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Baked Italian Herb Stuffed Shrimp with Lime Butter

 Baked Italian Herb Stuffed Shrimp with Lime Butter

Jumbo shrimp butterflied and stuffed with Italian herb breadcrumbs, then drenched in lime butter. This Stuffed Shrimp is the dinner party flex you need!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 people
Calories 263 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Shrimp

  • 12 Jumbo 10-16 per pound shrimp, tail on, shells and head removed
  • pinch of salt

For the Stuffing

  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup low-sodium vegetable stock
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Pinch black pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon parsley rough chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons basil rough chopped
  • 2 limes zest only
  • 1 Tablespoon panko breadcrumbs
  • 4 inch piece of baguette torn into small pieces

For the Lime Butter

  • 5 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • pinch of salt

Garnish

  • 1 Tablespoon parsley finely chopped for garnish
  • Lime wedges optional for serving

Instructions
 

Prepare the Shrimp

  • Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels. Use a paring knife to make a shallow cut along the back of the shrimp and pull out the vein if not already deveined.
    12 Jumbo, pinch of salt
  • Now comes the butterflying: make a deeper cut along the same line, going about ¾ of the way through the shrimp from the head end almost to the tail. Don't cut all the way through. Gently press the shrimp flat with your hand so it opens like a book. The tail should naturally loop up and over the body. Do this to all 12 shrimp and arrange them in the prepared baking dish with some space between each. Sprinkle very lightly with a pinch of salt and set aside.

Make the Stuffing

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter. Once it's melted and foamy, add the chopped onion. Cook for about a minute until it starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
    3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ cup onion, 2 cloves garlic
  • Next, pour in the vegetable stock, then add the salt, black pepper, rough chopped parsley and basil, lime zest, panko breadcrumbs, and torn baguette pieces. Stir everything together so the bread soaks up the liquid and butter. Keep stirring often and cook for about 10 minutes. The bread should soften and the mixture should look cohesive but not soupy. Remove from heat and transfer the stuffing to a bowl. Let it cool for at least 5 minutes so you can handle it without burning your fingers.
    ½ cup low-sodium vegetable stock, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, Pinch black pepper, 1 Tablespoon parsley, 2 Tablespoons basil, 2 limes, 1 Tablespoon panko breadcrumbs, 4 inch piece of baguette

Stuff the Shrimp

  • Preheat your oven to 450°F. Once the stuffing is cool enough to touch, take a generous spoonful and press it onto the butterflied shrimp, tucking it under the tail. The tail should arch over the stuffing like a little handle. Repeat with all 12 shrimp, dividing the stuffing evenly.

Bake the Shrimp

  • Place the baking dish into the preheated oven. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes depending on what size shrimp you have. You're looking for the shrimp to turn opaque and pink, and the stuffing to get lightly golden on top. If your shrimp are on the smaller side of jumbo, check at 8 minutes. Bigger ones can go the full 10. Don't overcook or the shrimp will be rubbery. When done, pull the dish out and set it aside.

Make the Lime Butter

  • While the shrimp are baking, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter in a small sauce pot over medium-low heat. Once it's fully melted, stir in the lime juice and a small pinch of kosher salt. Keep it warm but don't let it boil.
    5 tablespoon unsalted butter, Juice of 1 lime, pinch of salt
  • As soon as the shrimp come out of the oven, spoon or pour the lime butter generously over each one. It should pool around the shrimp and soak into the stuffing.

Plate and Serve

  • Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter or divide them among individual plates. Sprinkle the minced parsley over the top for color and a fresh hit of flavor. Serve immediately while the butter is still glossy and the shrimp are hot.
    1 Tablespoon parsley, Lime wedges

Notes

Serves 6 as an appetizer or 4 as a main course.
Substitutions:
  • Onion: Shallots work here as well
  • Vegetable stock: Chicken stock can be used in place of veggie stock.
  • Limes: Lemons are a good alternative
Storage:
  • How to store leftover Stuffed Shrimp: Let the shrimp cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container. They'll keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The stuffing will lose its crunch and the shrimp will firm up, but they're still edible.
  • How to reheat leftover Stuffed Shrimp: Preheat to 350°F, place the shrimp on a baking sheet, and cover loosely with foil. Heat for about 8 minutes until warmed through. 
  • Can you freeze leftover Stuffed Shrimp?Not recommended. Shrimp will get mealy and the stuffing turns mushy when frozen and thawed. If you absolutely have to freeze them, do it before baking. Stuff the raw shrimp, freeze them on a tray until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 3 to 5 minutes to the cook time.
  • Stuffing storage: If you made extra stuffing, store it separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can use it to top fish fillets, chicken breasts, or stuff mushrooms.
Top Tips from the Pros:
  • Dry your shrimp as much as you can. Pat them with paper towels multiple times. Wet shrimp won't brown and the stuffing will slide off. If you have time, leave them uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes after butterflying to air-dry the surface.
  • Don't skip the stock in the stuffing. It keeps the bread moist and adds savory depth. If you use all butter and no liquid, the stuffing will be greasy and dense.
  • Taste the stuffing before you stuff. It should be well-seasoned on its own because the shrimp are only lightly salted but always check the stuffing and add more salt to taste before stuffing the shrimp. 
  • Pack the stuffing on tight. It won't fall off if you press it firmly onto the butterflied shrimp and tuck it under the tail. 
  • Use a spoon to baste. Pouring the lime butter straight from the pot can be messy. Use a large spoon to drizzle it slowly over each shrimp so it soaks in instead of running off into the pan.
  • Serve immediately. Stuffed shrimp are best right out of the oven when the butter is still glossy and the stuffing has a little crunch. They don't hold well. 
  • Make components in advance. Professional kitchens prep and butterfly the shrimp hours ahead, keep the cooked stuffing in the fridge, then stuff and bake to order. You can do the same if you're hosting a party. Just don't bake them until you're ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 5gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 421mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 660IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
Keyword date night dinners, Italian appetizers, italian dinners, recipes for entertaining, shrimp
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