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Home » Shrimp Recipes

Lemon Pepper Shrimp

Published: Mar 8, 2024 by staysnatched · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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This Lemon Pepper Shrimp recipe is perfectly seasoned with tangy lemon and the best blend of spices. From there, the succulent shrimp is drizzled in a zesty lemon butter sauce for mouthwatering flavor. Serve it over pasta, salads, or with your favorite side dishes. We provide three different cooking methods to ensure this dish will elevate your next meal.

lemon pepper shrimp, mashed potatoes, and green beans on a plate

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.

Table of Contents

  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • What Type of Shrimp to Use
  • Frozen Shrimp
  • How to Season the Shrimp
  • Do You Leave the Tails on the Shrimp?
  • Breaded Shrimp
  • Shrimp with No Breading
  • How to Make Lemon Pepper Shrimp
  • Lemon Butter Sauce
  • How to Zest a Lemon
  • Overcooked Shrimp
  • How to Reheat
  • How to Store Leftovers
  • Freezer Tips
  • Pair With These Recipes
  • More Lemon Pepper Recipes
  • Lemon Pepper Shrimp
    • Want to save this recipe for later?
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
      • Lemon Pepper Glaze
    • Instructions 
      • Lemon Pepper Glaze
      • Breaded Shrimp
      • Non-Breaded Shrimp
    • Notes
    • Nutrition
    • Nutrition Data

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Bold Flavor: Lemon pepper seasoning adds a burst of zesty citrus flavor and aromatic pepper to the shrimp, creating a bold and delicious taste experience.
  • Quick and Easy: This dish is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute meals.
  • Versatile: It can be cooked in a variety of ways, including air fried, baked, or pan seared, and it pairs well with a wide range of side dishes, salads, or pasta.
  • Light and Healthy: Shrimp is low in calories and fat but high in protein, making it a nutritious option for those looking to maintain a balanced diet.
  • Easy to Customize: You can easily customize the shrimp to suit your taste preferences by adjusting the amount of lemon pepper seasoning or adding other complementary ingredients like garlic, herbs, or vegetables.

What Type of Shrimp to Use

There are several types of shrimp available: raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc. I grab wild-caught deveined shrimp.

Pre-cooked shrimp lacks quality in terms of overall taste. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp.

Deveined shrimp is simple to work with. The black vein that runs along the back of the shrimp is the digestive poop in the intestinal tract. You can buy shrimp with the vein and remove it using a sharp paring knife to make a slit along the back and lift out the vein with the tip of the knife.

Check out tips on How to Peel and Devein Shrimp here. As for sizing, I prefer large shrimp and 15-20 count packages.

raw shrimp in a glass bowl

Frozen Shrimp

If you want to use frozen shrimp check out my Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp Recipe. You can use the same spices and lemon butter sauce noted in this recipe.

How to Season the Shrimp

You will need to use quality lemon pepper seasoning to actually add flavor to the fish. I also love the Lemon Garlic Seasoning from Trader Joe’s.

Once the shrimp is cooked (you can bake, sear, or air fry it), I love to drizzle it in a lemon butter sauce for even more flavor.

Do You Leave the Tails on the Shrimp?

This is completely up to you and is a matter of preference. Often the tails are left on for presentation purposes only. The shrimp simply looks nicer and will have a nice curve to it when the tails are left on.

Breaded Shrimp

If you want breaded shrimp, you will need fish fry breading mix. You can make your own using ½ cup yellow corn meal and ¼ cup all-purpose flour. If air frying, be sure to spritz the shrimp with oil after breading, and spray any white spots to ensure proper crisping.

collage of 4 photos with breaded shrimp in a bowl and pan

Shrimp with No Breading

You can make this recipe without breading by adding spices to the shrimp and then air fry, sear, or bake and drizzle the shrimp in lemon butter sauce.

How to Make Lemon Pepper Shrimp

  1. Pat the shrimp dry.
  2. Season the shrimp with lemon pepper, smoked paprika, salt, and fish fry breaded (for breaded shrimp).
  3. Air fry, bake, or sear.
  4. Combine lemon juice, lemon zest, and butter in a saucepan on medium-high heat.
  5. Drizzle over the cooked shrimp.
lemon pepper shrimp in an air fryer

Lemon Butter Sauce

The homemade lemon butter sauce is what takes the fish to the next level. You can dip the cooked fish in the sauce while serving, or glaze the fish in the sauce.

fresh lemon and butter in separate bowls

How to Zest a Lemon

I use this lemon zester from Amazon. You can also use a box/cheese grater. If using the zester hold it one hand and the lemon in the other. Graze the lemon over it, away from you and back and forth. You can read more about How to Zest a Lemon here.

lemon butter sauce in a saucepan

Overcooked Shrimp

If your shrimp is dry, rubbery, or mushy, you cooked it too long. Shrimp cooks fast, it’s another reason why it’s one of my favorites for quick meals. The key is to remove them from the heat right when the flesh is uniformly pink. Watch shrimp closely as it cooks, do not wander away, especially if you are cooking it in a pan and searing it on the stove.

How to Reheat

The best way to reheat leftover shrimp is in a pan on medium heat with butter or oil. You can also reheat in the air fryer on 350 degrees until warm. Be careful, because the same rules regarding overcooking apply. If you heat it for too long it will be rubbery. I avoid the microwave for this reason.

lemon pepper shrimp over pasta with fresh lemon

How to Store Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze leftovers tightly sealed and covered for up to 3-4 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and follow the steps above to reheat.

lemon pepper shrimp over pasta with fresh lemon

Pair With These Recipes

Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Air Fryer Green Beans
Green Goddess Cobb Salad
Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Broccoli Salad With Cheese
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Shrimp Burger Recipe

More Lemon Pepper Recipes

Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Hot Lemon Pepper Wings
Lemon Pepper Fish
Lemon Pepper Steak

lemon pepper shrimp, mashed potatoes, and green beans on a plate
lemon pepper shrimp, mashed potatoes, and green beans on a plate

Lemon Pepper Shrimp

Brandi Crawford
This Lemon Pepper Shrimp recipe is perfectly seasoned with tangy lemon and the best blend of spices. From there, the succulent shrimp is drizzled in a zesty lemon butter sauce for mouthwatering flavor. Serve it over pasta, salads, or with your favorite side dishes. We provide three different cooking methods to ensure this dish will elevate your next meal.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 291 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

Equipment

  • Cosori Air Fryer
  • Air Fryer Oil Spray Bottle
  • Air Fryer Parchment Paper

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound raw shrimp Peeled and deveined.
  • 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Regular paprika is fine.
  • salt to taste
  • cooking oil I use olive oil.
  • ¼ cup buttermilk Only necessary for breaded shrimp.
  • ¼-1/2 cup fish fry breading Only necessary for breaded shrimp. Use enough to fully coat the fish.

Lemon Pepper Glaze

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice For me this was the juice from 1 small lemon.
  • 1 ½-2 teaspoons lemon zest

Instructions
 

Lemon Pepper Glaze

  • Add the butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest to a saucepan on medium-high heat. Stir and cook until the lemon zest has dissolved.

Breaded Shrimp

  • Ensure the shrimp is completely dry.
  • Add the shrimp to a bowl large enough to dredge the shrimp with the buttermilk. Ensure the shrimp is coated.
    Combine the fish fry breading, paprika, lemon pepper, and salt to a separate bowl large enough to dredge the shrimp
  • Sprinkle the fish fry onto both sides of the shrimp. Ensure the shrimp is coated with breading. Add additional breading if necessary.
  • Air Fryer: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Place the breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket. Spray the shrimp with cooking oil.
  • Cook the shrimp for 5 minutes on 400 degrees. Open the basket and flip the shrimp to the other side. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until crisp.
  • Top the shrimp with the lemon pepper glaze or use it for dipping. I like to top the shrimp with glaze and then air fry for an additional 1-2 minutes for the glaze to seep in.
  • Oven: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Placed the breaded shrimp on the parchment paper. Spray the shrimp with cooking oil.
  • Bake on 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Cook time will vary based on the size of the shrimp.
  • Top the shrimp with the lemon pepper glaze or use it for dipping.

Non-Breaded Shrimp

  • Ensure the shrimp is completely dry.
  • Sprinkle both sides of the shrimp with lemon pepper, paprika, and salt to taste. Rub the spices into the shrimp.
  • Pan Sear: Add 1 teaspoon of cooking oil or butter to a skillet on medium-high heat.
  • When hot, add the seasoned shrimp. Do not overcrowd the pan. The shrimp shouldn't touch. Cook the shrimp in batches if needed.
  • Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until the shrimp is cooked through. It will turn opaque at the center. The shrimp will form a C shape when fully cooked.
  • Top the shrimp with the lemon pepper glaze.
  • Air Fryer: Add the seasoned shrimp to the air fryer. Air fry on 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through. Cook time will vary based on the size of the shrimp.
  • Top the shrimp with the lemon pepper glaze.
  • Oven: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Placed the seasoned shrimp on the parchment paper.
  • Bake on 400 degrees for 4-6 minutes until the shrimp is cooked through. It will turn opaque at the center. The shrimp will form a C shape when fully cooked. Cook time will vary based on the size of the shrimp.
  • Top the shrimp with the lemon pepper glaze.

Notes

To substitute buttermilk, you can use a beaten egg instead. 
If substituting the fish fry, you can make your own fish fry using ½ cup cornmeal and ½ cup of all-purpose flour. Combine the cornmeal and flour mix to create your breading.
For breaded shrimp, be sure to spray the shrimp with oil in order to get them to crisp and for the fish fry breading to adhere.
For any cooking method you use, your cook time will vary based on the size of the shrimp you use. You will need to keep a watchful eye as it cooks or you will risk overcooking the shrimp and it will turn out dry.
If your shrimp is dry, rubbery, or mushy, you cooked it too long. Shrimp cooks fast. The key is to remove them from the heat right when the flesh is uniformly pink. Watch shrimp closely as it cooks, do not wander away, especially if you are cooking it in a pan and searing it on the stove.
You can melt the butter for the glaze in the microwave and combine it with the lemon. I find it harder to get the lemon zest to smooth out doing it this way. (So I don’t, lol).
 

Nutrition

Serving: 4ozCalories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 14gFat: 9g
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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

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Comments

  1. Ashley says

    August 09, 2022 at 5:49 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was incredibly delicious and easy to make. If you’re afraid to make seafood at home, this recipe is the perfect place to start for restaurant quality breaded shrimp! Thank you Brandi for knocking it out of the park as usual. I couldn’t even wait to serve it before eating some!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      August 09, 2022 at 5:53 pm

      Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. Eunice says

    September 11, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    5 stars
    This was a great recipe. Very easy and tasted great!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      September 12, 2022 at 11:06 am

      I'm glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  3. Ma'Kayla D. says

    October 03, 2022 at 8:31 pm

    5 stars
    Very delicious recipe. The lemon glaze is the perfect finishing touch. I’d add it on top of all my breaded shrimp in the future!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      October 04, 2022 at 8:00 am

      It’s perfect to use over and over!

      Reply
5 from 3 votes

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Welcome!

Brandi currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri and is a self-taught cook and fitness enthusiast. She is the author of The Super Easy Air Fryer Cookbook and has been featured on Good Morning America and in Women's Health Magazine, Shape, Parade, Essence, Country Living, Southern Living, BuzzFeed, Delish, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Spaces Magazine, Greatist, and more.

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