12 Simple Shrimp Recipes for Lenten Fridays

By Mary Claire Lagroue
February 16, 2021
Credit: Allrecipes

Shrimp take almost no time to cook, meaning many recipes for this popular shellfish meet your Lenten Friday criteria: quick, easy, and meatless. From our Honey-Garlic Shrimp and New Orleans Barbeque Shrimp to Teriyaki Shrimp and Vegetable Stir-Fry, these standout recipes will simplify your fast. 

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Cilantro-Lime Baked Shrimp

Credit: lutzflcat
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After coating shrimp with cilantro, garlic, lime juice, seasoning, and bread crumbs, you'll have just enough time to prep a low-effort side (like pasta with olive oil) as they bake. "The shrimp were cooked perfectly at 15 minutes," Allrecipes Allstar lutzflcat says.

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Teriyaki Shrimp and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Credit: France C
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Serve this healthy shrimp stir fry over rice or noodles to enjoy as much of the teriyaki-style sauce as possible. "I have to say that the sauce is DELICIOUS," says Allstar France C. "I will be making this again for a quick weeknight meal!" 

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Shrimp Orzo Pesto

Credit: Amy
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Like a good pasta recipe, this 25-minute Shrimp Orzo Pesto holds up well to substitutions. "I swapped peppers and capers for a bag of broccoli and left out the red pepper flakes," home cook abbyz2000 says. "I didn't have orzo so I used angel hair spaghetti. It was perfect! My 7 year old had seconds."

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Easy Shrimp Mozambique

Credit: Rich T
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These Portuguese-style garlic-saffron shrimp taste restaurant-worthy, without the time and effort you might expect. "My wife and I just returned from the south coast of Massachusetts where this dish is hugely popular, and we fell in love with it," says home cook trg74. "Very good, savory, and wonderfully flavorful! Definitely on our list of regular dishes to make."

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Easy Homemade Shrimp Fried Rice

Credit: MonkeyMama
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This balanced one-pan meal will appeal to the entire family's taste buds. "Made this for the family last night and it was a hit! I'm pretty picky with how I like my shrimp, so I wasn't sure if I would like it in a stir fry — fried or scampi is usually my go-to," home cook Sherri Q. says. "But even I couldn't help but go back for seconds." 

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Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

Credit: Chef John
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It's hard to believe Chef John's ultra flavorful Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) takes just 15 minutes to prepare and a mere five minutes to cook. "Simple yet satisfying," Allstar tcasa says. "Definitely serve with garlic bread to soak up the sauce."

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Easy Shrimp and Asparagus Quiche

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If ever you're bored with shrimp, bake them into a quiche for a deliciously different meal. Using pre-cooked shrimp and store-bought pie crust would make this breakfast for dinner even easier to prepare. 

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Garlic Parmesan Baked Shrimp

Credit: France C
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Look no further for an easy, kid-friendly recipe . "While teaching my six year old how to cook, we came up with this simple baked shrimp recipe we could do together," home cook Katherine Durham says. "It turned out to be a hit!"

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New Orleans Barbeque Shrimp

Credit: Suz
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Despite its name, this dish doesn't see the barbeeque pit at all — a blessing during a still-cold Lenten season. Instead, this restaurant-inspired recipe comes together in a skillet in just 20 minutes. Mop up the buttery, herby sauce with hot French bread.

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Honey-Garlic Shrimp

Credit: Allrecipes
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"This recipe uses half the honey that typical recipes use and allows the natural sweetness of the shrimp to shine through," recipe creeator  Chef John says. The garlicky marinade also mixes in ginger, soy sauce, and fish sauce for big flavor.

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Shrimp Piccata

Credit: Soup Loving Nicole
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Our light, lemony Shrimp Piccata would make a tasty dinner on any spring night, but it lends itself especially well to Lenten Friday.

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Shrimp Egg Foo Young

Credit: OlympiaGal
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Another recipe that's easier to cook than you may think, this omelet-style meal will satisfy your savory cravings with eggs, shrimp, and a sauce made with Lent-friendly chicken broth. 

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By Mary Claire Lagroue