The Best Baked Shrimp Delight with Crunchy Crust Recipe Ever

Succulent baked shrimp delight promises a mouthwatering adventure for seafood enthusiasts seeking crispy, flavor-packed goodness.

Imagine a golden, perfectly seasoned crust that locks in delicate marine flavors and tender textures.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike appreciate how simple ingredients can create such an impressive dish.

Nautical notes dance across your palate with each carefully crafted bite of this spectacular meal.

Mediterranean-inspired seasonings complement the sweet, delicate protein beautifully and effortlessly.

Crisp exterior and juicy interior create a sensational contrast that makes every forkful memorable.

You can want to savor every single morsel of this irresistible culinary masterpiece.

Why You’ll Crave Baked Shrimp Delight with Crunchy Crust

• The combination of heavy cream, dry sherry, and shrimp creates an incredibly indulgent taste that elevates this dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Crispy oyster cracker topping provides a delightful crunch that perfectly contrasts with the tender, succulent shrimp and creamy sauce underneath.
• This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish through strategic layering of flavors and precise cooking methods that look and taste sophisticated.
• The recipe can be partially prepared in advance, making it ideal for dinner parties or special occasions where you want to impress guests without last-minute kitchen chaos.

Ingredients to Make Baked Shrimp with Crunchy Topping

• Shrimp: Succulent seafood that serves as the star of the dish, best when fresh and deveined.

• Heavy Cream: Rich and smooth base that creates a luxurious sauce for the shrimp.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a golden, flavorful topping and sauce.

• Dry Sherry: Adds depth and sophisticated wine notes to the cream sauce.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the dish with a fresh, tangy kick.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Provides a complex, umami background flavor.
• Hot Sauce: Offers a subtle heat and extra complexity.

• Scallions: Mild onion flavor that adds freshness and depth to the sauce.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the dish.
• Black Pepper: Adds warmth and subtle spiciness.
• Paprika: Contributes a sweet, mild pepper flavor and beautiful color.

• Oyster Crackers: Creates a crispy, textural contrast to the creamy shrimp.

Cooking Guide for Baked Crunchy Shrimp Delight

Step 1: Prep the Cooking Vessel

• Select a spacious 3.5-quart glass baking dish
• Generously coat the interior with butter
• Arrange shrimp in a single, neat layer
• Chill in refrigerator while preparing other components

Step 2: Craft Luxurious Cream Base

• Heavy cream
• Dry sherry
• Reserved shrimp shells
• Salt

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 25 minutes. Strain mixture through a coarse sieve, collecting approximately 2.5 cups of rich, aromatic liquid.

Step 3: Build Flavor Foundation

• Butter
• Scallions
• Shrimp cream mixture
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Hot sauce

Melt butter in a skillet, sauté scallions until soft. Pour strained cream and reduce until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and blend in remaining seasonings. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.

Step 4: Create Crunchy Topping

• Oyster crackers
• Melted butter
• Paprika

Crush crackers in a sealed bag using a rolling pin. Transfer to bowl, mix with melted butter and paprika until well combined.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake

Preheat oven to 400°F. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Pour cooled cream evenly over shrimp. Sprinkle cracker mixture across the top. Bake for 25 minutes until bubbling and shrimp are perfectly cooked. Finish with a quick 30-second broil to golden the topping.

Tips to Get That Crunch Just Right

• Maximize Flavor Infusion: Let the shrimp cream mixture cool slightly before pouring over shrimp to prevent overcooking and ensure deep, rich flavor penetration.
• Perfect Cracker Crumb Technique: Crush oyster crackers inside a sealed bag using a rolling pin, creating uniform, coarse crumbs that'll provide an even, crispy texture across the dish.
• Strategic Seasoning Approach: Season shrimp with salt and pepper just before adding cream to prevent moisture extraction and maintain optimal shrimp tenderness.
• Temperature Control Mastery: Position baking dish in the oven's center for consistent heat distribution, ensuring shrimp cook evenly and topping browns uniformly.
• Quick Broiling Trick: Watch the topping closely during the final 30-second broil to achieve golden-brown perfection without burning the delicate cracker crust.

How to Store and Reheat This Shrimp Dish

• Refrigerate: Transfer leftover shrimp to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to prevent moisture loss.
• Reheat Gently: Warm the dish in a preheated oven at 325°F for 10-15 minutes. Cover with foil to retain moisture and prevent the crunchy topping from burning.
• Avoid Microwave: Microwaving can make shrimp tough and rubbery. Stick to oven reheating for the best texture and flavor preservation.

Perfect Side Dishes for Baked Shrimp Delight

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio perfectly complements the rich, creamy shrimp dish, cutting through the richness with its bright, acidic notes.
• Serve Alongside Herbed Salad: Create a light, refreshing green salad with fresh herbs like parsley and dill to balance the dish's creamy texture and provide a cool contrast to the warm, crunchy shrimp.
• Match with Crusty Bread: Serve warm, artisan sourdough or French baguette to soak up the delicious cream sauce, adding an extra layer of texture and helping to mop up every last bit of flavor.
• Cool Down with Citrus Sorbet: End the meal with a zesty lemon or lime sorbet to cleanse the palate and offer a refreshing finish that echoes the dish's bright, lemony undertones.

Shrimp Crust Variations Worth Trying

• Spicy Mediterranean Seafood Bake: Replace shrimp with a mix of Mediterranean seafood like calamari, mussels, and white fish. Swap oyster crackers for panko breadcrumbs and add red pepper flakes and za'atar spice blend for a zesty Mediterranean flavor profile.
• Cajun Creole Shrimp Casserole: Substitute dry sherry with white wine and add Cajun seasoning to the cream sauce. Top with cornbread crumbs and sprinkle cayenne pepper for a bold, Southern-style kick.
• Light Herb-Infused Shrimp Gratin: Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream for a lighter sauce. Add fresh chopped herbs like dill, parsley, and chives to the topping. Replace oyster crackers with almond flour for a gluten-free, herbaceous version of the original recipe.
• Asian-Inspired Coconut Shrimp Bake: Infuse the cream sauce with ginger, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. Replace oyster crackers with toasted coconut flakes and panko. Finish with a drizzle of sriracha and chopped green onions for a Southeast Asian twist.

Questions on Baked Shrimp Delight with Crunchy Crust

• Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Just make sure to thaw them completely and pat them dry before arranging in the baking dish.

• How do I know when the shrimp are fully cooked?

The shrimp are done when they turn pink and opaque, and curl slightly. In this recipe, baking for 25 minutes at 400°F ensures they’re perfectly cooked.

• What can I substitute for dry sherry?

If you don’t have dry sherry, you can use white wine or chicken broth. These alternatives will still provide good flavor to the cream sauce.

• Can I make this dish ahead of time?

You can prepare the dish up to the point of adding the cracker topping and refrigerate for a few hours. Add the crumb topping and bake just before serving for the best crispy texture.

Baked Shrimp Delight With Crunchy Crust Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent Baked Shrimp Delight with its golden crunchy crust promises a Mediterranean-inspired seafood experience that dazzles palates. Crisp breadcrumbs and aromatic herbs create a perfect harmony, inviting you to savor each delectable bite of this irresistible coastal-style dish.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 pounds medium shrimp, shelled and deveined, shells reserved

Dairy and Cream:

• 3 cups heavy cream
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (4 tablespoons melted)

Seasonings and Aromatics:

• ¼ cup dry sherry
• 6 medium scallions, minced (white and tender green parts)
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
• Salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• Hot sauce (to taste)

Crust:

• 4 cups small oyster crackers

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Thoroughly coat a spacious glass baking vessel with butter, creating a smooth surface for the shrimp to rest in a pristine single layer. Chill the prepared dish in the refrigerator to maintain ingredient freshness.
2. Construct a rich cream base by combining shrimp shells, velvety heavy cream, and aromatic dry sherry in a saucepan. Infuse with a delicate salt pinch and bring to a rolling boil. Gently simmer the mixture, allowing flavors to meld for approximately 25 minutes.
3. Strain the cream concoction through a coarse sieve, collecting the liquid in a measuring cup. Aim for a precise 2 1/2 cups of infused cream.
4. In a separate skillet, melt butter and introduce finely chopped scallions. Sauté until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.
5. Pour the strained cream into the skillet with scallions. Reduce the liquid by simmering until the volume reaches about 2 cups, concentrating the flavors.
6. Remove the cream mixture from heat and enhance with bright lemon juice, tangy Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, cracked black pepper, and a dash of hot sauce. Allow the mixture to cool to a tepid temperature.
7. Transform oyster crackers into a rustic topping by crushing them within a robust sealed bag using a rolling pin. Transfer the coarse crumbs to a mixing bowl.
8. Incorporate melted butter and vibrant paprika into the cracker crumbs, stirring until thoroughly combined.
9. Preheat the oven to 400°F, positioning a rack in the center.
10. Season the chilled shrimp with salt and pepper, then generously drape the cooled cream mixture overtop.
11. Sprinkle the seasoned cracker crumbs evenly across the surface, creating a textured crust.
12. Bake for 25 minutes until the dish becomes effervescent and the shrimp are perfectly cooked.
13. Finish with a quick broil, approximately 30 seconds, to achieve a golden-brown, crispy topping.

Notes

• Marinate shrimp in advance for deeper flavor infusion and tender texture.
• Make cream mixture ahead of time to enhance overall dish complexity and save cooking time.
• Choose fresh, large shrimp for best taste and most impressive presentation.
• Use dry sherry for authentic richness; avoid sweet cooking wines.
• Control broiling time carefully to prevent burning the delicate cracker topping.
• Serve immediately after baking to maintain crunch and optimal temperature.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 565
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 890mg
• Fat: 42g
• Saturated Fat: 25g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 17g
• Cholesterol: 220mg