What to Serve With Fried Shrimp? 17 Best Side Dishes

If you’re planning to serve fried shrimp and want to make the meal complete, choosing the right side dishes is key. Fried shrimp is crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, but it shines even more when paired with the perfect sides.

Here you’ll find 17 easy and tasty side dishes that complement fried shrimp, offering a variety of flavors and textures to create a well-rounded and delicious meal.

Looking for a quick answer?

The best side dishes to serve with fried shrimp are jambalaya, tartar sauce, mushroom tacos, coleslaw, chow mein, Spanish rice, feta pasta, corn on the cob, French fries, scalloped potatoes, chickpea curry, chopped wedge salad, dirty rice, cocktail sauce, zucchini Alfredo, baked potatoes, and arugula salad.

Now, let's get cooking!

1. Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a versatile dish that you can change according to taste. You will often find shrimp in jambalaya, but this recipe doesn't actually have any. You can remedy that by topping your jambalaya with some fried shrimp. This flavor-packed creole-inspired side dish is only made better with the crunchy texture of the shrimp.

2. Tartar Sauce

This homemade tartar sauce recipe is super flavorful and easy to make with whatever you have on hand. For instance, you can substitute the mayonnaise for plain greek yogurt or sour cream. I like to add a bit of lemon zest and lots of extra dill to mine! In my opinion it's the best creamy dressing for shrimp.

3. Mushroom Tacos

You can serve these meatless mains with some fried shrimp on the side, or you can shake things up this Taco Tuesday with some shrimp tacos, Cerveza, and a mango avocado salad on the side.

Simple recipe using mushrooms, bell peppers and black bean. If you don't have tortillas, tortilla chips are great as well.

4. Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a classic side dish that pairs perfectly with fried shrimp. The crisp texture of shredded cabbage and carrots mixed with a tangy, creamy dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, crispy shrimp. You can keep it traditional with a mayonnaise-based dressing or lighten it up with a vinaigrette. Either way, coleslaw adds a crunchy and zesty balance to your shrimp dish.

5. Chow Mein

This recipe is packed with lots of healthy veggies like onion, beans, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, water chestnuts, and tonnes of flavor. You can leave it as a vegetarian dish or add a protein like fried shrimp to the mix.

6. Spanish Rice

Some fried shrimp served atop a bed of Spanish rice is an easy and fulfilling meal. If you don't like it spicy, just remove the green chile peppers.

Complete the look with a little lime crema drizzled on top. Chefs kiss.

7. Feta Pasta

Feta pasta is a creamy and flavorful side that complements fried shrimp beautifully. The rich, tangy feta cheese melts into the warm pasta, creating a sauce that pairs wonderfully with the crisp shrimp. You can add cherry tomatoes, spinach, or olives to the pasta for added flavor and texture.

Use your favorite pasta or make your own with this simple pasta recipe. If you don't have a pasta machine, a rolling pin and a little elbow grease will do the trick.

8. Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob and fried shrimp just sounds like some straight-up American comfort food. Add salt, butter, minced garlic, thyme and parmesan cheese and get the perfect side dish.

This Thanksgiving Corn-on-the-cob recipe even pays homage to a great American holiday steeped in comfort food classics.

It's just too good to only serve with turkey!

9. French Fries

Simple side dish you can make using your Instant Pot or any other way. All you need is potatoes, salt and pepper.

Looking for more? Add paprika or garlic powder to the mix.

10. Scalloped Potatoes

A traditional scalloped potato dish is made with sliced potatoes, layered in a casserole dish, and baked with lots of heavy cream and herbs, while a traditional au gratin dish layers cheese in between the potatoes. This recipe combines the best of both worlds, delivering a decadent, cheesy, creamy side dish to serve with tempura shrimp.

11. Chickpea Curry

This is another vegetarian option that you can choose to serve with or without some added protein, like fried shrimp, chicken, or beef.

12. Chopped Wedge Salad

Wedge salads are typically quite hearty on their own. With the addition of some fried shrimp, you can turn this salad into a satisfying and healthy meal. Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the mix. If you don't have blue cheese, you can use feta cheese instead.

13. Dirty Rice

This Creole classic already has pork sausage in it. However, if there is one thing I know about Southern food, it's that you can't go wrong with more meat, so ahead and add some fried shrimp.

If this does sound like too much meat for you, then you can simply omit the sausage and top the dirty rice with the shrimp.

14. Cocktail Sauce

Of course, I can't feature a shrimp recipe and not have a great cocktail sauce recipe to go along with it. That would be anarchy. Check out this easy recipe for a quick and fresh sauce that you can whip up at home.

15. Zucchini Alfredo

Love a heaping pile of fettuccini alfredo but don't love the way you feel after consuming said heap? Yeah, me neither. That's why I started making my alfredo with zucchini noodles aka zoodles instead. It's a healthy and low-carb alternative to pasta and it's super easy to make!

You still get that same creamy, delicious alfredo sauce, but the noodles are super good for you and won't weigh you down. Top this dish off with some fried shrimp for a new take on shrimp alfredo.

16. Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes are a hearty and comforting side that goes great with fried shrimp. The soft, fluffy interior of the potato pairs nicely with the crispy texture of the shrimp. Top your baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, chives, or even some shredded cheese for extra flavor. This side dish adds a satisfying and filling component to your meal, making it more complete.

17. Arugula Salad

Arugula salad offers a light and peppery contrast to the richness of fried shrimp. Toss fresh arugula leaves with a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. The slight bitterness of arugula and the citrusy dressing help cut through the fried shrimp's grease, refreshing your palate with each bite and adding a healthy, vibrant touch to your meal.

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