Salt and Pepper Shrimp is crispy and spicy and packed with flavor yet so simple to make. Pan fried shrimp are seasoned with lemon, garlic, bell peppers and jalapeno peppers. Fresher and quicker than take-out, dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Why this recipe is just so good....
- This pepper shrimp has a bit of a spicy kick, but not in a fiery way, no eye watering or tongue burning. It is just full of savory flavor with a hint of heat.
- Shrimp is a quick cooking, versatile seafood that never disappoints. From the time you chop the veggies, pan fry the shrimp and add the spices and vegetables, dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Shrimp lovers will want to try these other easy recipes: Mongolian shrimp, Air Fryer shrimp, General Tso's shrimp and Pan seared shrimp.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients for this amazing pepper shrimp.
- large, deveined shrimp with tail
- arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- olive or vegetable oil
- lemon juice
- bell pepper
- ground pepper ( I used tri color pepper spice grinder)
- garlic powder
- salt
- sugar
- Old Bay seasoning (or other seafood seasoning)
- Pickled Jalapeños and their liquid
- chopped pickled Jalapeños
- dried, crunchy Jalapeños (optional)
Ingredient Notes
- You can use any color bell pepper you prefer. I had half of an orange and red so that is what I used.
- The pickled jalapeños and their liquid give the shrimp a nice spicy and tangy flavor, but they don't taste pickled. You can finely chop a fresh Jalapeno pepper, with or without the seeds if you'd like it extra spicy!
How to make Salt and Pepper Shrimp
These are basic directions for the recipe. You will find full step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below.
- Rinse the shrimp and pat dry with paper towel.
- Stir together the salt, pepper, sugar, Old Bay and Arrowroot or Cornstarch.
- Place shrimp in a large bowl and sprinkle the seasonings over them and gently stir to coat the shrimp.
- Heat one tablespoon oil in a cast iron skillet or other large skillet over medium heat.
- Saute' the shrimp for 2 -3 minutes, flip them over and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- They are done when the color changes to pinkish orange and the shrimp just begin to curl into a "C" shape.
- Remove the shrimp to a plate.
- Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan and add the bell peppers and Jalapeños. Brown for 1-2 minutes, add the garlic and cook 1 minute, don't let it burn.
- Add the Jalapeno liquid and lemon juice and stir into the pepper mixture.
- Add the shrimp back to the pan, saute' for 1 minute until golden brown. Crumble in a few dried Jalapeno chips if using. Heat through, about one minute.
Serve with extra lemon slices and the optional dried Jalapeños chips.
Recipe Tips
- Try to use fresh shrimp if possible. You want the shrimp to smell like the sea and not have any off odors. If you use frozen, defrost overnight in the refrigerator and make sure to pat the shrimp dry before pan frying.
- Make sure not to crowd the shrimp and cook them in a single layer in the pan. This ensures that they all cook evenly. You can cook in batches if needed.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover, cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
Frozen cooked shrimp can generally be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months without significant loss of quality. It may affect the texture a bit, making them softer.
FAQ
Yes, actually this recipe was made from frozen shrimp. I defrosted the package in my refrigerator overnight, then rinsed and dried them before cooking.
Or you can let the frozen shrimp sit in a bowl of cold water for about 10-15 minutes. Check them, add fresh water and sit for a few minutes longer. Then rinse, dry and cook as you'd like.
Shrimp Salad: Chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces and mix them with your favorite salad greens, vegetables, and dressing. Or mix with a spicy mayonnaise and serve over lettuce, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and avocado, similar to Shrimp Louie.
Shrimp Tacos: Lightly reheat the shrimp and use them as the filling in a tortilla. Add some salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and cheese to create an shrimp taco.
Shrimp Pasta: Add the shrimp with cooked pasta and an Alfredo sauce, lemon butter sauce or marinara.
Shrimp Stir-Fry: Reheat the shrimp with a combination of vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, water chestnuts and snow peas. Add a light teriyaki sauce for a delicious meal.
Shrimp will become tough and rubbery if it is cooked for too long. Large shrimp only takes about 3-4 minutes to cook. They will change color to a pinkish orange and take on a slightly "C" shape.
Shrimp can also be tough if they are cooked at too high heat. Use a medium heat to cook shrimp.
Shrimp is not an overly rich tasting seafood. We love to eat it more often in the summer and serve it with salads and lots of vegetables. You can serve it over white or brown rice. Or keep it light. Here are some delicious side dishes to try are Butter Lettuce Salad, Marinated Broccoli and Blackened Green Beans.
If you made this Pepper Shrimp recipe and enjoyed it, I'd love if you gave it a 5 star rating. This tells me what you like and want to see more of. Thank you!
Here are MORE easy seafood recipes to try:
Salt and Pepper Shrimp
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Asian/American
Description
This salt and pepper shrimp is crispy, spicy shrimp that are packed with flavor yet so simple for a weeknight meal. Pan fried shrimp are seasoned with lemon, garlic, bell peppers and jalepeno peppers. Fresher and quicker than take-out, this easy recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, deveined, with tail on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons Arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- ¼ cup pickled Jalapenos peppers with liquid *
- 1 bell pepper, finely chopped *
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice*
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning or favorite seafood seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper *
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Rinse the shrimp and pat dry with paper towel.
- Stir together the salt, pepper, sugar, Old Bay and Arrowroot or Cornstarch.
- Place shrimp in a large bowl and sprinkle the seasonings over them and gently stir to coat the shrimp.
- Heat one tablespoon oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Saute' the shrimp for 2-3 minutes, flip them over and cook for another 1-2.
- They are done when the color changes to pinkish orange and the shrimp just begin to curl into a "C"
- Remove the shrimp to a plate.
- Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan and add the bell peppers and Jalapeños. Brown for 1-2 minutes, add the garlic and cook 1 minute, don't let it burn.
- Add the Jalapeno liquid and lemon juice and stir into the vegetable mixture.
- Add the shrimp back to the pan and crumble in a few dried Jalapeno chips over the shrimp. Heat through, about one minute.
- Serve with extra lemon slices and the optional dried Jalapeños chips.
Notes
* I used half orange and red peppers since that is what I had in my refrigerator. Choose whatever type you prefer.
*I used tricolor peppercorns in a grinder which was a bit spicier than black pepper. Use either type you like.
*Instead of pickled Jalapenos peppers, you can use a small, fresh Jalapeno pepper, finely chopped. Make sure you remove the seeds so the shrimp not too spicy( unless you want to increase the heat level).
* Substitute lime juice instead of lemon if you'd like and serve with lime wedges.
Mia says
Oh these were so tasty. Will make again!
Deb Belsha says
So glad you like them!
Deb Belsha says
So glad you liked the shrimp!