Garlic butter shrimp is a delicious twist on shrimp. Its crunchy texture and delicate flavor make it a great fit for any special occasion!
What makes garlic butter shrimp perfect are its tender, sweet, and buttery taste, along with its beautiful pink hue.
Today I’ve rounded up some of the best side dishes to go alongside garlic butter shrimp.
After all, what better way to celebrate your shrimpy dish than with some delicious mashed potatoes, macaroni, or perhaps some sweet corn?
Just grab your plate and dive in!
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Shrimp: 15 Best Sides
As much as I love my garlic butter shrimp, and as much as it’s the center of attention when it’s on the plate, I don’t want to eat only shrimp!
I want a great side dish to go with it.
Here are some of my favorites that you can serve with this recipe:
1. Mashed potatoes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/77264949849018067/Mashed potatoes are great for when you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time or inclination to make a full meal!
See Also: 15 Sauces for Mashed Potatoes I Can’t Resist
They’re also great when you’re taking your meal out to eat, as they’re convenient to transport in a Tupperware box.
2. Garlic bread
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/441704675961775785/Garlic bread is another super simple side dish to have with your shrimp! Simply warm up some slices of bread in the toaster and spread some garlic butter on top.
I love garlic butter, as it’s really tasty and a great way to add lots of extra flavour to your bread!
3. Canned Green beans
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/440860251034045854/The perfect accompaniment to garlic butter shrimp is green beans. If you’re serving this dish as a first course, you don’t want to go too heavy here.
4. Steamed broccoli
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/688487861783113964/Steamed broccoli is easy to prepare, and it’s an excellent option for the busy cook.
You can pack this into a Tupperware box and take it along to work, school, or a picnic. If you’re not into eating raw broccoli, just steam it!
5. Rice pilaf
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36873290691495326/This dish is quick to make and versatile, making it great to serve alongside pretty much any of your favourites.
You can cook up the rice pilaf in advance, then pop it in the fridge to chill and be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
All that’s left to do is heat it up and serve it alongside the shrimp. I like to use a light and fluffy basmati rice, but of course you can choose your favourite grain if you prefer.
You could also use a mix of grains for a more interesting combination.
6. Roasted vegetables
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16114511157659146/There’s so much you can do with roasted vegetables! They’re delicious served hot and fresh out of the oven, and are the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
I like to make a large batch of these at the beginning of the week and use them throughout the week in place of plain old potato fries.
They’re great to make in advance, as you can reheat them in the oven before serving.
7. Cauliflower rice
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/443815738285844287/So you’re eating at a restaurant and you’re craving some garlic butter shrimp.
The best option is of course to go with the dish that has the shrimp in it, but if you want to go for a healthier option, you can choose to swap your usual fluffy white rice for cauliflower rice!
It’s an easy way to switch up your usual eating routine, and it’s got all the same benefits of regular rice.
It also offers a crunchy alternative to the rice grains, and if you’re missing that buttery garlic flavour, you can always add some extra garlic on top!
8. Sautéed spinach
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/33143747250012035/Another healthy option is to just make a side serving of sautéed spinach. This is my personal favourite way of eating spinach, as it’s light, fresh, and packed full of vitamins.
You can buy it pre-washed from the supermarket, but if you really want to save time, you can make your own by chopping up a big bunch of fresh spinach and adding it to a pan of boiling, salted water.
After about 5 minutes, drain off the water and add a tablespoon or two of butter. When it’s melted, add some garlic and chopped chilli and let it simmer for a minute or two, until the spinach is wilted and soft.
Serve immediately with a side of crusty bread.
9. Roasted asparagus
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/23573598041974022/Asparagus is a really versatile vegetable that works well with a variety of different recipes, and it’s a really simple recipe to make.
Simply wash the spears thoroughly, cut off the woody ends, and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle with salt and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes, or until the spears start to char and become lightly brown.
They’re ready to eat when they’re tender, and they go in a great pairing with shrimp.
10. Mashed sweet potatoes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28991991341752166/Sweet potatoes are a great choice for a side dish because they’re so filling. The nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes are well known, and they can be cooked in a variety of different ways, so you can pick and choose your favourite. I like to boil and mash mine, and they go in a great pairing with shrimp.
11. Corn on the Cob
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/45106433758157461/Corn on the cob is one of the simplest sides you can choose to serve with your garlic butter shrimp, and it’s also a real crowd-pleaser. Just cook it in boiling water for about 10 minutes, then serve with lots of butter and salt. It’s delicious hot, but also works well chilled as a refreshing accompaniment if it’s a relatively warm day.
12. Potato Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/235453886759755133/Potato salad is another classic choice for what to eat with garlic butter shrimp.
Make it in the usual way and add in a good splash of lemon to freshen things up.
A potato salad is a great option when you don’t have much time but still want to make a vibrant meal.
13. Baked Potatoes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/665195807468667369/This is a great side dish to serve alongside garlic butter shrimp, as it combines both flavour and texture.
The potatoes are delicious on their own, so they’re a perfect standalone option.
You could cut them in half or quarters, depending on how many you have, and bake them in a hot oven until they’re golden and crispy on the outside.
14. Green Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26177241575913641/Garlic butter shrimp is a meal in itself, so your guests will be happy just to dip their fingers in the sauce and enjoy the crunch of the potatoes with a crunchy green salad, or any other salad you fancy.
A dressing of balsamic vinegar or soy sauce will work really well with a selection of salad leaves.
15. Arugula Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/230387337179866372/As a light accompaniment to your garlic butter shrimp, I like to serve a crisp, fresh arugula salad.
It’s important to use a good quality bagged salad for this recipe, as fresh arugula is very delicate and can go really soggy if you don’t use quality produce.
It’s best to wash the salad leaves and dry them thoroughly before you start. Make sure you don’t overdo it, though!
Only use as much liquid as you need to keep the leaves crisp and moist.
Other Things To Serve With Garlic Butter Shrimp
Rice
This is probably the most obvious choice for a side dish, especially if you’re serving the shrimp over a bed of rice.
Simple basmati rice or jasmine rice would be great in that case, but if you want something a little more flavorful, try some cilantro lime rice, or this delicious garlic ginger coconut rice.
Pasta
If you want something lighter than rice, then go with pasta!
This garlic butter shrimp goes well with almost any kind of pasta (try it over spaghetti!), but if you really want to make it extra special, serve it with some linguine pasta (see also these 46 linguine pasta recipes) tossed in garlic sauce (I like to use my homemade alfredo for this), then top the whole thing off with fresh chopped parsley.
Vegetables
This is another obvious choice for a side dish with garlicky crispy shrimp. You can’t go wrong with broccoli or cauliflower sauteed in olive oil and seasoned to perfection.
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What to Serve with Garlic Butter Shrimp: 15 Best Sides
Ingredients
- Mashed potatoes
- Garlic bread
- Green beans
- Steamed broccoli
- Rice pilaf
- Roasted vegetables
- Cauliflower rice
- Sautéed spinach
- Roasted asparagus
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Corn on the Cob
- Potato Salad
- Baked Potatoes
- Green Salad
- Arugula Salad
Instructions
- Pick any of these delicious sides to serve with your shrimp.
- Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe!
- Enjoy your dinner in no time!
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.