Caribbean Jerked Shrimp

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4.79 from 14 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 17 minutes
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This Caribbean Jerked Shrimp has a bold flavors and juicy tender shrimp. It is a dish that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the Caribbean. So grab your favorite spices and be prepared to be transported.

A cast iron skillet of Caribbean jerked shrimp.

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Why this Jerk Shrimp Recipe is a Keeper

This Caribbean Jerked Shrimp recipe is an explosion of flavor. It is the kind of recipe that you HAVE to go back to that restaurant for again and again because you can’t get it out of your head. Now, you can make it at home anytime. Just make sure that you have plenty of bread to sop up that amazing sauce.

  • 20 Minute Meal: Fast to make and wonderful to taste. Just a few minutes per side. It only takes minutes to cook the shrimp.
  • Ingredients: Use nice fresh ingredients for a tropical surprise along with jerk spice.
  • Family Friendly: It doesn’t matter if it is the dead of winter or a hot summer night this meal will be a hit.

If you’re looking for more shrimp inspired recipes, try these Shrimp Deviled Eggs, Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe and Italian Oven Baked Prawns (Shrimp).

What does Jerked mean?

A hand holding a piece of bread in the sauce.

Jerk seasoning is a unique blend of spices that typically includes allspice, scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero/jalapeño), thyme, nutmeg, garlic, onion, and sometimes soy sauce or brown sugar. This aromatic mixture creates a warm, smoky, and often quite spicy flavor profile. Jerk seasoning would make almost anything better,

Ingredient Notes for Jamaican Jerk Shrimp

Fresh vegetables, shrimp and ingredients to make the dish.

You can use any shrimp, thaw frozen shrimp for the marinated shrimp. Use fresh or wild caught shrimp and then just follow the recipe.

  • Jumbo Shrimp: Fresh shrimp are best, one without peel, deveined shrimp with tails on. Need help on how to pick out the best shrimp? Check this guide.
  • Caribbean Jerk Seasoning: There are many premade seasoning blends that are very good or make your own homemade jerk seasoning.
  • Serrano Chili Pepper: Wonder even flavored pepper similar to the Jalapeno.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Variations and Substitutions to Make Jerk Shrimp

  • Grill: Make grilled jerk shrimp and top with more authentic jerk seasoning. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side for this easy recipe.
  • More Butter: For more garlic butter shrimp flavor add more butter.
  • Salad: Take the leftover shrimp and make a jerk shrimp salad. It adds robust shrimp flavor to the dish.
  • Sweet Shrimp: Add some pineapple for a hint of tropical sweetness.

Special Equipment Needed for Jerk Cooking

Pro Tip

Learn how to peel and devein shrimp the easy way.

How to Make this Recipe for Jerked Shrimp

You will love jerk shrimp. It is one of my favorite shrimp dinner recipes. My family has loved this recipe for years and yours will too.

These are the basic steps for making jamaican pepper shrimp . Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions for making the jamaican jerk shrimp recipe.

Seasoning the shrimp, preparing the vegetables and cooking the dish.

1. Add the Shrimp

First, preheat oven to 500ºF.In a large bowl, toss the raw shrimp, after pat dry with a paper towel, with 1/2 teaspoon of Jamaican Jerk Seasoning; set aside.

2: Combine and Make Simple Jerk Shrimp

Second, in a cast iron skillet, stir together remaining ingredients. Then add shrimp on top of vegetables and herbs. Lastly, pour melted butter over top of the shrimp and top with Thyme sprigs.

3. Bake the Spicy Jerk Shrimp on the Stove

Meanwhile, slice the bread and wrap it tightly in foil. Finally, cook jerk shrimp and bread for 5-7 minutes, or until shrimp is cooked through. Jerk shrimp is best served hot.

Easy Jerk Shrimp Recipe FAQs

You can put the shrimp in shrimp tacos, burritos, jerk shrimp pasta, salads or simply eat as an easy appetizer with the bread.

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp in this recipe. Place the frozen shrimp in a large bowl of cold water. Be sure to thaw the shrimp completely and pat dry and then cook shrimp per recipe directions. Look for shrimp that is raw (not precooked), peeled and deveined. Buying prepared shrimp saves you time and makes your job a snap because all you have to do is defrost the shrimp.

Of course, you can place the cast iron pan directly on the grill or make shrimp kabobs, thread shrimp onto the skewers. The grilled shrimp skewers should be turned half way through cooking add some fresh pineapple for even more tropical flavor.

You can also check the shape of your shrimp but this is not as good of an indicator as color. Shrimp are done when the shrimp are opaque. As shrimp cook, their muscle contract which cause them to curl. As soon as the shrimp begin to curl, they are usually done cooking.

Of course, you can prep ahead and marinate the delicious shrimp in the refrigerator overnight. The shrimp with the tails is great for this recipe.

A fork with Caribbean jerked shrimp.

Expert Tips for Making This Sweet and Spicy Jamaican Style Jerk Shrimp Recipe

This shrimp taste amazing. But you can eat shrimp so many different ways.

  • Mango Salsa: Serve with a nice tropical Mango salsa.
  • Short cut tip: Try a premade Jerk Marinade. You can use for jerk chicken too.
  • Fresh Thyme: I really elevates the dish, so do not skip this fresh herb.
  • Bread: Crusty is best, like a nice Baguette.
  • Lime Juice: Add a burst of freshness by serving with lime wedges or lemon juice or top with a tsp of fresh scallions or green onions.
  • Peppers: Red bell peppers can be used in place of green. For a hint of sweetness add some honey or brown sugar to top with shrimp.

What to Serve with this Easy Shrimp Recipe

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A cast iron skillet of Caribbean jerked shrimp.

Caribbean Jerked Shrimp

4.79 from 14 votes
Caribbean Jerked Shrimp is a copycat of the Bahama Breeze recipe. It's super easy to make and has the most amazing sauce. It is one of those recipes where you will be sad when it is gone. It is that good!
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Video

Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 7 minutes
Total Time : 17 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Main Dish
Author: Christina Hitchcock

Equipment

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon Jamaican Jerk spice, divided
  • 12 Raw shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails
  • ¼ cup Light beer
  • ¼ cup Roma tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 teaspoons Serrano chili pepper, diced
  • 1 tablespoon Red onion, diced
  • 1 Scallion, chopped, greens and whites
  • 2 cloves Garlic, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Fresh thyme, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh cilantro, minced
  • 4 tablespoons Butter, melted
  • 8-10 Thyme sprigs
  • 1 Loaf of crusty bread

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 500ºF.
  • In a small bowl, toss shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon of Jamaican Jerk Seasoning; set aside.
  • In a cast iron skillet or other oven proof skillet, combine beer, tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, minced thyme and minced cilantro.
  • Add shrimp on top of vegetables and herbs.
  • Pour melted butter over top of the shrimp and top with Thyme sprigs.
  • Slice the bread and wrap it tightly in foil.
  • Bake shrimp and bread for 5-7 minutes, or until shrimp is cooked through.
  • Remove shrimp and bread from the over and serve immediately.

Christina’s Notes

  • This Recipe Can be Doubled: .  Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two skillets or use a large one.
  • Mango Salsa: Serve with a nice tropical Mango salsa.
  • Short cut tip: Try a premade Jerk Marinade.
  • Fresh Thyme: I really elevates the dish, so do not skip this fresh herb.
  • Bread: Crusty is best, like a nice Baguette.
  • Lime Juice: Add a burst of freshness by serving with lime wedges or lemon juice or top with a tsp of fresh scallions or green onions works well too.
  • Peppers: Red bell peppers can be used. For a hint of sweetness add some honey or brown sugar if it is too hot.
Helpful Tips for All RecipesThese quick tips will help you get perfect results every time.

  • Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
  • Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
  • Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
  • Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
  • Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.

For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.

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Nutrition

Calories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 278mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1344IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
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