Italian Marinated Shrimp: quick marinated appetizer using classic Italian dressing, lemon & herbs-serve chilled in just 1 hour!
This recipe uses your favorite Italian vinaigrette to make delicious, marinated shrimp that doesn't require grilling or cooking because you use cooked shrimp from your local fish market that has already been peeled and deveined.
Just add a squeeze of lemon and some green onion or fresh herbs to round out the flavors, and you have a gorgeous dish for a casual dinner or an elegant buffet. Even better yet, this dish can be served as a main course, salad, side dish, or appetizer.
🔍 Quick Look: Italian Marinated Shrimp
- Ready in: 1 Hour
- Servings:6
- Calories: ~87 kcal per serving
- Main Ingredients: Cooked shrimp, Italian salad dressing, lemon juice, green onions
- Elements of Taste: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami, Fat, Spicy, Temperature
- Cook Method: Combine & Chill
- Difficulty: Easy, perfect for beginner cooks who entertain
- Why You'll Love It: Tender, cooked shrimp are tossed in a tangy Italian herb vinaigrette - fresh, flavorful, herby, and perfect for an appetizer or side dish.
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Ingredient Notes
Here's what you will need for my Italian Marinated Shrimp:
- Cooked Shrimp - Select medium-sized shrimp that are 26 to 30 per pound. Most seafood counters offer shrimp that are already cleaned and cooked.
- Italian Salad Dressing - A well-seasoned Italian vinaigrette dressing is ideal. If you don't make your own, choose a store-bought option that contains premium ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, Italian seasoning that includes basil and oregano, and parmesan cheese. The Paul Newman brand "Newman's Own" has several Italian Dressings that are very good.
- Lemon - You will need lemon juice and a halved lemon makes a nice garnish.
- Sliced Green Onions - Green onions add another flavor note and make a pretty green garnish. You can also use fresh parsley or fresh dill if you don't like green onions.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
We enjoy this recipe for marinated shrimp as written, but here are a few tweaks you can make that are also delicious!
- Spicy - Add red pepper flakes to the marinade for a bit of heat. Try ⅛ teaspoon per pound and then add more to your taste.
- Lime - Change up the citrus and try lime juice instead of lemon.
- Garlic - Some people like to add a small amount of garlic or garlic powder. Go sparingly so as not to overpower the other flavors in this dish.
How to Make Italian Marinated Shrimp
- Whisk. In a large bowl whisk together the Italian salad dressing and fresh lemon juice.
- Combine. Add the cooked shrimp and gently toss to cover each shrimp with the marinade.
- Chill. Cover the bowl and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish & Serve. Transfer the marinated shrimp to a serving bowl or platter and garnish with the sliced green onions.
My Top Tips
Seafood Safety
Seafood should never have a fishy, sour, or ammonia smell. These are signals the seafood will make you sick. Even if you get just a whiff of these odors you must not eat it. It is impossible to cook, marinate, or freeze away the danger of spoiled seafood.
When working with seafood always work quickly to minimize the time that it is not refrigerated.
Shrimp Size
I like the size of shrimp that are 26 to 30 per pound. They are substantial and have the best flavor and presentation.
Shrimp Tails
You can leave the tails on the shrimp or remove them. I've made this dish both ways for family and guests and have had compliments on both versions and the tails look very pretty on the shrimp.
Overall if I am using the shrimp for an appetizer I leave the tail on. If the dish is a side dish or part of the main course, I take the tails off.
Make-Ahead & Storage
- Make-Ahead: This recipe is meant to be made 1 to 2 hours before serving. You can marinate the shrimp up to 5 hours ahead if you don't add the lemon juice to the marinade. Cooked shrimp will become tough if left in citrus juice for several hours, so add the lemon juice just before serving if you plan to make this in advance.
- Storage: Seafood is always best if consumed the same day it is prepared. However, leftover marinated shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
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📖 Recipe
Italian Marinated Shrimp
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Ingredients
- ⅓ Cup Italian Salad Dressing
- 2 Teaspoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Pound Cooked Shrimp, 26-30 Count Per Pound
- ¼ Cup Sliced Green Onion, Green Tops Only
Instructions
- Whisk. In a large bowl whisk together the Italian salad dressing and fresh lemon juice.⅓ Cup Italian Salad Dressing, 2 Teaspoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- Combine. Add the cooked shrimp and gently toss to cover each shrimp with the marinade.1 Pound Cooked Shrimp
- Chill. Cover the bowl and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish & Serve. Transfer the marinated shrimp to a serving bowl or platter and garnish with the sliced green onions.¼ Cup Sliced Green Onion
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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