Quick & Easy Steamed Shrimp (Seasoned & Flavorful!)

Jump to Recipe·5 from 1 review

This Old Bay steamed shrimp recipe is a great way to give a classic shrimp cocktail a little upgrade and extra flavor. It’s mild in flavor, but everyone will wonder how you made it because it tastes so good! Serve as a peel-and-eat appetizer along with some other snacks for a protein-rich addition to a snacky spread.

It’s shrimp cocktail…but elevated. 🦐

Instead of boiling the shrimp in water, we’re making a flavorful cooking liquid to infuse the shrimp with big flavor! Old Bay, fresh lemon, and apple cider vinegar gives savory and tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with a sweet and savory cocktail sauce.

I like to serve this as peel-and-eat shrimp, especially if we’re having it for a dinner or light meal at home. If I’m putting it out for a crowd, I would probably use shrimp without the peels to make them easier to eat! They’re…

🦐 Perfectly tender: Steaming locks in moisture, leaving the shrimp juicy and tender and infusing it with flavor.
😋 Seriously delicious: The natural sweetness of shrimp shines through and is perfect with the cocktail sauce.
🛒 Made with simple ingredients: Just shrimp, seasonings, and water, it couldn’t be easier!
🍽️ Versatile: Serve as a main dish, appetizer, or as part of a larger meal or appetizer spread.
🌱 Healthy & light: I always like serving something lighter and protein-heavy with appetizer spreads, shrimp cocktail is the perfect way to do it!

You’ll also want to try shrimp salad sandwiches, Old Bay shrimp boil, shrimp kabobs, and shrimp quesadillas.

Platter of steamed shrimp with bowl of cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.

Ingredient Notes

You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to bring this shrimp cocktail to the table: water, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay seasoning, lemon, jumbo shrimp, ketchup, and horseradish.

Emily’s Tips & Tricks

Pro tip: Use raw shrimp with peels on! It has the best flavor. And be careful to not overcook shrimp, it goes quickly!
Cooking methods: This is semi-steaming, semi-boiling and it works well as it helps to infuse the shrimp with flavor from the cooking liquid.
Additions: If you wanted to add a bit of garlic or onion slices to the cooking liquid, this will add some additional flavor!

Plate of old bay steamed shrimp on a platter with cocktail sauce.

Steamed Old Bay Shrimp Recipe

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Author: Emily Dingmann of myeverydaytable.com
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Appetizer
Method: Skillet
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This EASY old bay steamed shrimp comes together in less than 15 minutes and makes a great appetizer or light meal.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Steamed Shrimp:

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 lemon, sliced
16 oz. jumbo shrimp (peel on)

Old Bay Cocktail Sauce:

1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. horseradish
1/4 tsp. Old Bay seasoning

Instructions

Mix Old Bay cocktail sauce. In a small bowl, stir together ketchup, lemon juice, horseradish, and Old Bay seasoning.
Heat water, cider vinegar, Old Bay seasoning, and lemon slices in a large skillet over medium heat.
When the mixture boils, add the shrimp, stir into the Old Bay mixture, and cover. Lower heat and steam for 3-6 minutes, until shrimp is cooked through.
Let shrimp cool (or chill completely) before serving and serve with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.

Notes

Adjust horseradish amount in cocktail sauce according to your personal preference.
Storage: Store steamed shrimp with old bay in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Serve chilled.
Ingredient notes: Use high-quality, raw shrimp for the best flavor.
Prep ahead: You can cook the shrimp and store in refrigerator and also make the cocktail sauce up to a day ahead.

Serving Suggestions

At our house, shrimp cocktail is a favorite on appetizer spreads and holiday meals that are heavy on the snacks. Serve as a spread with some of these other favorite apps:

Platter of steamed shrimp with old bay and lemon wedges.

FAQs

Can you steam shrimp without a steamer basket?

You may have noticed that we are “steaming” the shrimp, but aren’t using a steamer basket. The trick to this is to use a large skillet (ideally at least 12 inches) so that the liquid is very shallow. This allows for a steaming hybrid of sorts. I actually prefer to let the cooking liquid fully season the shrimp, so the full contact is helpful here!

How do you know when shrimp are cooked?

Shrimp cook very quickly and we don’t want to overcook them as that’s when they turn rubbery and tough. So there are a few things to watch for:
– The shells of the shrimp turn pink
– The shrimp meat will turn white and opaque instead of translucent

More Shrimp Recipes

If you like this delicious shrimp recipe, you might also like some of these other easy shrimp recipes:

About the Author

Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.

Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.

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