Go Back
The Best Baked Stuffed Shrimp Recipe with Buttery Cracker Filling

The Best Baked Stuffed Shrimp Recipe

Jumbo shrimp are butterflied, filled with a lemony garlic cracker stuffing, and baked until tender with a lightly browned topping. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
  • 1 sleeve, about 3 1/2 ounces or 30-35 crackers Buttery round crackers, finely crushed
  • 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, melted and divided
  • 1 clove Garlic, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Black pepper
For Serving
  • As needed Lemon wedges
Optional Variations
  • 1-2 tablespoons Dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons Cooked crabmeat, finely chopped

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a baking dish. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails attached, then cut a deep slit along the back of each shrimp without cutting all the way through.
  2. Open each shrimp like a book and arrange the butterflied shrimp cut-side up in the prepared baking dish. Combine the cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper until moist enough to hold together but not wet.
  3. Place a small mound of stuffing, roughly 1 tablespoon per shrimp, into the opening of each butterflied shrimp. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter and add 1–2 tablespoons dry white wine to the pan if desired.
  4. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque, gently curled, and the stuffing is lightly browned. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, taking care not to overbake the shrimp.

Notes

Use jumbo or colossal shrimp because smaller shrimp can dry out before the stuffing browns. For a crisper top, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end while watching closely. Keep the prepared stuffing lightly moistened; too much butter or liquid can make it heavy and soggy.