Nothing says summer like shrimp on the barbecue! And as a former prawn and shrimp fisherman, no one likes a good shrimp dinner more than me. Served up for casual evenings, birthday parties and even my wedding, I've gotten pretty good at figuring out what to serve with BBQ shrimp. Pick a few of these great BBQ shrimp side dishes for your own fabulous feast!
From bread to salad, vegetables and casseroles to potatoes, rice, pasta and salads made with all three, use the table of contents to jump to what you are craving.
For a big party I like to choose a salad, a vegetable like corn on the cob, buns or bread, a starch (potatoes, rice, etc) and perhaps one more recipe to cook on the BBQ. Skewers or more BBQ seafood always pairs well. Choose a few recipes that can be prepared ahead like cornbread and potato or pasta salad.
For a smaller dinner, I'll just choose 2 side dishes. If it's just family, it's the perfect time to try out a new recipe. (That broccoli cheese casserole or the skewered and grilled potato salad skewers...yum!)
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How To Choose The Right Side Dish
Match your flavors. If you have plain shrimp, you can choose any of these delicious sides. But if you have an heavily flavored recipe, pair up matching flavors. Mediterranean shrimp go great with the grilled zucchini or eggplant. Southern Old Bay seasoned shrimp love cornbread and collard greens.
Got an Asian inspired BBQ shrimp recipe? Pair it up with the Asian quick pickles, the Japanese goma avocado salad and coconut basmati rice.
Don't forget to add a dip or sauce too! From fresh mango salsa to chili crisp, kimchi mayo and a delicious scallion oil, these sauces will add huge flavor to any BBQ shrimp.
Biscuits + Bread
Warm, soft bread is a natural with fresh shrimp! Not just for shrimp scampi, bake up one of these breads or biscuits that pair perfectly with the smoky flavor and savory juices of barbecue shrimp.
Pickles
Tart and crisp, a great pickle cuts through rich barbecue sauce flavored shrimp and makes a great garnish. These easy pickles take only 5 minutes so they're perfect for a quick dinner.
Salads
BBQ shrimp and salad is ALWAYS good option. A great way to get your daily veggies in. Whether it's a light side salad or a hearty salad to complete the meal, there's a salad here for every shrimp recipe!
Veggie Side Dishes
From skewered sweet bell peppers to fresh asparagus and cheddar cheese baked broccoli, these are some of the best side dishes for barbecue shrimp.
Southern grilled shrimp love collard greens for a complete meal. For a kid friendly bbq shrimp dinner, make and bake this awesome broccoli cheese casserole. If you like crunchy veggies, make the bbq skewers or Traeger asparagus. Which ever veggie side dish you choose, I promise, these are delicious and flavor packed!
Corn
Fire up the outdoor grill and barbecue some corn to go with your favorite shrimp dish. Making grilled coconut shrimp, grilled shrimp tacos or New Orleans bbq shrimp? Corn, especially barbecued corn, is a one of the best side dishes you can make. Eat it in a salad, salsa or corn on the cob for a sweet and salty side dish.
Salsa + Sauces
Serve up a flavorful sauce with your barbecue shrimp. You can go super simple with bottled hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce... or go big with one of these fresh and tasty homemade salsas and sauces. These sauces add unique flavor and will make your dinner unforgettable.
Barbecued Seafood
Make your BBQ shrimp dinner into a full on seafood feast. Toss some oysters on the barbecue or BBQ up some salmon for an impressive party.
Potatoes + Potato Salad
White potatoes or sweet potatoes are delicious side dishes that everyone loves. Potatoes are a great, versatile side. From French fries to Dijon mustard seasoned, you can roast them, fry them, top them with cheese or make them into a salad for a fantastic shrimp cookout!
Rice
Rice is a classic side dish for BBQ shrimp but why make plain white rice when you can kick it up a notch with one of these awesome rice recipes. Coconut basmati or jasmine rice are great with Asian grilled shrimp.
Got a spicy shrimp recipe? Jamaican rice and peas is made to pair with spicy seafood. For any Indian inspired shrimp recipes, curried rice adds big, bold flavor that will pair well with your recipe. Dig in!
Beans
Beans are a classic side for BBQ shrimp in Italy and in many Spanish countries. Baked brown beans are great as are these creamy, garlicky white beans. A blank canvas for your favorite spiced shrimp.
Pasta + Pasta Salads
Comfort food staples, pasta and pasta salad is right at home with the flavors of barbecue. These pasta recipes keep it light, bright and simple to let the flavors of your juicy BBQ shrimp shine.
I hope you've found the perfect side dishes for your favorite shrimp recipes. My favorites corn and potato salad (especially that BBQ'd potato salad!) along with the salsas and sauces. Whatever you pick, it's sure to be a fun time with friends and family, and that's what it's all about, isn't it?!
For more on what I'm cooking up, follow me on Instagram or Facebook. You might also like my FREE printable weekly meal planner.
Cheers friends! Sabrina
BERNADETTE
This is a great roundup of summer side dishes.