138 shrimp appetizer recipes

Creamy shrimp spread blended with cream cheese, mayo, lemon juice, and dill. A quick food processor appetizer for crackers or rye bread, ready in minutes.

Classic New Orleans crabmeat ravigote with lump crab, bell pepper, pimiento, scallions, and a bright lemon-cayenne kick. No cooking required. Ready in 20 minutes.

Chinese shrimp balls (pai chiao hsia chiu) rolled in stale bread cubes and double-fried until shatteringly crisp. Served with Sichuan pepper-salt dip. 30 pieces.

Freezer-friendly shrimp quesadillas with Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, and cilantro in flour tortillas. Assemble ahead, freeze, and cook from frozen in minutes.

Crispy phyllo bundles filled with curried shrimp, coconut, chopped peanuts, yogurt, and chutney. Makes 24 golden bite-sized appetizers. Freezer-friendly, so you can bake them straight from frozen for easy entertaining.

Beach Party Shrimp Saute stir-fries unshelled shrimp with jalapeño, garlic, onion, and oregano in 10 minutes, finished with fresh lemon or lime juice. A bold, easy seafood appetizer or main.

The sauce here is no kin whatsoever to the ketchupy stuff that too often swamps cold seafood; it's a good bet with cold shrimp or crabmeat, too.

Lemon-marinated shrimp and thick mushroom slices threaded on picks with a tangy tarragon-Dijon dressing. A low-fat party appetizer ready in 15 minutes.

Homemade siopao steamed dumplings stuffed with a savory shrimp, ground pork, and water chestnut filling. Makes 30 pillowy buns from scratch, street-food style.

Creamy shrimp and pistachio spread made with blended cottage cheese, lemon juice, and onion powder. A no-cook appetizer for crackers or chips that chills in an hour.

Shrimp spread with chopped cooked shrimp, cream cheese, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. A tangy, no-cook appetizer spread for crackers and vegetables.

Crystal-clear dumpling wrappers reveal a savory filling of shrimp, pork, mushrooms, and water chestnuts. These bite-sized dim sum gems steam in just minutes and disappear even faster from the plate.

Cold sauced shrimp appetizer in a creamy curry-chili sauce with horseradish, mango chutney, capers, and a kick of Tabasco. A make-ahead party dish that improves overnight.

Norwegian fiskepudding: a silky cod mousse bound with cream and cornstarch, baked in a water bath until firm. Classic Scandinavian fish pudding served hot with sauce.

Marinated shrimp kabobs with picante sauce and Italian dressing, threaded with broccoli florets and cherry tomatoes. A make-ahead cocktail appetizer with three-color visual punch.

Sharp cheddar cheese fondue made with cream of cheddar soup, garlic, and a splash of kirsch. Serve with crusty bread, meats, and fresh veggies for a crowd-pleasing party dip.