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This decadent cheesy baked tiger shrimp recipe is perfect for hosting and the most wonderful appetizer to gather around. Perfect, garlicky & cheesy goodness!
Are you looking for an appetizer that will “wow” and impress your guests? Look no further than these cheesy baked tiger shrimps. Bust out a beautiful platter and be prepared to watch them get gobbled up!
What are tiger prawns? Tiger shrimp are large prawns that are marked with dark bands. They are also super fleshy, making them perfect for smothering with cheese!
How to Butterfly Shrimp
For this recipe you will need to butterfly the shrimp. But what does that actually mean? Follow these simple instructions:
- Peel the Shrimp: Remove the shell from the shrimp without removing the tail.
- Slice the Shrimp: Insert the knife three-quarters of the way into the shrimp near the head and cut nearly all the way down the shrimp’s back just before the tail. Remove the vein with your knife if you didn’t opt for pre-deveined shrimp.
- Open the Shrimp: Using your hands, open the shrimp flesh until it lays flat. Bam – you’ve butterflied your shrimp!
Preparing this Cheesy Baked Tiger Shrimp Recipe
After you get the butterfly technique down, this easy app only requires some light assembly and 4 simple ingredients.
- Wash & Butterly the Shrimp: First, wash the shrimps under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Next, butterfly the shrimp and place them on a baking sheet, shallow dish, or a broiler pan.
- Top the Shrimp: Spread a thin layer of mayo on top of the shrimp, followed by a sprinkle of garlic parsley salt. Top each shrimp with a handful of shredded cheese.
- Bake the Shrimp: Finally, bake the shrimp at 400°F for about 12 minutes. Enjoy!
Hot Tip: Season the mayo with the garlic parsley salt in a small bowl and pop it in the fridge overnight. This will give the aioli maximum flavor for next-day assembly!
Helpful Tips & Tricks
A couple of helpful tips and tricks will help you get perfectly cooked, tender shrimp and maximally melty cheese.
- Make sure your shrimp are patted completely dry first. Before you top the shrimp with aioli and cheese, make sure to pat the cleaned shrimp down with a paper towel first. This will help it to cook more evenly, while also helping the cheese “stick” better.
- If you’re using frozen shrimp, make sure to thaw it first. If you only have frozen shrimp on hand, make sure to thaw them completely first. To thaw shrimp, place them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Or, if you’re in a rush, place them in a resealable plastic bag in a cold water bath in the sink for 15-20 minutes.
- Switch up the seasoning. Add a little fresh cilantro, horseradish, black pepper, lemon juice, or fresh garlic on top of the mayo spread as you please.
Like a smokier flavor? Grill the cheesy tiger shrimp on a gas grill or charcoal grill instead! To do so, thread them on bamboo skewers and place them directly on the grill rack. Once pink, they’re ready!
Serving this Cheesy Tiger Shrimp Recipe
Cheesy baked tiger shrimp are the perfect appetizer to a grilled ribeye steak dinner with creamy mashed potatoes and air fryer asparagus. Hello, surf and turf! They’re also a great addition to any seafood appetizer spread alongside crispy crab puffs, spring rolls with salmon, and crab mushroom canapés.
Storage Best Practices
To keep the cheesy tiger shrimp on hand for up to 2-3 days, store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat them, place them in the oven covered with foil (you don’t want the shrimps to overcook!) or pop them in the air fryer just until the cheese is melted.
FAQ
What kind of cheese should you use for a cheesy baked tiger shrimp recipe?
For this recipe, I typically use a mozzarella cheese blend. However, feel free to use whatever cheese you fancy most. I have experimented with everything from cheddar, Mexican cheese, goat cheese to bleu cheese and beyond!
What’s the difference between tiger shrimp and regular shrimp?
While similar in taste, tiger shrimp and regular shrimp have stark differences when it comes to appearance. Tiger shrimp are much larger and tend to be milder in taste than traditional shrimp.
Can you prepare cheese baked tiger shrimp in an air fryer instead?
Yes! You can air fryer cheese baked tiger shrimp instead of baking them in the oven. To do so, assemble them in a single layer, set the air fryer to 400°F, and air fry the shrimp for 5 minutes.
Can you freeze cheesy baked tiger shrimps?
It’s not a good idea to freeze cheesy baked tiger shrimp. It’s always best to bake them from fresh, as the frozen shrimp will release too much moisture and the cheese will have a hard time crisping up.
Other Seafood Favorites
- Creamy Shrimp Scampi – Classic buttery, garlicky shrimp scampi
- Crazy Easy Shrimp Tempura – Japanese-style breaded and fried shrimp
- – Repurpose leftover rice and a bag of shrimp for a delicious, speedy meal
- Air Fryer Salmon – Crispy and tender salmon
- Air Fryer Cod – Simple, lemony white fish
Recipe
Cheesy Baked Tiger Shrimp Recipe
Print Pin
Servings
6 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 22 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This tasty cheesy tiger shrimp recipe features plump shrimp topped with garlicky aioli & melty cheese. Baked to perfection & great for at-home dinner parties!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs raw tiger shrimp
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 4 tbsp garlic parsley salt
- 1 cup cheese
US Units – Metric
Instructions
Wash the shrimps under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Butterfly the shrimp and place them on a baking sheet.
Spread a thin layer of mayo on top of the butterflied shrimp and season them with garlic parsley salt. Top with a handful of cheese.
Bake the shrimp at 400°F for about 12 minutes (check them around the 10 minute mark just to make sure they're not overcooking). Once the shrimp turn pink, they're ready! Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts
Cheesy Baked Tiger Shrimp Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 248 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 213mg71%
Sodium 5689mg237%
Potassium 188mg5%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 467IU9%
Calcium 218mg22%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Joni EvansJan 8, 2024 This was such a hit at a friend's gathering! Everyone "loved" this recipe. Plus everyone requested the recipe. Couldn't get tiger shrimp, so used large gulf shrimp. Worked out fine. Thank you so much, really enjoying all you amazing recipes!!
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 8, 2024 Hey Joni, That's the best compliment when others ask for the recipe! So happy to hear it was such a hit! 🙂
AndieMay 22, 2023 Can u cook these without the shell or will they curl up?
Thanks in advance!
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 22, 2023 Hi Andie, I have not tried making it with out a shell. I do think that they would curl up. If you do try it with out a shell, please report back.
AndieMay 22, 2023 I will. Thanks for the quick response! ☺️
cameronAug 16, 2021 First of all kindly share the name of mixture that you have to used in this vedio .
Your all recipes are amazing .
Thank you so much for thisNatalya DrozhzhinAug 17, 2021 Hey Cameron, which mixture are you referring to?
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 1, 2021 Hey Andy, yes for sure. That’s a great idea!
NiceNov 3, 2020 Hi! How do you stock them on freezer? I’m planning to prepare them ahead of time for a birthday party. Thanks in advance!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 3, 2020 The best way to make them ahead is by doing all the prep work and the sauce but only bake right before serving.
PamOct 9, 2020 Can I ask what cheese you used?
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 10, 2020 You can use Mexican, Mozarella or cheddar.
Laura ReeseMay 28, 2020 This shrimp recipe was amazing. Thanks for the detailed step by step!!
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 28, 2020 Laura, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
NatashaMay 27, 2020 What a great appetizer! It’s so cheesy and juicy and so easy to prepare. I used cheddar cheese and it was perfect!
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 28, 2020 Awesome 🙂 Makes me smile!
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 28, 2020 Yep, very cheesy lol 😉 Glad your family liked it!
AlevtinaFeb 15, 2016 What kind of cheese did you use? Is it chedar jack? Thanks in advance.
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 16, 2016 I used Mexican cheese but cheddar would work.
TayaNov 22, 2015 So I've made these other day and my husband post it on snap chat before I've even got to his parents house, his father calls asks to bring some. But we already where driving with them cuz I know how he loves sea food. They where amazing.. thank u so much for taking this time to make our life little bit easier. May God pour his blessings on u and ur family!!!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 22, 2015 Oh this is so sweet! I am so happy you guys loved it! So simple too 🙂
NatashaOct 16, 2015 Thanks so much for this awesome simple recipe! I always love to eat them when we go to our local buffet but never even thought to make them at home until now! Thanks again ?
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 16, 2015 I am so happy you loved them. I still have a good stock of them in a freezer. Your comment just reminded me of them 🙂
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 15, 2015 Ah, thank you for for sweet encouragement 🙂 Sometimes I wonder if someone can even find this kinda stuff useful.
lenaOct 14, 2015 Ууу!!!My favorite Chinese restaurant used to serve them and I always had some and went for seconds when I ate there.They've closed down since then...I am so happy to have this recipe to make at home.Great work!!!
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 14, 2015 Thank you! I hope it will be exactly what you wanted 🙂 Let me know when you make them.
