Perfect Southern Fried Shrimp

This Southern Fried Shrimp recipe is incredibly easy, delicious, and quick to make. The result? Crunchy, flavorful shrimp that are ready in about 15 minutes!

Shrimp is a popular seafood choice around the world, and for good reason. These Southern Fried Shrimp are perfectly crispy, and this recipe uses a simple flour coating (no panko or cornmeal needed).

This recipe joins many other shrimp favorites, like Crunchy Honey Walnut Shrimp, Saucy Shrimp, and Honey Garlic Shrimp.

How to Make Southern Fried Shrimp

Soak the Shrimp: In a large bowl, combine milk, salt, black pepper, half the granulated garlic, half the paprika, and half the oregano. Add the shrimp and soak for 10 minutes.
Coat the Shrimp: After soaking, shake off excess milk. On a plate, mix the remaining spices with the flour. Coat the shrimp thoroughly, ensuring they are well-covered with the seasoned flour.
Fry the Shrimp: Heat oil to 375 degrees. Fry the shrimp in batches for 1-2 minutes, or until crispy.
Serve: Let the shrimp cool slightly and serve.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Dipping Sauces: Serve with honey mustard, tartar sauce, sriracha mayo, or your favorite dipping sauce. Honey mustard is a particularly good pairing.
Use Uncooked Shrimp: Uncooked shrimp (grey in color) are essential for absorbing the flavors during soaking. Pre-cooked shrimp (pink) won’t absorb flavors as well. Ensure they are peeled and deveined.
Spice It Up: Add cayenne pepper for extra heat.

Can You Fry Already Cooked Shrimp?

Yes, you can fry already cooked shrimp. However, uncooked shrimp are recommended for this recipe as they absorb the flavors better during the soaking process.

Top Tip

Serve these with honey mustard!

What Goes Well with Southern Fried Shrimp?

Crispy shrimp pair well with many sides. Popular choices include Creamy Coleslaw (or Creamy Sriracha Coleslaw), Corn on the Cob, Creamed Corn, Cheesy Corn, Hush Puppies, Cheese Garlic Biscuits, Deep Fried Mac n Cheese Balls, Honey Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, or a Tomato Avocado Salad. You can also use the shrimp in po’boys, shrimp salad, sliders, and more. The possibilities are endless!

Southern Fried Shrimp

Crispy, golden, and packed with flavor, these Southern Fried Shrimp are the perfect appetizer or main dish. Serve with honey mustard, cocktail sauce, or your favorite dip!

Time Required

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes

Servings

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup all-purpose flour
1½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
½ tsp black pepper (adjust to taste)
2 tsp granulated garlic
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp oregano
½ cup whole milk
Oil, for frying

Instructions

Marinate the Shrimp – In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, milk, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp granulated garlic. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
Prepare the Seasoned Flour – In another bowl, mix flour with the remaining salt, paprika, oregano, granulated garlic, and black pepper.
Coat the Shrimp – Remove shrimp from the milk mixture and coat generously with seasoned flour. Ensure each shrimp is fully covered.
Fry to Perfection – Heat oil to 375°F. Fry shrimp for 3-4 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Drain & Serve – Transfer shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels. Serve immediately and enjoy!