Add linguine noodles
- Cook until al dente (according to package instructions)
- Remove from heat and drain pasta in a colander or fine mesh strainer
- Melt butter in the pot, stirring until completely melted
- Pour sauce over the pasta, then mix well
24. Seasoned Rice
Here are the best sides we’ve found to serve alongside fried shrimp. Just be sure not to do anything too fussy or complicated—this dinner is meant to be quick and straightforward.
Seasoned rice makes a great side dish for this option if you are looking for what to serve with fried shrimp.
25. Slaw
A delicious and refreshing slaw is a great side dish to serve with fried shrimp.
This dish provides an excellent, crunchy texture and fresh flavor that complements the warm, crispy shrimp.
For a slaw, you will need cabbage (red or green), onion, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, and salt.
First, peel and shred the cabbage by hand or using a food processor. Then, finely chop the onion.
Next, ensure it has some moisture so it does not turn brown when fried in oil. Add some water and let it sit for 10 minutes before draining the excess liquid from the onions.
26. Au Gratin Potatoes
For a side dish, we recommend making au gratin potatoes. This is not a new recipe idea but one that you’ll see all over the internet and in many different cookbooks.
Au gratin potatoes are amazing as a dish to serve with fried shrimp because they have cheese and lots of other flavorful spices.
These flavourful spices are mixed into them, giving them a nice flavor, and then they get topped off with more cheese before going into the oven, making them especially tasty.
Also, this dish is a good choice because it allows you to add extra add-ons like bacon bits or chopped jalapenos if you’re looking for something spicy!
When you pull these out of the oven, they will bubble around the edges where all those tremendous cheesy flavors mingle.
27. Vegetable Kabob
Kabobs are a fantastic meal because they’re delicious, healthy, and easy to make. Chunks of your favorite vegetables or fruits are threaded onto skewers and grilled until tender.
Sometimes, meat like chicken or pork can be added for protein, but it’s also optional! This idea is an excellent option for what to serve with fried shrimp.
It is pretty straightforward. Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. If you don’t have any pre-cut kabob sticks on hand, cut up some kabob sticks (like bamboo skewers).
