Turn your appetizer into a meal with these fried shrimp sides.
From fresh salads to crispy fries, there’s a whole smorgasbord of offerings to choose from.
Want comfort food? Go with cheesy scallops or granny’s macaroni salad.
Need something for a party? Bust out the cocktail sauce and throw some veggies on the grill.
These sides are not only great for fried shrimp, but they work well with other proteins too.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just yourself, these fried shrimp sides cover all your bases.
1. Popeye’s French Fries
Before we get into all the options, let’s just pause for a moment to appreciate Popeye’s fries.
Those crispy, tender spuds sprinkled with Cajun seasoning are flawless.
And don’t worry, they’re baked, not fried. So you can feel a little better snacking until your heart’s content.
2. Best Tartar Sauce
You can’t go wrong with fried shrimp and tartar sauce. It’s a quick and easy dip you can throw together in 10 minutes.
Starting with mayo as the base, you’ll add capers, lemon, dill, Worcestershire, and Dijon.
Then, season it with salt and pepper to taste.
Store it in an air-tight container and it will keep for a week.
3. Creamy Garlic Shells
Call me indulgent, but I could eat fried shrimp with this creamy pasta all the time.
It’s like throwing on a comfy sweater and getting a big hug from grandma. It’s that comforting!
I love how each shell traps the cheesy garlicky sauce. I also love that it uses a lot of ingredients you already have on hand.
4. Cocktail Sauce
Shrimp is to cocktail sauce as chicken wings are to buffalo sauce. The two together are a must!
But don’t just settle for any random bottle from the store. Make it fresh at home instead.
It will only take you 3 minutes and 6 ingredients.
5. Elote Mexican Corn
Turn your meal into a fiesta by pairing it with elote!
Elote is a popular Mexican street food and one of my favorite ways to prepare corn.
You slather an ear of corn with mayo and Mexican crema, then top it with cotija, chili powder, cilantro, and lime.
If the weather is cooperating, I highly recommend grilling the corn. Otherwise, you can boil it or roast it.
6. Benihana Fried Rice
Benihana makes the most savory fried rice I’ve ever had.
But you won’t need to go running to the restaurant to enjoy it.
Make it in the comfort of your home with this copycat recipe.
It’s a great use of leftover rice and chicken, too.
7. Buttered Noodles
Now, here’s a side you can get the kids to gobble up!
You take egg noodles, you take butter, and you meld the two together. You can’t ask for a more simple side.
You can also turn it into a meal by adding veggies and piling fried shrimp on top.
8. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Here’s another super comforting dish that goes great with fried shrimp.
Every thinly sliced potato is completely smothered in a gooey cheddar cheese sauce.
It’s the one side every family member agrees on and the ingredients are easy.
The only hard part is slicing the potato perfectly. Lucky for you, a mandolin makes the process go smoothly.
9. Avocado Mango Salad
If you want a fresh pairing, you can’t beat this fruit salad.
Tropical, zippy, and fresh, it’s full of bright complementary flavors.
It’s also super nutritious, so you can feel a little less guilty about gorging on fried shrimp.
Even when you’re not eating shrimp, it’s a great light lunch.
10. Grilled Vegetables
Are you making fried shrimp on a warm sunny day? Then fire up the grill and get some veggies going.
Grilled veggies are one of the best sides no matter what you’re making.
Tender and smoky, they cook marvelously and get a nice char.
Plus, you can add a whole assortment of veggies and they won’t take long.
11. Fresh Corn Salad
Pool parties, barbecues, or the front porch, wherever you’re eating your fried shrimp, pair it with this corn salad.
It’s a fresh medley of all the best summer flavors.
It has corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and parsley perked up with apple cider vinegar.
And, it only takes three steps! Chop, combine, and season.
It’s a great use of leftover grilled corn. You can also use boiled corn or raw.
12. Pesto Pasta
I’m all for an easy side, especially when it means I get to eat shrimp and pasta together!
Creating a pesto pasta side dish doesn’t require a lot of expertise or ingredients.
With quality pesto, boxed pasta, and parmesan cheese, you can throw it all together with very little effort.
You can also easily double up or half the recipe depending on the number of people eating.
13. Amish Potato Salad
Do you like your potato salad creamy? Then you have got to pair this with your fried shrimp.
Think of the creamiest potato salad you’ve ever had, then multiply it by 10. That’s Amish potato salad.
Fried shrimp aside, you have to bring this to your next potluck or cookout. Everyone will rave about it!
14. Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer
Looking for a healthier french fries alternative? Go with these sweet potato fries.
Sweet potatoes are full of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.
By using the air fryer, you also reduce the amount of cooking oil required.
But let’s face it, the real reason you want them is their addicting flavor and texture.
15. Grandma’s Macaroni Salad
Nobody does macaroni salad like grandma. Lucky for you, I have her recipe!
You need elbow macaroni, bell peppers, celery, mayo, and a few ingredients from the cupboards for flavorings.
Now, here’s the important part, you have to let it chill. T
hat way, all the flavors meld together making it taste just like grandma’s does.
16. KFC Coleslaw
Do you know what really goes well with fried shrimp? KFC Coleslaw!
The Colonel makes some of the most delectable coleslaw around.
And guess what? I’ve figured out how to make it at home.
It’s crunchy and creamy just like you get at the drive-thru, and it only takes 10 minutes to make.
17. Spanish Rice
Plain rice has a time and a place. But when it comes to fried shrimp, you need more flavor than that.
That’s why I just adore Spanish rice. Garlic, tomato sauce, cumin, and bouillon make it more savory and robust.
Add chopped cilantro to perk it up, and your side is ready.
18. Chopped Salad
Just imagine how great your crispy fried shrimp will taste on top of this salad!
It’s a fresh and crunchy mix of two types of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and parmesan with homemade Italian dressing.
Aside from the flavor, you’ll also love how you can time everything.
Shrimp cooks fast and this salad only takes about 15 minutes.
19. Fried Yellow Squash
If you’re going to eat fried shrimp, you might as well eat some fried veggies, too. And I’ve got just the thing!
A little guilty, a little healthy, fried yellow squash has a sweet flavor with an irresistible texture.
The secret is to use cornmeal in the batter.
Also, use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of your oil.
You won’t want to burn them or have them turn out soggy.
20. Ina Garten Pasta Salad
Need a side that feeds a crowd? This copycat Ina Garten pasta salad has you covered.
It’s really a simple dish. It’s just about incorporating the right complementary flavors.
So give your pasta a Mediterranean flare with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and feta.
Then, drench it all with a tangy sun-dried tomato dressing.
21. Greek Salad
Fried shrimp isn’t the only protein this dish complements. Lamb, chicken, and fish go great too.
So does just about anything you toss on the grill!
That’s because this is one summery salad full of refreshing ingredients.
It has crisp cucumbers, big chunks of feta, juicy cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh mint.
22. Mushroom Tacos
Whether you eat it as a side or add the shrimp on top, these mushroom tacos create a fun food pairing.
Savory, umami, and spicy, they’re where Mexican food meets Asian fusion. And I have to say, it totally works!
You can use any mushroom variety you like.
I’m particularly fond of oyster mushrooms when I eat them with shrimp.
23. Heinz Chili Sauce
Heinz chili sauce is like the adult version of ketchup.
You want to smother everything with it just like you did with ketchup as a kid!
It’s sweet, tangy, and not at all spicy.
If you want to ramp up the Scoville units, add cayenne while the sauce is simmering.
24. Air Fryer Asparagus
Air fryer asparagus is one of my favorite go-to sides for all my seafood dinners. That includes fried shrimp.
Thanks to the air fryer, it’s so easy to prepare. Plus, you use less oil and it turns out perfect every time.
That’s a blessing for those of us who tend to accidentally drench asparagus in olive oil making it turn out soggy.
I swear it’s the bottle!
Regardless, you’ll definitely want garlic parsley salt and parmesan for seasoning.
25. Chow Mein
How hungry are you on a scale of 1 to 10? If you said 11, I think you should choose chow mein to go with your shrimp.
These are some of the most slurp-able noodles I’ve ever had.
And no, you won’t be spending all night hovering over the stove.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, it takes 5 minutes to cook!
All you have to do now is throw those beautiful plump shrimp on top.