8 Great Sauces to Serve with Grilled Shrimp (2024)

Since grilled shrimp cooks in mere minutes, spend a little time making a spectacular sauce to toss with them or serve alongside.

Green goddess dressing

Throw parsley and scallions onto the grill to get a quick char before blending them into a smoky upgrade to a retro dressing that's great for your salad and shrimp.

Miso butter

Mix butter with miso, lemon zest and juice, and scallions for a savory-tangy sauce you can toss with shrimp post grilling.

Oregano and lemon

For Mediterranean-style shrimp, chop together capers, oregano, and garlic, then blend in olive oil and lemon juice to serve at the table.

Pesto

Forget that rule about mixing cheese with seafood. Make a lemony pesto, enriched with Parmigiano-Reggiano, to serve with grilled shrimp.

Harissa

Toss shell-on shrimp with the North African-style chile paste known as harissa soon after it's grilled and serve with lime wedges; let people peel and eat at the table.

Aioli

Doctor aioli (or a cheater version with store-bought mayo) with citrus zest and serve with shrimp (or shrimp cakes) for dipping.

Romesco

Spain's sauce of roasted peppers, almonds, and garlic is a natural with grilled shrimp. Serve a basic version or add cocoa nibs.

Chile and sweetened condensed milk

Try mixing Thai green chiles with sweetened condensed milk for a beguiling balance of fiery heat and creamy sweetness that serves as a perfect dipping sauce for your grilled shrimp.

Kristin Donnelly is a former Food & Wine editor and author of The Modern Potluck (Clarkson Potter, 2016). She is also the co-founder of Stewart & Claire, an all-natural line of lip balms made in Brooklyn.