14 Spectacular Side Dishes for Shrimp

Shrimp can be cooked and eaten in so many different ways. Fried, boiled, grilled, sauteed, there’s an abundance of ways to enjoy this seafood dish.

But once you’ve decided what kind of shrimp you want to make for your next dinner party or cookout, you have to figure out what to serve with it! Luckily, I’ve compiled a list of diverse and delicious side dishes that all taste superb next to a big serving of steaming shrimp.

From grilled veggies to tropical flavors and even healthy, low-fat and carb-free dishes, this list has something for everyone! Keep reading for the 14 most spectacular side dishes to serve with shrimp.

1. Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

Asparagus is a healthy but delicious veggie that goes with almost any main dish. With some garlic shrimp served over pasta, it’s the perfect companion.

Plus it only takes about 20 minutes to prepare, leaving you plenty of time to concentrate on your shrimp.

Grab some fresh asparagus, mix it up with garlic, sea salt, olive oil, and Parmesan, and pop it into your oven to roast. It’s as simple as that, with results that will feel like your favorite restaurant.

2. Macaroni Salad

A picnic classic, macaroni salad will go great with some fresh boiled shrimp. You can prepare beforehand and eat both chilled, while you lay out on your picnic blanket. Sounds like a summer dream to me!

Include boiled eggs, colorful bell peppers, and celery, all mixed in a creamy dressing, and you’ll get a filling side dish, popping with flavors that flawlessly compliment your tasty shrimp.

3. Pesto Zoodles

For those avoiding carbs, zucchini noodles are a delicious and nutritious alternative. My favorite recipe for zoodles includes chickpeas, pesto, and white cheddar cheese and it is absolutely irresistible.

The subtle flavors would go great with a more flavorful shrimp recipe, such as an Asian-inspired lemon ginger dressing! And any plate will look magically tasty with your colorful zoodles filling it up.

4. Greek Veggie Salad

A Greek-inspired veggie salad featuring tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta cheese will make a nice refreshing side along a more heavy shrimp dish.

If you’re serving your shrimp in a cheesy pasta dish or any equally hearty entree, you’ll want something light and fresh to balance it out. A low-in-fat Greek salad will do just the trick!

5. Grilled Kabobs

If you’ve already got the grill out for your shrimp, go ahead and make some tasty fruit and veggie kabobs! This is a great option for hot summer nights or backyard barbecues.

For veggie kabobs my favorites are squash, zucchini, onions, cherry tomatoes, and peppers. You could include pineapple as well, unless you’re making fruit kabobs too.

The best fruits to grill are pineapples, of course, plus strawberries, melon of any kind, peaches and bananas. Grilling these fruits caramelizes their sugars, making a divine, yet healthy, dessert.

6. Couscous Primavera

Borrowing its name from Pasta Primavera, this light and easy side dish uses fresh, seasonal, green produce, so it’s a perfect way to get your kids to eat more healthy veggies!

It’s a straightforward, simple to make dish that will enliven your palate with brightly colored green veggies and tasty toppings like mint leaves and a touch of cayenne.

Plus, Couscous Primavera goes great with some garlicky grilled shrimp!

7. Mango Guacamole

For a mouth-watering, tropical vibe, go for coconut shrimp next to some insanely good mango guacamole! Sweet, tangy, a little spicy, and bursting with flavor, a fresh mango guacamole is the epitome of summer sides.

Dip some tortilla chips, or even your shrimp itself, into this bowl full of unique flavors, and take a little bite of heaven!

8. Pascagoula Potato Salad

A king among potato salads, the Pascagoula recipe calls for cheddar cheese, bell peppers, and celery on top of the usual ingredients. Mix it all together with a tangy honey mustard dressing for a truly Southern-inspired side dish.

Serve it up next to some blackened shrimp at your next cookout, and seriously impress your friends with this luscious salad side. 

9. Caprese Salad

Another star side dish, caprese is always a crowd pleaser. Stick with a classic mozzarella, red tomato, and basil stack, or mix things up with honeydew melon, green tomatoes and burrata. Either way you get a bright, refreshing, and delectable salad that goes oh so well with hot-off-the-grill shrimp.

10. Elote-Style Corn

Who can say no to steaming, dripping in butter corn on the cob? It’s a summer bbq classic for a reason. But take things up a notch or two, and turn your everyday corn cob into a delicious Mexican-style elote to really wow your guests.

Best of all, it’s super easy! Grill up your corn, smother it in mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, lime juice, and chopped cilantro, and enjoy. It’s absolutely finger-licking good.

11. Coconut Rice

Every seafood entree goes great with some steamy white rice on the side, but why not make it a little more exciting? Instead of plain white rice, take your rice to the tropics for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Cook basmati or jasmine rice in a mix of chicken broth and coconut milk, toss in mangoes and pistachios, and you’ve got a rice dish bursting with flavor and personality.

12. Caesar Salad

Let’s take things back to an easy and more traditional side dish. When in doubt, a Caesar salad is a perfect side next to grilled shrimp. It’s as simple as romaine lettuce, crispy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing, but it is oh so tasty. Fresh, crunchy, and flavorful, there’s no going wrong!

13. Coleslaw

Another traditional side that pairs marvelously with shrimp, or any seafood dish, is coleslaw. The original recipe with mayo, carrots, cabbage, and vinegar will do just fine next to a juicy, bursting with flavor shrimp.

But you could always try a new recipe right? A carrot, mango, jicama slaw kept fresh and crunchy with plenty of lime juice, offers a gorgeous pop of color, and will taste just as wonderful with your shrimp dish.

14. Au Gratin Potatoes

If you have a big crowd to feed, au gratin potatoes make a tasty and filling side. Delicious Yukon gold potatoes, plenty of cream and cheese, and a little bit of garlic and spice make for a totally hearty, and absolutely ideal side dish next to some crunchy fried shrimp. Just the thought of this tasty combo makes my mouth water!