A quick and easy oven baked shrimp recipe the whole family will love, this simple Marinated Shrimp recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes and has an amazing flavor profile that can be made as spicy (or not spicy) as you’d like!

Marinated Shrimp Recipe

This easy, oven baked shrimp recipe has been a favorite in my family for years!

The recipe came from a military friend of my father’s who brought this marinated shrimp appetizer to a potluck a couple of decades ago. Everyone loved it and begged for the recipe – including my dad, the pickiest of picky eaters.

Even back then, well before I had any notion of being a food blogger, I knew I had to record my own copy of it and to this day, I still have that meticulously copied recipe card, carefully written out in my 12-year old handwriting. It’s about time that I’m finally sharing it with you!

This shrimp recipe can be mildly spiced or you can double the marinade for a spicier dish. (I tend to opt for the spicy version.) The ingredient list for the marinade may seem long, but every ingredient works together to create a wonderfully spiced dish that has amazing, restaurant-quality flavor. It’s punchy, herby and a little bit spicy (and not salty in the slightest). The most time-consuming part of this recipe is just grabbing the spices from your pantry.

You can bake your marinated shrimp or cook it on the grill – whichever you prefer. Grilling will impart a delicious smoky flavor and if you grill the shrimp right on the grill (using kebab sticks) you’ll get some lovely charred bits, too. I’ve included grilling and pan-frying directions in the recipe card below.

Can you marinate shrimp? Yes! The concern that a lot of people have with marinating seafood (or any type of meat) is that you don’t want to soak your seafood in a liquid that will chemically “cook” it, because the longer the seafood sits in the marinade, the longer it will cook – risking the possibility of overcooked, tough shrimp.

Vinegars and citrus juices both cause these chemical reactions, but the small amount of lemon juice in our recipe (2 teaspoons) is balanced out with other ingredients that inhibit the lemon juice from cooking the shrimp. If you are concerned about it, you can always just add the lemon juice right before cooking.

How long can you marinate shrimp? You want to marinate your shrimp for at least 30 minutes, ideally at least an hour, but if you can let it marinate for a day that will result in the best possible flavor. Do not exceed 2 days of marinating to ensure that your shrimp is fresh when you go to enjoy it.

How can I tell my shrimp is cooked? Raw shrimp is translucent, lightly gray (or brown) and the shape somewhat resembles a shepard’s hook. Perfectly cooked shrimp should appear pink throughout with none of the grey or brown color remaining and it should begin to curl into a loose “c” shape. It should be fork-tender and juicy.

Overcooked shrimp will be more tightly curled, almost like a spiral and may be tough.

How to freeze marinated shrimp: you can freeze this shrimp with the marinade before cooking. Place the prepped shrimp and marinade in your favorite freezer containers or an airtight freezer bag. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.) Freeze for up to one month. Allow shrimp to thaw completely before proceeding with baking.

Check out our quick video to see how easy this marinaded shrimp recipe comes together – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:

Marinated Shrimp Ingredients

• Shrimp <– I used raw shrimp with tails removed, if you buy shell-in shrimp you may want to devein them to allow them to soak up the marinade better
• Butter
• Olive Oil
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Garlic Cloves
• Lemon Juice
• Parsley
• Paprika
• Thyme
• Basil
• Oregano
• Cayenne Pepper
• Hot Sauce
• Salt

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: if you want your marinated shrimp to be spicy, double or triple the marinade ingredients – or at least increase the hot sauce and cayenne pepper. You can also add red chili pepper flakes for added heat.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Casserole Dish <– I love these Pyrex dishes with fitted lids for easy transportation to parties or leftover storage
• Saucepan
• Whisk

How to Marinate Shrimp

Rinse and drain your raw shrimp, then place in a casserole dish and set aside.

Place oil and butter in a saucepan over medium heat and cook until butter is melted.

Whisk in all remaining ingredients, except for the shrimp, and warm through.

Allow the marinade to cool slightly, then pour over the shrimp.

Stir to coat the shrimp completely in the marinade.

Cover your casserole dish and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or overnight.

When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350°F as the shrimp comes to room temperature.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until shrimp is no longer translucent.

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Grab your free printable recipe card for our easy marinated shrimp recipe:

I hope your family loves this easy marinated shrimp recipe as much as mine does!

For more scrumptious seafood ideas, check out our full seafood recipe collection here:

For more amazing appetizers, check out our full appetizer recipe collection here: