This is the best New Orleans BBQ Shrimp with beer! The easy New Orleans BBQ shrimp sauce is so buttery and flavorful - perfect for Mardi Gras or anytime you want some of that NOLA flavor!
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And if you like this barbecue shrimp recipe, try my Cast Iron Skillet Salmon with Maple Dijon Sauce, my Shrimp Macaroni Salad With Cajun Spices, and my Smoked Mac and Cheese with Bacon!
Best New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Sauce
I'm so excited to share this recipe for New Orleans BBQ Shrimp. It may not be the first thing you think of when you think of barbecue, but it's so good that it might be your new go-to. Instead of being grilled and tossed in a sweet, smoky sauce, we're making these New Orleans BBQ shrimp with beer, butter, and pepper, and sautéing it all in a rich, buttery sauce. It's such an easy recipe to master, but SO good! And I'm sure that once you try it, you'll be enjoying it for years to come!
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Barbecue Shrimp Recipe
I've been to New Orleans a handful of times now, but I'm always up for a trip there! It's by far my favorite city to visit, and I have to admit that the biggest reason is the amazing food and drink culture there. I've had more unbelievable seafood, fried chicken, po-boys, desserts, cocktails, and beignets than I can count! Especially cocktails...
But before this turns into a travel blog, let me just get on with telling you about this New Orleans BBQ Shrimp. Suffice it to say that this is one of many amazing meals I've had in NOLA, and I can't wait to get back there to have more!
Where did BBQ shrimp originate?
As I mentioned, the recipe for New Orleans BBQ Shrimp involves a buttery, savory sauce. The idea for this dish, according to legend, originated in Chicago, believe it or not! In 1953, a regular of the historic New Orleans restaurant, Pascal's Manale, came to New Orleans from a business trip to Chicago. Upon his return, he raved about a shrimp dish he'd had in Chicago involving butter and black pepper. The head chef of Pascal's Manale, Jake Radosta, attempted to recreate it based on the description, and in the end it wasn't quite the same -- it was better!
These days, Pascal's Manale serves BBQ shrimp as a sandwich at lunch, or with bibs at dinner -- the buttery sauce can be messy, and you need to use your hands to peel the shrimp!
How do you eat New Orleans BBQ shrimp?
The bbq shrimp recipe, which has spread throughout the restaurants of New Orleans, generally contains large head-on shrimp, butter, Worcestershire sauce, spices, black pepper, and white wine.
It's often served as an appetizer like this smoked shrimp, with crusty French bread to soak up the delicious sauce. But in New Orleans you can also find this barbecue shrimp as part of a po-boy sandwich, or served with grits or rice.
Barbecue Shrimp Recipe Ingredients
This New Orleans BBQ shrimp with beer is SO easy. It comes together with just a few ingredients, and can cook in just 5-10 minutes. With just a skillet and a spatula or wooden spoon you can make this delicious shrimp dish! Here's what you'll need:
- shrimp - you'll need a pound of raw shrimp, with the shells and tails on -- I use the "ez-peel" variety. If you can find some with the heads on, even better!
- olive oil - to sauté your garlic!
- Worcestershire sauce - The biggest flavor boost for the sauce. It gives this shrimp its distinctive flavor.
- fresh lemon juice - brightens up the sauce a bit and adds more flavor.
- beer - this is my variation on the white wine that is traditionally included in the sauce. It adds complexity to the flavors that make this barbecue shrimp recipe SO good!
- black pepper - crucial! It should be freshly cracked for the most flavor. I use Tellicherry peppercorns.
- Creole seasoning - I use Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning, but you can use any Creole or Cajun seasoning blend you like, or make your own!
- cold butter - makes this sauce rich and buttery. I use salted butter because I find that it adds just enough salt to make the sauce flavorful, but you can definitely use unsalted butter and if necessary, adjust the salt in the recipe to your liking.
- Tabasco sauce - for serving, I typically use Crystal hot sauce, but Tabasco is more traditional.
- Optional French bread and lemon wedges to serve! The bread is perfect to sop up all that extra buttery sauce. And I have to have lemon wedges whenever I have seafood!
Once you have those ingredients ready, you're ready to get started on this quick New Orleans BBQ shrimp!
How to Make New Orleans BBQ Shrimp with Beer
This recipe takes about ten minutes from start to finish. I would recommend getting it started once you're fully ready to eat! I made this recipe on my Instagram Live recently, and even with all my chit chatting, the whole video was over in 15 minutes!
- In a large sauté pan or cast-iron skillet, sauté your garlic in a little olive oil until it gets fragrant.
- Add in your Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, beer, black pepper, and Creole seasoning.
- Let the sauce cook down until it reduces by about half.
- Add in your shrimp and cook about a minute per side, stirring constantly.
- Stir in butter in small batches and let it melt. Once shrimp are cooked (don't overcook them-- they should be ready once they're pink), remove the skillet from the heat and let the flavors meld together for a few minutes.
- Enjoy! Serve with French bread, rice, cauliflower rice, or cheese grits.
Tips and F.A.Q.
According to the chef and co-owner at Pascal's Manale, the name comes from the reddish tint that the shrimp have once they're cooked.
The bigger, the better! I typically use jumbo or colossal shrimp for this recipe, but if you have smaller ez-peel shrimp, that can work too, just be very careful because they'll cook faster. You don't want to overcook your shrimp!
This barbecue shrimp recipe would be great over mashed potatoes, salad, rice, or the traditional way with crusty French bread. You can also use this recipe to make New Orleans BBQ shrimp and grits! And if you're in the mood for other seafood recipes, try this delicious Grilled Shrimp Marinade or this Nigerian fish roll recipe! Or for another amazing dinner idea, check out these turkey smash burgers!
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
More Savory Recipes You'll Love
- Shrimp Macaroni Salad With Creole Spice
- Boursin Pasta - Tiktok Viral Recipe
- Cast Iron Skillet Salmon with Maple Dijon Sauce
- Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Kale
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
- Chicken Macaroni Salad
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves fresh garlic - minced
- ¼ cup (59 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup (79 g) beer - I used a lager
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) Creole seasoning - I used Tony Chachere's
- 1 pound (454 g) jumbo, extra jumbo, or colossal raw shrimp - peel on, thawed if frozen
- 1 cups (227 g) salted butter - cold, cubed (2 sticks)
- Tabasco sauce - optional
- French bread and Lemon wedges - for serving, optional
Instructions
- In a large skillet or saute pan, heat olive oil on medium-high heat. Toss in garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant.2 cloves fresh garlic, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Add Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, beer, cracked pepper, and Creole seasoning, and stir. Cook while stirring until sauce slightly thickens.¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, ⅓ cup beer, 2 teaspoons fresh cracked black pepper, 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
- Add shrimp and toss to coat with the sauce. Continue to stir and flip the shrimp in the sauce for 1 minute on each side.1 pound jumbo, extra jumbo, or colossal raw shrimp
- Turn heat down to low. Continue to stir and add cubed butter, a couple of tablespoons at a time, allowing to melt after each addition.1 cups salted butter
- Once shrimp is just finished cooking, remove from heat, cover, and let sit in sauce for up to 5 minutes.
- Serve hot with Tabasco sauce, lemon wedges, and French bread.Tabasco sauce, French bread and Lemon wedges
Video
Notes
- Peel the shrimp and serve it with the sauce on French bread as a sandwich.
- Serve on top of cheese grits and garnish with sliced green onions.
- Serve with rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
Nutrition
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Last Updated on March 18, 2025 by Chenée Lewis
Beth says
Aww yeah. I'm going to make this with tiger shrimp! Om nom nom.
Chenée Lewis says
That sounds amazing!!
Kim says
This tastes like something I had in a restaurant once. It was perfect!!!
Chenée Lewis says
Wow that's awesome! I'm so glad you like it!
Dana says
Now these flavors really take me back to my years living in the South. Not in NOLA, but there was a lot of NOLA inspo in NC where I was. Such a different variety of flavor in the South! Thanks for taking me back 🙂
Chenée Lewis says
Glad I could take you down memory lane!
Ali says
These BBQ shrimp look incredible! Served with some rice and a veggie side, this is the perfect meal.
Chenée Lewis says
I agree 100%!!
Shadi Hasanzade says
I remember having this dish when traveling in NOLA! Cannot wait to make it this week!
Chenée Lewis says
It's one of my favorites! Hope you enjoy!
Chris Collins says
Worcestershire sauce is one of my all time favourite sauces, so I think I'm gonna love this bbq shrimp!
Chenée Lewis says
Yeah I think you will too! Let me know how it works for you!
Anjali says
I love all of the seasonings and spices in this recipe - it makes it so flavorful!
Chenée Lewis says
So full of flavor! Thanks so much!
Shashi says
I gotta admit, I dont always think of shrimp when i think of BBQ - but yours looks and sounds intoxicatingly delicious!
Chenée Lewis says
NOLA-style bbq shrimp is such a unique dish! I hope you'll give it a try! 🙂
Dannii says
We are always looking for new ways to use shrimp and this looks so comforting and delicious.
Chenée Lewis says
It's so good! And so easy! Thanks for checking it out 🙂
Julia says
It is so tasty, plenty of flavour, and we love making shrimps, so this one is going to be a keeper recipe for our family! Delicious!
Chenée Lewis says
I'm so glad you enjoy it! I love this recipe for sure!
Joanna says
Sounds absolutely dreamy. So far I only visited New Orleans once but it was enough to fall in love with the city and its people and of course the food!
Chenée Lewis says
Absolutely! New Orleans is such an amazing place!
leeandra says
I love shrimp! This recipe looks amazing!
Chenée Lewis says
Me too!! Hope you enjoy it 🙂