New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

Name: New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 18 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp ancho chili powder (mild heat); 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp granulated sugar; 0.75 tsp kosher salt; 2 lb extra large shrimp (16-20 count), peeled and deveined; 5 tbsp unsalted butter, preferably European-style; 3 clove garlic cloves, finely minced; 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon); 2 tbsp water; 3 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced

Classic New Orleans BBQ Shrimp with Buttery Garlic Sauce

Don't let the name fool you — there's no grill in sight for this iconic New Orleans dish. Instead, jumbo shrimp swim in a rich, garlicky butter sauce spiked with Worcestershire and warm spices that'll have you reaching for crusty bread to soak up every drop.

AmericanSouthernCajunDinnerGluten FreeQuick MealsSeafoodShrimp

Prep10 min

Cook8 min

Total18 min

Servings4

Difficultyeasy

Ingredients

1 tspsweet paprika
1 tspancho chili powder (mild heat)
1 tspground cumin
1 tspgranulated sugar
¾ tspkosher salt
2 lbextra large shrimp (16-20 count), peeled and deveined
5 tbspunsalted butter, preferably European-style
3 clovegarlic cloves, finely minced
2 tbspWorcestershire sauce
1 tbspfresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
2 tbspwater
3 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced

Instructions

Combine the paprika, ancho chili powder, cumin, sugar, and salt in a large bowl, whisking to blend evenly. Add the shrimp and toss thoroughly to coat every piece with the spice mixture. The coating should look uniform and fragrant.
Heat the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until it's completely melted and starts to foam slightly. Add the minced garlic and cook gently, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned — about 1 minute. Burnt garlic will turn the whole dish bitter, so keep the heat moderate.
⏱ 1 min
Add all the seasoned shrimp to the skillet in a single layer if possible. Cook over medium heat, stirring and flipping frequently, until the shrimp are pink on the outside but still show translucent spots in the thickest part — this takes 3-4 minutes. They'll finish cooking in the next step.
⏱ 4 min
Pour in the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and water, which will create a beautiful pan sauce. Continue cooking, stirring gently, until the shrimp are completely opaque and cooked through — another 1-2 minutes. The sauce should be glossy and coat the shrimp lightly.
⏱ 2 min
Remove from heat and scatter the sliced scallions over the top for a fresh pop of color and mild onion flavor. Serve immediately with plenty of crusty bread or over rice to catch every drop of that incredible sauce.