19 Shrimp Recipes To Add A Tropical Touch To Your Dinner Table
No one’s saying you need palm trees to serve shrimp, but it wouldn’t hurt. These 19 ways to tropical-ize dinner prove that shrimp isn’t just for fancy restaurants or beach trips. It’s fast, fun, and just quirky enough to shake up the usual dinner routine. Add flip-flops if you must.

Shrimp Cocktail

Bring some tropical flair to your starter with Shrimp Cocktail. It stands out with chilled shrimp paired alongside a tangy, fresh-from-the-islands dipping sauce. This is great to set the tone for something a little different at dinner. Perfect for when you want a chilled appetizer that feels just right for a breezy meal.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Cocktail
Mango Shrimp Salad

Add a tropical punch to your meal by serving Mango Shrimp Salad. This combines sweetness and seafood in a way that feels perfect for a warm-weather-inspired dish. It holds onto those tropical flavors without weighing you down. A great choice for a light dinner or a side dish to try something new.
Get the Recipe: Mango Shrimp Salad
Shrimp Coconut Curry Instant Pot

Warm island flavors come together in Shrimp Coconut Curry Instant Pot. It’s rich, creamy, and packed with a unique tropical taste that’s perfect for shrimp lovers. Bringing convenience to bold meals, it’s an easy way to turn dinner tropical quickly. Great option for when you’re looking to enjoy shrimp with a flavorful twist.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Coconut Curry Instant Pot
Marry Me Shrimp Pasta

Dream up a tropical marriage of shrimp and creamy pasta with Marry Me Shrimp Pasta. The shrimp brings the beachy flair, while the saucy pairing gives it an extra “wow” factor. A tropical-meets-romantic pairing of bold seafood with comforting pasta. Perfect for dinner when you want something rich with tropical flair.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Shrimp Pasta
Bang Bang Shrimp

Turn things tropical with some crowd-pleasing flair in Bang Bang Shrimp. The shrimp is bold and brings a slightly sweet yet balanced kick that feels fun and island-inspired. Pairs perfectly with casual dinners or group hangouts. Great if you’re after something that feels exciting without being complicated to enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Bang Bang Shrimp
Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Tropical flavors are front and center in Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry. This dish highlights shrimp in a way that’s full of bold flavor, yet creamy and unforgettable. It fits perfectly as a main when you’re craving tropical warmth at your dinner table. Amazing for pairing with simple accompaniments to keep the focus on flavor.
Get the Recipe: Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry
Shrimp Tacos

Street food meets island vibes with Shrimp Tacos. These tropical-inspired tacos combine fresh and bold flavors that feel light and fun to eat. They’re great for switching up taco night with a refreshing twist. Perfect dish if you want something easy to share while still feeling transporting.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp Burrito Bowls

A tropical spin on something hearty, Shrimp Burrito Bowls mixes bold toppings and seafood for something unique but familiar. Bursting with color and flavor, this bowl is perfect for fresh and vibrant meals. Balanced in a way that feels simple yet impactful, with shrimp as the star.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Burrito Bowls
Shrimp Scampi

A coastal-inspired shrimp classic, Shrimp Scampi leans into rich flavors paired with bold seafood. It’s straightforward yet tropical enough to feel like a beachside treat. Great for when you’re after minimal fuss but big flavor that leaves everyone satisfied. Perfect paired with pasta or a simple side for an easy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi
Massaman Curry

Take things tropical and flavorful with Massaman Curry shrimp. Borrowing bold spice blends, this dish highlights shrimp in a warm and hearty meal. Great for dinners when shrimp is your main focus and you want a twist on another global-inspired classic.
Get the Recipe: Massaman Curry
Shrimp Tempura

Light and crispy, Shrimp Tempura brings the tropical feel to your dinner table with its playful crunch. Perfect as a party food or shared small plate, it keeps the shrimp the focus in every bite. Simple yet bold enough to stand out as something special with every bite. Snackable or shared, it’s hard to go wrong with a tempura twist.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Tempura
Thai Drunken Noodles

If you’re in the mood for noodles, the bold tropical vibes of Thai Drunken Noodles with shrimp can’t be missed. It’s a stir-fry masterpiece, mixing shrimp with fresh textures in a balanced plate. Great for when you want shrimp and pasta together but with a flavorful twist.
Get the Recipe: Thai Drunken Noodles
Shrimp Toast

Crispy and tropical with its balance, Shrimp Toast is seafood in fun bite-sized portions. Great for an appetizer or snack that feels inspired and unique. It’s bold in its own small way yet delivers a lot of flavor for its size. Perfect if you’re out to try shrimp in a completely different way.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Toast
Tom Yum Soup

A flavorful and tangy soup, Tom Yum Soup blends shrimp into a tropical broth that’s warm and bold. Great when you’re after something light yet flavorful on a cool or clear evening. Its unique way of balancing shrimp and broth leaves you wanting another bite.
Get the Recipe: Tom Yum Soup
Blackened Shrimp Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing

For something fresh, Blackened Shrimp Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing feels like the perfect new go-to. The shrimp comes with a flavorful kick, paired with creamy textures that take the salad up a notch. It’s great for when you want light shrimp-based meals packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Shrimp Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
Sushi Bake

Add a family-style tropical option with Sushi Bake featuring fun layers of cooked shrimp. It’s a take on island vibes that works well when shared and scooped with warmth and seafood. Bold and easy in a new twist on baked crowd-pleasers, bringing a touch of fresh shrimp tones to a comforting style.
Get the Recipe: Sushi Bake
Tandoori Shrimp

Add bold flavors to your dinner table with Tandoori Shrimp, striking the balance between charred textures and bright flavors. The shrimp is full-on flavorful, drawing out tropical-inspired tones while leaning into a spiced preparation. Great if you’re after shrimp but want it with a rich, bold profile unlike the norm.
Get the Recipe: Tandoori Shrimp
Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp brings tropical charm to a classic comfort dish like Shrimp and Grits. The mix of rich, creamy grits and vibrant shrimp creates a perfect balance for any evening meal. Great for when you want something warm yet expect a slight tropical flair instead of typical tones.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Grits
Air Fryer Shrimp

Shrimp becomes crunchy and addictive in Air Fryer Shrimp, a tropical-inspired twist that’s light yet bold. The balanced crisp on each bite makes this dish something quick yet fully enjoyable packed. Perfect as a side dish, snack, or paired with sides for an easy island-inspired plate.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Shrimp
