What to Serve with Grilled Shrimp: Delicious Sides, Salads, and More

Grilled shrimp is a fantastic main course, quick to cook and incredibly versatile. Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, a casual weeknight dinner, or a special occasion, knowing What To Serve With Grilled Shrimp can elevate your meal from simple to spectacular. This guide provides a curated list of delectable side dishes, refreshing salads, perfect breads, and satisfying desserts that will complement your grilled shrimp perfectly, ensuring a balanced and flavorful dining experience for everyone.

Grilled shrimp skewers on a barbecue.

Why Grilled Shrimp is a Great Choice

Grilled shrimp is popular for many reasons, making it a go-to option for cooks of all levels:

Quick Cooking Time: Shrimp grills in just minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights or when you need a fast and flavorful meal.
Versatile Flavor Profile: Shrimp’s mild flavor makes it a blank canvas for various seasonings and marinades, allowing you to customize it to your taste.
Healthy Protein Source: Shrimp is a lean protein, offering a nutritious and delicious option for health-conscious diners.

No matter if you are preparing classic grilled shrimp skewers or incorporating shrimp into tacos or pasta dishes, the right side dishes can truly enhance your meal. Let’s explore some of the best pairings to serve alongside your grilled shrimp.

Fresh and Flavorful Salads

Move beyond the ordinary Caesar salad and explore these vibrant salad options. From warm and hearty to light and fruity, these salads offer a refreshing contrast to grilled shrimp and add a burst of freshness to your plate.

Edamame Quinoa Salad: This Edamame Quinoa Salad is a vibrant and nutritious choice, packed with bright colors and complementary flavors. The combination of fluffy quinoa, tender edamame, and crisp bell peppers creates a delightful texture and taste experience that pairs beautifully with grilled shrimp.

Fattoush Salad: For a taste of the Mediterranean, try Fattoush Salad. This salad features crisp romaine lettuce and a medley of fresh vegetables, offering a healthy and colorful side dish that adds zest and vibrancy to your shrimp dinner. The crunchy pita bread adds a unique textural element.

Italian Potato Salad: A heartier salad option, Italian Potato Salad is both satisfying and flavorful. It’s an excellent make-ahead side dish, saving you time when preparing your grilled shrimp meal on a busy evening. Its robust flavors hold up well next to grilled seafood.

Mediterranean Watermelon Salad: Embrace the flavors of summer with Mediterranean Watermelon Salad. The sweetness of watermelon, the saltiness of feta cheese, and the coolness of fresh mint create a refreshing and light salad that is a perfect counterpoint to simply grilled shrimp, especially on a warm day.

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad: Ideal for barbecues and gatherings, Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is always a crowd-pleaser. The tangy Italian dressing, colorful vegetables, and satisfying pasta make this salad a flavorful and substantial side dish that complements grilled shrimp at any outdoor event.

Tabouli: For a truly refreshing and healthy option, consider Tabouli. This Middle Eastern salad is loaded with fresh parsley and mint, diced tomatoes, and a zesty dressing of lemon juice and olive oil. Its bright and herbaceous flavors are a wonderful complement to grilled shrimp.

Greek Salad: A classic for a reason, Greek Salad offers a tangy and salty flavor profile thanks to feta cheese and olives. Paired with crisp cucumbers and tomatoes, it’s a refreshing and satisfying salad that is always a welcome addition to any table, especially alongside grilled shrimp.

Greek Coleslaw: Put a Mediterranean twist on a classic with Greek Coleslaw. This creamy and refreshing coleslaw incorporates feta cheese and a Greek-inspired dressing, offering a unique and flavorful side dish that pairs wonderfully with grilled seafood like shrimp.

Fruit Salad: Keep it simple and light with a Fruit Salad. A refreshing mix of seasonal fruits is a healthy and naturally sweet side dish that cleanses the palate and provides a light counterpoint to grilled shrimp.

Delicious and Versatile Side Dishes

Grilled shrimp is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a wide range of side dishes. Here are some of the best recipes to complete your grilled shrimp meal, from vegetables to pasta and grains.

Close-up of creamy ricotta pasta in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Mediterranean Green Beans: Mediterranean Green Beans are a simple yet flavorful side that enhances grilled shrimp. Sautéed with garlic and olive oil, these green beans are tender and aromatic, providing a healthy and delicious vegetable component to your meal.

Instant Pot Corn On The Cob: For a taste of summer, Instant Pot Corn On The Cob is a fantastic choice. Cooked to perfection in a pressure cooker, the fresh, sweet corn becomes incredibly tender and juicy, making it an easy and crowd-pleasing side dish for grilled shrimp.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Asparagus: Add color and nutrition to your plate with Roasted Butternut Squash with Asparagus. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the butternut squash and complements the tender asparagus, creating a savory and visually appealing side dish.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes: Whipped Sweet Potatoes offer a touch of sweetness and creamy texture that pairs beautifully with savory grilled shrimp. Their smooth and comforting nature makes them a delightful side dish for any occasion.

Lebanese Rice: Elevate your rice side dish with Lebanese Rice. This fragrant rice dish is subtly spiced and adds an aromatic and flavorful grain component to your grilled shrimp meal.

Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables: For a healthy and vibrant side, try Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables. Roasting vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and onions brings out their natural sweetness and creates a flavorful and colorful side dish that complements grilled shrimp beautifully.

Gouda Mac and Cheese: Indulge in creamy comfort with Gouda Mac and Cheese. The rich and cheesy flavors of Gouda elevate this classic dish, making it a decadent and satisfying side to serve with quick-cooking grilled shrimp.

Ricotta Pasta: Ricotta Pasta is a simple yet incredibly delicious pasta dish that cheese lovers will adore. The creamy blend of ricotta and parmesan cheese creates a comforting and flavorful side that pairs wonderfully with grilled shrimp.

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes: A classic pairing for many main courses, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes are especially good with juicy grilled shrimp. Budget-friendly and picky-eater approved, these mashed potatoes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Mexican Street Corn Salad: Add a little spice and zest to your meal with Mexican Street Corn Salad. This vibrant salad captures the flavors of Mexican street corn in a convenient salad form, offering a delicious and slightly spicy side dish for grilled shrimp.

Bread and Rolls for Grilled Shrimp

Bread and rolls are always a welcome addition to any meal, and they are especially delightful when served with grilled shrimp. Here are some tempting bread options to consider.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread: Air Fryer Garlic Bread is a quick and easy way to get crunchy, buttery, and flavorful garlic bread. The air fryer ensures perfect crispness, making it a family-favorite side dish that complements grilled shrimp wonderfully.

Sweet Bread Rolls: Sweet Bread Rolls are light, fluffy, and slightly sweet, making them a delightful accompaniment to grilled shrimp. Their soft texture and subtle sweetness make them perfect for soaking up sauces or enjoying alongside your main course.

Rolls From Frozen Bread Dough: For ultimate convenience, Rolls From Frozen Bread Dough are the way to go. This recipe allows you to create homemade-tasting rolls without the hassle of kneading, offering a simple and tasty bread option for your grilled shrimp dinner.

Sourdough Dutch Oven Bread: If you’re looking for a homemade crusty bread, Sourdough Dutch Oven Bread is an excellent choice. The Dutch oven method creates a bread with a perfectly crunchy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior, with a classic sourdough tang that elevates any meal, including grilled shrimp.

Sweet Endings: Delicious Desserts

No meal is truly complete without a sweet treat to finish. Here are some delightful dessert options that will satisfy your sweet tooth after enjoying grilled shrimp.

Raspberry Poke Cake: Raspberry Poke Cake is a moist and fruity cake bursting with raspberry flavor. Its light and fluffy texture makes it an ideal dessert, especially during warmer months, offering a refreshing and sweet conclusion to your grilled shrimp meal.

Dr Pepper Brownies: Chocolate lovers will rejoice over Dr Pepper Brownies. These brownies are rich, fudgy, and have a unique hint of soda flavor, creating a decadent and satisfying dessert that’s perfect after a lighter grilled shrimp dinner.

Hula Pie: For a creamy and tropical dessert, Hula Pie is a fantastic choice. This easy-to-make pie is creamy, sweet, and utterly delicious, offering a simple and satisfying dessert option when you need something quick and impressive.

Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies: Combine two favorite flavors with Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies. These rich and decadent cookies offer the perfect blend of chocolate and peanut butter, creating a sweet and satisfying treat to end your grilled shrimp meal.

Cherry Cookies: Cherry Cookies are a chewy and sweet option that can be made ahead of time, making them perfect for entertaining. Their sweet cherry flavor and soft texture make them a delightful dessert to follow grilled shrimp.

Baklava Cheesecake: For a more sophisticated dessert, Baklava Cheesecake is a showstopper. It combines the rich flavors of baklava with the creamy texture of cheesecake, creating a unique and indulgent dessert that is sure to impress.

No Bake Key Lime Pie: Keep it light and refreshing with No Bake Key Lime Pies. This creamy pie features a tangy lime filling and a cool whipped cream topping, making it a perfect no-bake dessert for hot summer days and a refreshing end to a grilled shrimp feast.

Lemon Buttermilk Pound Cake: If you love lemon desserts, Lemon Buttermilk Pound Cake is a must-try. Full of bright lemon flavor from both juice and zest, this pound cake is moist, flavorful, and a delightful citrusy dessert to conclude your grilled shrimp dinner.