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Old Bay Shrimp (Oven Baked)

Old Bay Shrimp are tender and juicy with just the right amount of spice. Baked in the oven and with only 3 ingredients, these are better way to enjoy peel and eat shrimp!

sheet pan of shrimp

Old Bay Shrimp

My husband is from Louisiana and he is a big fan of Low Country Boil. Piles of shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn, seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning, laid out on a table, just ready to be eaten. What’s not to love?!?

His favorite food is Crawfish but they are kind of hard to come by in Georgia so I go with the next best thing. Shrimp!

When he is craving seafood, I always reach for shrimp! They are easy to prepare and go great with so many dishes, so I stock up when they go on sale. I have bags of large shrimp already split and deveined in the freezer, just waiting for when a craving hits.

To get them as close to a low country boil as possible without all the other items, I toss them in a coating of melted butter and Old Bay Seasoning. And to make things even easier, I roast them in the oven. Easy prep and easy cleanup!

Why this Recipe is Awesome

  • Only requires 3 ingredients!
  • Just like a shrimp boil but way easier.
  • Less than 10 minutes to make.
  • Perfect for a crowd.
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labeled picture of recipe ingredients

Ingredients Needed

  • shrimp
  • butter
  • old bay seasoning

Shrimp – Because they are peel and eat and meant to be the star of the show, I use size 16/20 raw shrimp that are deveined and split with the shells still on.

Butter – Use unsalted butter for this recipe as the spice mix has enough in it. If you want to switch the butter for olive oil, that works too.

Bay Seasoning – I like to use a homemade spice rub but you can use store-bought or your own combination of herbs and spices.

How to make Old Bay Shrimp in the Oven

First: Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Thaw shrimp if frozen, pat dry with paper towels, and place in a large bowl.

Second: Melt butter and whisk in old bay seasoning. Pour over the shrimp and toss to coat. Place the shrimp on the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer.

Third: Place shrimp in the oven and bake for 8 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Remove and serve with melted butter or cocktail sauce.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

For more insider tips & tricks, and a candid behind the scenes look follow me on social media! Check use out on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (yes, people still use Twitter, LOL!)

close up of cooked shrimp

What temperature should you cook shrimp at?

You can slow cook them in the oven at 350F or broil them up to 450F. If I am cooking them along with other ingredients like pepper, onions, or other vegetables, I tend to go with a lower temperature.

These are cooked by themselves so I prefer a higher temp to get crispy edges while keeping the inside tender and juicy.

Is it better to bake or boil Old Bay Shrimp?

Both are easy ways to cook shrimp but I prefer baking to boiling. It’s easy to see all the shrimp at one time when they are spread out on a baking sheet. You can also remove smaller shrimp so they don’t overcook.

sheet pan of shrimp with bowl of spiced butter

How do you know shrimp are done?

The best way to tell if the shrimp are done are to check their color. Cooked shrimp will be a light pink and will be opaque. If the shrimp are butterflied (like these) I like to check inside the cut area.

How to Store Old Bay Shrimp

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. I don’t recommend freezing them as they will get tough.

hand dipping shrimp in bowl

Tapas Tips & Tricks

  • Frozen shrimp work great for this. I buy large bags when they go on sale and store in the freezer until ready to cook.
  • I like large shrimp for this but you can use any size shrimp you like. Just know that smaller or larger shrimp will require you to adjust the cook time.
  • If you don’t want the spicy seasoning, try lemon pepper, a sprinkle of garlic powder, or simple salt and pepper.
  • You can certainly boil the shrimp like most do, but I find I prefer the oven to cook shrimp. Makes for easy clean up.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

tray of shrimp with lemon wedges

This oven baked shrimp recipe is super easy to make and feeds a crowd. Just be sure to have a lot of lemons and paper towels on hand!

More Easy Recipes

tray of shrimp

Old Bay Shrimp

Old Bay Shrimp are tender and juicy with just the right amount of spice. Baked in the oven and with only 3 ingredients, these are better way to enjoy peel and eat shrimp!
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Course: Easy Finger Foods
Cuisine: Cajun
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 184kcal
Author: Jennifer Stewart

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds raw shrimp 16/20 size, deveined
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
  • Thaw shrimp if frozen, pat dry with paper towels, and place in a large bowl.
  • Melt butter and whisk in old bay seasoning. Pour over the shrimp and toss to coat.
  • Place the shrimp on the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer.
  • Place shrimp in the oven and bake for 8 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and opaque.
  • Remove and serve with melted butter or cocktail sauce.

Notes

  • Frozen shrimp work great for this. I buy large bags when they go on sale and store in the freezer until ready to cook.
  • I like large shrimp for this but you can use any size shrimp you like. Just know that smaller or larger shrimp will require you to adjust the cook time.
  • If you don't want the spicy seasoning, try lemon pepper, a sprinkle of garlic powder, or simple salt and pepper.
  • You can certainly boil the shrimp like most do, but I find I prefer the oven to cook shrimp. Makes for easy clean up.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 1104mg

    ©TakeTwoTapas.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

    Recipe Rating




    Krista

    Monday 29th of May 2023

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 The shrimp were perfect and everyone loved them! They were a hit!

    Jennifer Stewart

    Tuesday 30th of May 2023

    I am so glad! They are such an easy dinner or appetizer:)