Cold Shrimp Recipes: Perfect Ideas for a Warm and Sunny Day

Some days are best served with a piping hot meal, but not when the temperature is too high.

When that time comes, it’s hard to resist cold food to help us relax.

Fortunately, there are dishes best served cold too!

Cold shrimp recipes are the perfect balance of savory and healthy to keep the heat at bay.

In this list, there’s a variety of appetizers, salads, veggie pasta, cocktails, and even a simple but special dip.

So, if you want to stay away from a burning stove and boiling ovens on a scorching day, then read on to get that cool, relaxing meal.

1. Chilled Marinated Shrimp

A simple solution to stay away from a heating oven is a fresh, chilled marinated shrimp.

This pleasing recipe is light, zesty, and simple to prepare, requiring 10 minutes of preparation time.

The key ingredients and process are to marinate the shrimp in lemon, herbs, and onion, then pop it in the freezer for 2 hours in an airtight container.

While you’re at it, spice up your marinade by choosing your preferred ingredients.

You can make it spicy, tangy, or sweet—the choice is yours!

Just like most leftover shrimp recipes, you can can keep any uneaten portions in the freezer for 3 days in an airtight container.

If sudden guests arrive, this recipe can save the day.

One more thing:

Don’t forget some diced avocados and another squeeze of lemon on top.

They’re optional, but a great addition for extra flavor.

2. Pickled Shrimp

This recipe is a special homemade dish that’s sure to win many hearts and tummies.

Pickled shrimp is a unique dish that’s one of many cold shrimp appetizer recipes.

One bite of this can surely quench the heat and anyone’s craving.

The key is to marinate the shrimp in pickling brine for about 24 hours.

The longer you let it sit, the better the taste!

With that in mind, leftovers are one less thing to worry about.

Pickled shrimp can last for a week as long as they’re well covered in oil.

3. Garlic Lime Roasted Shrimp

Looking to eat light recipes with cold cooked shrimp while you sit outside your porch on a warm night?

Why not try the garlic lime roasted shrimp recipe?

You can serve cold shrimp salad recipes as a quick dinner or a delectable appetizer for a party.

If you do the latter, then I suggest getting ready to share this recipe with your folks.

What makes garlic lime roasted shrimp appealing is its quick and easy preparation in just under 15 minutes!

With only avocados, cucumber, shrimp, fresh mint, and cilantro, you’ll have an elegant appetizer for a warm night.

Remember that the secret to making this dish last for days is to use firm avocados.

4. Cold Prawn Salad

Fruit salads are my ideal food for sunny days and sultry nights.

Why not pair that up with baby shrimp to enhance the flavor?

I personally love cold shrimp salad recipes.

Why is that?

Because of how many batches I could make for my family, and how simple the preparation time and required ingredients are.

You can have this meal sealed in an airtight container in the fridge, and it can last for a week.

So, whenever you’re feeling hot and need a quick refreshing bite, this cold prawn salad awaits!

5. Spicy and Creamy Shrimp Tartlets

Want to have a bit of fun in the kitchen?

A spicy and creamy shrimp tartlet will give you just that.

Cold shrimp appetizer recipes are enjoyable to put together if you’re feeling a bit daring with the heat and flavor.

In just 25 minutes, you’ll have this recipe ready with only a few ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

Here’s a glance at the key ingredients:

Shrimp, cold cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, fresh dill, seasonings, and red pepper flakes.

Don’t worry too much about the spiciness either.

If you’re not a fan of spicy flavors like me, then you can omit the red pepper flakes.

In fact, I do this when I eat these in the morning as it’s one of my favorite seafood breakfast recipes.

6. Classic Shrimp Cocktail

For perfect cold shrimp hors d’oeuvres recipes that are best served cold, the classic shrimp cocktail will never fail.

This appetizer is easy, fancy, and a sure show-stopper that’ll steal the limelight.

I consider this one of the classic appetizers as it remains popular throughout the decades—and for a good reason!

Have a night of relaxation with a dish of cold shrimp served in a martini glass and cocktail sauce.

For an even better experience, I recommend a homemade cocktail sauce.

It’s ten times better than the ones you buy in stores.

7. Easy and Quick Cold Shrimp Dip

Did you know you could also make a dip out of shrimp? For shrimp lovers out there like me, let’s have a toast!

Cold shrimp dip recipes are super easy, quick, and fun to prepare.

You can make this particular dip in advance and it would taste even better as you give it more time to marinate in the fridge.

Remember that most cold marinated shrimp recipes can last in the fridge for 2-3 days—so does this one!

To prepare this dish, have a mixer stand ready and combine some mayonnaise, cream cheese, and lemon juice.

Follow it up with your shrimp, green onions, garlic powder, and parsley, making sure to blend everything nicely.

Serve with a bit of garnish on top, and enjoy!

8. Simple Cold Shrimp Salad

If you’re in a pinch or want to eat something refreshing in less than 10 minutes, try one of the best cold shrimp recipes: a simple cold shrimp salad.

With all the vegetables, fruits, and shrimp combined, it’s a meal that’s heavily packed with nutrients and flavor!

You can serve this as a light meal, a side dish, or as a main course.

All you need for this are baby corn, cooked shrimp, sliced tomatoes, diced avocados, black olives, and fresh parsley.

As is the case with many recipes with cold cooked shrimp:

You can be creative with them and add in your preferred fruits and veggies too.

9. Homemade Shrimp Pasta Salad

Pasta, salad, and shrimp.

Cold shrimp pasta recipes make for a perfect dinner to relax on a warm night.

What’s more:

Shrimp is the fitting protein ingredient for both pasta and salads.

So, it’s no wonder that this recipe tastes so satisfying.

Using simple ingredients, you can have a creamy, refreshing, and tasty dinner in about 8 minutes.

However:

If you want to obtain that delicious cold taste, then I suggest chilling it in the fridge for an hour.

To make cold shrimp pasta salad recipes like this one last 3 days, properly store them in the fridge in an airtight container.

Serve cold on a sultry evening and enjoy!

10. Citrus Shrimp Salad with Avocado

You could never go wrong with a versatile fruit such as avocado.

Pair that with chilled shrimp, and you’ll have a noteworthy dish!

Meet the citrus shrimp salad with an avocado recipe.

It mixes the zesty flavor from the lemon juice, the creaminess of the avocado, and the crunchiness from the toasted almonds.

It’s a meal rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamins to help you stay healthy and energized.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of this meal is enough to keep me energized.

When you’re ready to serve, try squeezing another slice of lemon to enhance the dressing’s flavor.

11. Mediterranean Shrimp Salad

Have a Mediterranean taste with this cold shrimp salad recipe! Chunky tomatoes, fresh avocados, and greens are what make up the salad of this dish.

Let’s not forget the star ingredients:

Cooked shrimp and homemade vinaigrette.

The Mediterranean shrimp salad does well as a fresh summer side dish or as your lunch too.

Why not bring this dish to a picnic as a refreshing meal as well?

Mainly because it’s simple to prepare, with minimal ingredients to use.

What’s even better is:

The meal has zero carbs, no heavy dressing, and is customizable to your preference.

This dish can win the hearts of kids and adults alike!

12. Mexican Ceviche Salad

Looking for a Mexican dish that’s quick and easy to prepare?

Try the Mexican Ceviche Salad!

It’s a perfect shrimp recipe for hot sunny days.

Seeing the plump tomatoes, crab meat, chunks of avocados, and cooked shrimp can get anyone’s mouth drooling.

Don’t forget the spices! We can’t have Mexican food without those.

When you have everything set, pop it in the fridge and let it chill for 2 hours.

Doing so will help quench the burning heat with just one bite.

13. Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls

Another recipe that’s fun and easy to make is the fresh shrimp spring rolls or Vietnamese spring rolls.

If you’re out there trying to save on the energy bill, then this meal is perfect for you.

That’s because cold shrimp appetizer recipes use prepared ingredients and don’t need any cooking.

This recipe version is super easy and is basically done once the ingredients are wrapped in rice paper.

Make sure to use fresh vegetables and properly marinate your shrimp beforehand too.

You can even let your kids help in preparing this dish—another bonus of this recipe!

14. Spicy Garlic Shrimp

Succulent, buttery, and garlicky with a tinge of spice are what make up the best spicy garlic shrimp recipe.

Just follow 3 simple steps:

Prepare, mix, then bake!

You can have this dish as a solo meal, as a side dish, or even as an appetizer.

It’s an easy favorite because of its burst of flavors and simple ingredients.

You don’t even have to worry about any leftovers, as you can keep this meal in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Just remember to store it in an airtight container first.

Once the craving kicks in, you can directly eat it fresh from the fridge as it tastes incredible when served cold.

15. Cold Shrimp Pasta Veggie Salad

For pasta and veggie lovers, this one’s for you!

After all:

Cold shrimp pasta recipes are a delectable combination for a heart-healthy meal.

So if that suits your taste, try the cold shrimp pasta veggie salad.

Decked with various vegetables, you can get creative and choose your favorite roasted veggies to add.

As a plus:

Try sprinkling the dish with grated cheese for a flavorful topping.

Trust me, you won’t regret it.

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Whether you’re in the mood for a cold bite to indulge in or looking for fresh cold shrimp recipes, our list has a variety of meals you could choose from.

The best thing about this?

Like our ancestor who no doubt ate shrimp without heating it, these ideas are fun to make, easy to prepare, and will do well in the fridge if you have any leftovers.