What to Serve With Shrimp: 28 Best Side Dishes

1. Cauliflower Grits

Cheesy Cauliflower grits are a match made in heaven with blackened shrimp, lemony shrimp, or sauteed shrimp with butter and garlic.

Riced cauliflower replaces traditional grits in this easy recipe with cheddar cheese that comes together in 10 minutes. This quick meal is a winner if you're looking for a Cajun-inspired dish.

2. Roasted Asparagus

Elegant roasted balsamic asparagus is a great option for just about any main dish with shrimp. Various seasonings and sauces can be used to dress up this crisp, vibrant-colored veggie.

Our favorite way is drizzled with balsamic glaze and sprinkled with feta or Parmesan cheese.

3. Pasta or Zucchini Alfredo

Looking for a decadent and satisfying side dish for shrimp that's low-carb too! Zucchini Noodle Alfredo (a.k.a "zoodles") has a cheesy sauce made with Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream, which you can whip up in minutes. It's a keto-friendly alternative to traditional pasta.

Of course, you can never go wrong with the classic combination of cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese in a sauce. If that's more your style, then make one pot alfredo. It's creamy and luxurious and only takes 15 minutes to make!

In the fall, make spaghetti squash alfredo instead!

4. Guacamole Boats

Shrimp and the best 4-ingredient guacamole are a winning combination. Cool, creamy avocado mixed with lemon juice (or lime juice), red onion, and tomatoes perfectly contrast with spicy shrimp.

Serve it out of the skin like a "boat" with a side of low-carb tortilla chips. Or layer guac and shrimp on top of cucumber slices to make shrimp guacamole bites.

5. Crispy Green Beans

A green bean side dish perfectly complements sweet, slightly salty shrimp. This healthy vegetable can be prepared in different ways, including sautéed, steamed, and roasted in the air fryer or oven.

The beans pictured were air-fried until they were melt-in-your-mouth crispy. You can also make green bean fries with a Parmesan crust! Who doesn't love fries?!

6. Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Another quick and easy side dish for shrimp is colorful corn and black bean salsa. Corn, tomatoes, beans, and onions are marinated in a tasty red wine vinegar dressing.

There's no problem making this recipe ahead of time. The longer it sits, the better it gets! Mix the shrimp right into the salad. Or serve it on the side.

7. Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Cauliflower Mash loaded with cream cheese, sour cream, butter, and seasonings is an ideal side dish for shrimp. It doesn't pretend to replace mashed potatoes because it's divine in its own right.

You can quickly make this side with a bag of frozen cauliflower!

8. Street Style Cauliflower or Corn

Both shrimp and elote are popular recipes in Mexican cuisine, and combining the two can create a culturally authentic and interesting dish. The traditional street dish is corn on the cob bathed in an irresistible lime crema and topped with cotija cheese and seasoning.

To make eating easier, take corn off the cob and make elote in a cup. Make street-style cauliflower for a low-carb version. Either is guaranteed to add a fun and festive element to any meal with shrimp!

9. Caesar Salad

You can never go wrong serving Caesar salad with a side of shrimp! Whether making the creamy dressing from scratch or buying your favorite bottled brand, serve it with crisp romaine lettuce, garlicky croutons, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

10. Roasted Cauliflower Rice

Another great way to enjoy shrimp is with cauliflower rice. It's a low-carb alternative to rice and a delicious way to sneak more veggies into a meal with shrimp. Want to make it special-occasion worthy?

Roast cauliflower rice in the oven until it's light, fluffy, and unlike anything you've tasted before. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top too!

11. Caribbean Salad

For a tropical experience, serve shrimp with Caribbean Salad. The amazing honey lime dressing made famous by Disney's 'Ohana restaurant is fantastic. Toppings that include pineapple, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, cilantro, and green onions will tantalize your taste buds in this perfect pairing.

12. Carrots and Radishes

Come spring, roasted radishes and carrots are great options to serve with shrimp. The ones pictured were drizzled with a lemony dill sauce, which can be doubled and used for the shrimp too.

Not in the mood to heat up the oven? Saute baby carrots on the stovetop instead and use the same pan for cooking shrimp.

13. Kale Apple Slaw

If you're looking for coleslaw that's out of the ordinary to serve with shrimp, try Kale Apple Slaw with tangy honey mustard dressing. You may have tried it before at Tropical Smoothie Cafe!

14. Ramen Noodle Cabbage Salad

Sweet, tender shrimp are ideal with Napa Cabbage Salad. Crisp, refreshing cabbage is dressed with a finger-licking sesame soy dressing.

But it's the crunchy ramen noodle topping that adds an unexpected twist to the meal. This delicious salad is always a crowd-pleaser!

15. Broccoli Rice

Broccoli is another great side dish with shrimp. You can roast broccoli florets, just as you do any other vegetable. Another great way is to roast riced broccoli until it's caramelized and a tad nutty!

It's a healthy alternative to grains you can make yourself or buy at the grocery store (fresh or frozen.)

16. Vegetable Kababs

If you're grilling shrimp, make vegetable kabobs too! These can be made with various fresh veggies, such as red bell peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and eggplant.

Here's how to do it:

1. Cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
2. Thread them onto pre-soaked skewers.
3. Brush the veggies with olive oil, salt, pepper, or other seasonings.
4. Cook at a medium temperature for 8-10 minutes, turning periodically until the vegetables are tender and charred.

17. Caprese Salad

Caprese is a vibrant-colored dish with simple ingredients that complements a wide variety of main dishes, from shrimp scampi to grilled shrimp. This Italian-inspired salad is made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

For an interesting twist on this classic, make it with ripe grape or cherry tomatoes that have been roasted! Get the recipe here: grape tomato Caprese salad!

18. Stuffed Baked Potato

Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes are excellent sides for shrimp. For a show-stopping presentation, why not combine the two?

Cook the potatoes until they're tender and fluffy on the inside. Scoop out the flesh and mix it with ingredients such as butter, milk, sour cream, cheese, and spices to create a creamy and flavorful filling. Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins. Top with cooked shrimp and bake until bubbly. Top with chives, bacon bits, or a creamy Alfredo topping.

19. Columbia's 1905 Salad

The Columbia Restaurant offers its famous Columbia 1905 Salad with shrimp instead of ham. You can do it too! This memorable salad with a zesty garlic vinaigrette is spectacular with shrimp.

20. Mushroom Quinoa

When you need a fancy side dish to serve with shrimp, make easy mushroom quinoa! It has a hearty, umami flavor from finely diced mushrooms and a creamy texture from grated Parmesan cheese.

21. Fresh Green Salad

A fresh green salad with a simple vinaigrette dressing is a refreshing side for shrimp. Keep it interesting by adding a variety of textures and colors.

Our "house" salad (a.k.a. my favorite one to serve guests) has toasted walnuts, shredded cheese, strawberries, and red wine vinegar dressing.

22. Olive Oil Pasta

Shrimp and pasta are a classic combination that can be healthy! But, of course, it all depends on the type of pasta used and the sauce it's covered with. And there are many choices, from whole wheat and low-carb pasta noodles to ones made from chickpeas and hearts of palm.

One thing is for sure, you can't go wrong with olive oil pasta. This simple recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, and you can toss in your favorite veggies. We added mushrooms and basil and used whole-wheat pasta to make it!

23. Tik Tok Feta Pasta

We would be remiss not to include Tik Tok famous baked feta zoodles in our collection of side dishes for shrimp. It's so easy! Simply plop a block of feta cheese in the middle of a baking dish, surround it with grape tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil, and bake!

Turn it into a decadent, low-carb shrimp dinner by using zucchini noodles instead of pasta!

24. Warm Sauteed Cabbage

If you love egg rolls, you'll love warm sauteed cabbage with your shrimp dinner. That's how you make shrimp egg roll in a bowl!

It couldn't be easier to make! Just grab a bag of coleslaw from the grocery store and saute it with onions, garlic, and spices of your choice. It's delicious!

26. Chickpea Salad

Add shrimp to a Chickpea Feta Cucumber Salad loaded with vegetables, such as carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes. This 15-minute recipe has lots of flavor, especially if it sits overnight. So, make extra for lunch the next day!

27. Fettuccine Alfredo

Is there a more decadent and classic pairing than shrimp and alfredo sauce? Make one pot fettucinne alfredo and you'll be dining in style in under half an hour.