How to Smoke Shrimp

How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker

Smoked shrimp – oh yeah!

I had a smoker for a while before I ever smoked shrimp and that was my mistake. I had done ribs, chicken and salmon many times prior to smoking a tray of shrimp. But once I did smoke my first batch of shrimp, I have done it so many more times. This is a delicious way to cook shrimp and an excellent way to infuse a smokey flavour to so many different dishes that use shrimp.

Smoking shrimp is very simple to do and I find that any time I have an extra rack free in the smoker, I like to throw in a tray of shrimp for smoking.

It does not take long to smoke the shrimp, and I often use them for snacking while the other meats like ribs or chicken are still in the smoker for their longer smoke time.

How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker

Smoking shrimp is easy and before you get started, you need to make sure that you peel the shrimp. Leaving the shell on the shrimp would limit how much of the smokey flavour is infused into the shrimp, so peeling is the best idea.

If desired, you can also devein the shrimp as well!

Once peeled, you can toss the shrimp in any marinade, seasoning or sauce prior to smoking. Below there is a recipe for an herb and garlic seasoning which gives the shrimp an excellent flavour and is perfect if adding the shrimp to a pasta dish.

I have also used cajun seasoning, chipotle seasoning and some asian marinades which all work really well for smoked shrimp.

How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker

Start up the smoker and set it to a temperature of 225F.

Regarding your choice of wood to smoke, I find that milder woods are the best kind. I prefer to use alder or fruit woods for fish and they also work great for shrimp. If you want something a little stronger, you could also try hickory, pecan or maple wood.

Since shrimp are small and may fall through the smoker rack, you may need to line the rack with a sheet of aluminum foil. Poke some small holes in the foil which allows the smoke flow.

Place the shrimp on the aluminum foil and smoke until they are cooked through. I typically find that 30-45 minutes is plenty of time for the shrimp to cook through. You want to be careful not to overcook the shrimp as it can dry out and make the shrimp tough.

Once the shrimp is cooked through, they are ready to serve. These are great served hot and even tasty chilled as well!

How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker

Smoked shrimp is outstanding on its own and I have many times served smoked shrimp with a dip and they are great as an appetizer.

You can also throw some smoked shrimp in other dishes to add a nice smokey BBQ flavour. Pretty much any dish that calls for cooked shrimp is a great way to use the smoked shrimp. Here are some ideas you can try!

  • Add them to some pasta like in the picture above
  • Top a nice fresh salad with some smoked shrimp
  • Make some quesadillas and use smoked shrimp in the soft tortilla shells
  • Throw some smoked shrimp in jambalaya or other rice dishes

How to Smoke Shrimp

How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker
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Smoked shrimp is rich and delicious. Simple to make with these easy instructions. Make in an electric smoker, or pellet, big green egg or other smoker.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh shrimp , peeled
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, toss the shrimp with oil, oregano, basil, garlic powder and salt. Place the shrimp on smoker racks. You may need to line the smoker rack with aluminum foil to prevent the shrimp from falling through the rack.
  • Set the smoker to 225F using wood of choice (apple, alder, cherry woods are all excellent choices).
  • Smoke the shrimp until they turn pink. This can take 30-45 minutes.
  • Serve right away.

Nutrition

Per serving:

Calories: 183.4kcalCarbohydrates: 1.89gProtein: 23.62gFat: 8.64gSaturated Fat: 0.77gCholesterol: 285.76mgSodium: 1463.99mgFiber: 0.98gSugar: 0.09g

Nutrition Disclaimer

How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker

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How to Smoke Shrimp in an Electric Smoker

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14 comments

  • I just took them out of the smoker 1:55 am they are delicious. Better way than the boring butter or cocktail sauce . I followed the recipe except I added onion powder and smoked paprika . Thanks for recipe

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe; and so glad I found it. Just from the picture of the finished shrimp and imagining what taste those ingredients you listed would give them made it a “must try” for me. Was so sure your “Smoked Shrimp” would be a winner that I made a batch the day after I saw the recipe. Like I said, followed the recipe 100% to the letter – no more, no less – of everything you listed. To sum up my honest opinion and of friends I asked to give me a “critical new recipe taste test”; tell me if they thought it might have a bit too much of “this”, not enough of “that” or if anything needed to be “left out” or maybe something else “added”. They all said (and this is not a false compliment for you Steve) of your Smoked Shrimp recipe: “This is DELICIOUS” … “Oh MY! That’s SO GOOD!” … and “Don’t change ANYTHING. You can make this ANY time. Here’s a truthful & honest 5-Stars for your recipe Steve. And so glad I found it! It’s a keeper

    • Reply
    • Thanks for the great review Bill!!!! Glad everyone enjoyed them!

  • 5 stars
    From Alaska-just smoked Spot Prawns @ our fish shop in Whittier, AK. Fee’s Custom Seafoods. EXCELLENT! Put them in Shrimp Alfredo.
    Thanks for this recipe, worked perfectly.

    • Reply
  • I had some shrimp that I had already cooked … frozen after cooking. I decided to throw them on the smoker as an additional dish with our meal. 225 … for 20 minutes with chery/pecan mix … OMG …. Soooooooo freaking good, I never did eat any of the chicken I was smoking! Lol

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Fantastic flavor

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Thanks Steve, these were quite delicious.
    I added a bit more of the herbs than suggested, but that’s just me. Smoked jumbos on a Traeger with cherry.
    It was a chilly Seattle area day last Saturday so I went somewhere near the 45 minute mark.
    Unexpectedly ended up with shrimp I needed to cook with no real thoughts to do so.
    I made a great call in going with these.

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Doing this later this week with a competition blend (Pit Boss Pellet Smoker) to use in New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp. Can’t wait

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Tasted amazing.

    • Reply
  • Going to try today. Can’t wait

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Quick and simple! Tasted great! I cooked this on a Traeger grill with oak pellets. I smoked for 30 minutes then finished them off at 225 for 15 minutes. Full flavored and succulent.

    • Reply
  • Thanks for keeping it simple & getting to the point.Helpful info but instead of using foil to keep it from falling through I’m going to skewer them.Don’t want metal taste but yours is an option.

    • Reply
  • what cont shrimp to smoke is preferred

    • Reply

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