Why I love this peel and eat shrimp

I’ve been enjoying peel and eat shrimp for as long as I can remember. They’ve been a Christmas Eve staple in our family since I was a kid.

I have memories of filling paper plates with shrimp shells until I couldn’t eat another bite and washing it down with a cherry soda, the kind we only had during the holidays.

The shrimp was always seasoned with plenty of Old Bay, and there was always homemade cocktail sauce. Spicy with extra horseradish for the grown ups and a not-so-spicy mostly ketchup batch for the wimps and children.

I still love peel and eat shrimp today, but I’ve started making it a baked shrimp recipe instead. I find just the tiniest bit easier, and I’m all about making life easier now.

It’s also just a great alternative for when your stove top is full.

If you like this recipe, you have to try this shrimp toast, and these smoked shrimp skewers and these easy, pan seared shrimp.

Searching for more seafood recipes? miso glazed salmon / Thai tuna cakes / baked scallops / cod fish tacos

close up of a plate full of old bay shrimp garnished with a lemon slice and cocktail sauce

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Close up of peel and eat shrimp seasoned with old bay with a lemon slice and homemade cocktail sauce in a small dipping bowl
Ideas

Ingredients:

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

  • Shrimp – Go with large, raw shrimp that are deveined but still have the shells on. The shell keeps them juicy while they cook and the larger size gives you more wiggle room, so you don’t accidentally over cook them. Tails optional.
  • Old Bay – Old Bay seasoning is the key to giving the shrimp that classic, zesty flavor. It’s a blend of spices, made just for seafood, like paprika and celery salt that gives the shrimp a nice kick without being too spicy. Peel and eat shrimp just isn’t the same without it.
overhead view of baked shrimp on a large white plate with lemon slices

The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.

How to make old bay shrimp in the oven

Season the shrimp. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 400˚F. Place the shrimp into a large mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, vinegar and Old Bay then stir to coat the shrimp evenly. Set aside until the oven has reached full temperature.

Bake the shrimp. Transfer the shrimp to a baking sheet and pop them into the oven for about 7 minutes. If you are cooking your shrimp from frozen, remember to add a few extra minutes. The shrimp should be pink and completely opaque when they are done cooking. You can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 145˚F.

Serve. You have two options here. Serve the shrimp straight from the oven while they’re nice and hot, or you can let them chill and serve them cold like a shrimp cocktail. If you are serving shrimp cocktail you should try making this homemade shrimp cocktail sauce, it’s much easier than you think and tastes so much better.

overhead view of large white plate full of baked shrimp seasoned with old bay on a counter top next to a garnish and old bay container.

Frequently asked questions

  • What temperature should shrimp be cooked to? Shrimp should be cooked to an internal temperature of 120˚F. They will turn pink in color and the bodies should begin to curl. When baking shrimp at 400˚F, the shrimp should take about 5 – 7 minutes to be fully cooked.
  • Can I cook frozen shrimp? Yes. You can easily cook shrimp from frozen. All you need to do is a few extra minutes to the cooking time to make sure they reach a food safe temperature.
  • Are peel and eat shrimp deveined? Since it’s not required to devein shrimp, not all peel and eat shrimp you find on the market will be deveined. Many brands come that way, but you’ll want to check the packaging to find out.
overhead view of shrimp with lemon slices on a sheet pan
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Peel and Eat Shrimp

By: Melissa Belanger
Seasoned with Old Bay, these peel-and-eat shrimp are a family favorite. Serve them hot from the oven or chilled like shrimp cocktail—they will be delicious either way.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound shell-on, deveined shrimp
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, toss the shrimp with olive oil, vinegar and Old Bay.
  • Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 6 – 8 minutes.
  • Remove from oven. Serve immediately or chill for several hours for cold shrimp cocktail.

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 183mg, Sodium: 135mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.03g, Vitamin C: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

Read more about me

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5 from 1 vote

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5 Comments

  1. Vickie Anderson says:

    I’m not sure if this question will get to you Melissa, But I almost always buy the 16 to 20 count size of shrimp. So I’m wondering if it should be baked longer than 8 minutes? Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      Yes. If you’re using a larger shrimp, you’ll need to cook them longer. I usually go with the 31-40 size. Just make sure they’re opaque and pink before taking them out.

      Reply
  2. Diana Lewis says:

    The shrimp turned out fabulous … and was so easy to prepare! My hubby said, “fix that again!”

    Reply
  3. Jen says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely easy and delicious! Baked larger peel and eat shrimp from frozen. Didn’t have apple cider on hand so I just skipped it. I baked them for 12 mins. and served with cut lemon and extra Old Bay.

    Reply
  4. Rocky says:

    If it’s that good sum it up in 3 minutes . Everyone selling something loves to drag it out . That tells me it’s BS

    Reply