Serve the flavors of the Big Easy at home with these decadent Barbecue Shrimp. They’re spicy, scrumptious and cook quickly. As well, they’re simple enough for weeknights, yet elegant enough for entertaining!
Typically when you think of barbecue anything you think of, well barbecue, meat prepared on a grill. Barbecue Shrimp has nothing to do with a grill, but it does have everything to do with a flavorful culinary explosion! Barbecue Shrimp is the quintessential New Orleans entrée. Serve these shrimp simply with crusty bread for dipping up the sinfully delicious, buttery sauce.
Barbecue Shrimp originated in the 1950s in the Italian restaurant, Pascal’s Manale Restaurant, in New Orleans. It is believed to have been prepared for a local patron who described it to the chef. Legion has it the customer had eaten a similar entrée while out-of-town and wished it to be recreated. It was such a hit, the restaurant soon added it to the regular menu and, as they say, the rest is history!
Barbecue Shrimp
You see, barbecue shrimp is shrimp sautéed, usually with the heads and tails on, in a Worcestershire and butter sauce. Worcestershire and butter are heated and emulsified; the shrimp are then submerged in this wonderfully flavorful, sinfully delicious sauce. It’s difficult to purchase head-on, tail-on shrimp where I live so usually I have to settle for head-off. You definitely want them in-shell though you’ll still get a lot more flavor with in-shell shrimp versus shelled shrimp. Besides, part of the fun of this dish is getting messy eating it!
Remember I have referenced the butter sauce a couple of times now. So, yeah, there’s a lot of butter in this recipe. Don’t freak out. Again, don’t freak out. Make this your once-in-a-while splurge, not you’re eat-every-night meal! K?
Tips
- I like to use big shrimp for this recipe, 12 to 14 shrimp per pound.
- Get heads-on, unpeeled if you can.
- Head-off is fine if you can’t find heads-on.
- Use a ‘good’ quality butter, no substitutions.
- Add butter to sauce one tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition until melted.
While you’re here, check out these recipes
- Creamy BBQ Shrimp
- Central Grocery Mini Muffuletta Sandwich
- King Cake
- Hurricane Cocktail
- Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary based on products used.
Barbecue Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ pound shrimp
- ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup butter unsalted (cube in 1 tablespoon portions)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed (about 2 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon black pepper cracked
- 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic freshly minced
- toasted bread
Instructions
- In a large skillet or saucepan (large enough that the shrimp will not be crowded) combine Worcestershire, lemon juice, ground black pepper, cracked black pepper, Creole seasoning, and garlic; whisk to combine.
- Add shrimp to pan and cook until pink. This will take 45 seconds to 1 minute per side.
- When shrimp is pink, move them to one side of the pan.
- Add butter a tablespoon at a time to sauce whisking to emulsify.
- Remove from heat.
- Serve in a large bowl with the sauce poured over the top and bread on the side.
Notes
- I like to use big shrimp for this recipe, 12 to 14 shrimp per pound.
- Get heads-on, unpeeled if you can.
- Head-off is fine if you can't find heads-on.
- Use a 'good' quality butter, no substitutions.
- Add butter to sauce one tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition until melted.
Nutrition
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Cindy Eikenberg says
Hey Paula, just popping back in to thank you so much for sharing this great recipe at Best of the Weekend! Pinned again! 🙂 Hope your Monday has been good!
Paula says
You’re so sweet, Cindy! Thank you so much for sharing!
Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says
Hi, Paula! These look great. Our family loves shrimp, so I’m excited about a new way to try them. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Paula says
Thank you, Blair. I love shrimp too, my husband laughs because he knows when we go out to eat that I’ll get shrimp ever time 🙂
Kelly says
We love shrimp and this looks amazing Paula! Oh boy, I love the sound of the sauce – it looks so mouthwatering! Pinning, thanks for sharing 🙂
Paula says
Thanks so much Kelly,hope you’re well!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Holy Butter Batman! But hey, anything with butter in it has to be good AND anything with New Orleans roots is just delicious! Love this recipe Paula, pinned!
Paula says
lol, I know. That’s why it can only be a ‘sometimes’ treat.
Lin says
I love shrimp made like this! Question… Do you heat up the sauce before adding the shrimp> Thanks, Paula!
Paula says
I don’t heat the sauce before, Lin. I watch the shrimp and when they’re about half cooked I kind of move them all to one side and add the sauce. It doesn’t take but a minute for the butter to melt and I whisk the butter and sauce the entire time it’s melting. When it’s completely melted I pour it all in a platter with side and pour all the sauce over it. Hope this helps, let me know how you like it.
Lin says
Got it! I’m sure they will be amazing. I’ve made a similar recipe, but for this one I love the addition of the worchestershire sauce and creole seasoning!
~Lin…
Cindy Eikenberg says
Yum!!! We absolutely love shrimp at my house but we always seem to just have them steamed. Definitely need to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing, Paula and pinning!
Paula says
Just put out of your brain how much butter is in it 🙂
Jill says
That looks delicious, love barbeque shrimp, especially when there is lots of sauce so you can dip bread in!
Paula says
I agree, the sauce is the best part