Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp (Shrimp de Jonghe) - Easy Recipe! (2024)

A Chicago classic, Shrimp de Jonghe is a delicious, buttery, baked shrimp dish loaded with garlic, breadcrumbs, butter, shallots, and dry sherry.

This Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp Is…

• Unique: The gratin-style baking method creates a dish that features a crispy, buttery breadcrumb topping, making it a great variation from typical shrimp preparations.
• Vintage Recipe: This dish has a rich history, dating back to the late 19th century when it originated at the De Jonghe Hotel in Chicago and has been enjoyed for over a century.
• Simple: The most challenging aspect is prepping the shrimp, but many grocery stores offer cleaned and deveined shrimp, making this an easy and accessible dish to prepare at home.

What is Shrimp De Jonghe?

Shrimp de Jonghe is a classic American dish originating in Chicago. It’s known for its rich and buttery flavor profile. The dish typically consists of shrimp generously coated in a mixture of butter, garlic, and breadcrumbs. This combination results in a delicious topping that turns out crispy and golden when baked.

Recipe Ingredients

• Jumbo Shrimp: You’ll need about two pounds of peeled and de-veined shrimp.
• Butter: This recipe calls for a full stick of softened butter – it’s essential to the indulgent, gratin-style sauce.
• Breadcrumbs: I often use Panko, but you can use any breadcrumbs.
• Dry Sherry
• Fresh Garlic and Shallot: Mince these beauties.
• Chopped Fresh Parsley: You’ll need 3 tablespoons for the sauce, and a bit extra for garnish.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. You can omit the cayenne if preferred.

How to Make Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp

You’ll love the rich and ritzy combination of sherry, aromatics, and buttery, crunchy breadcrumbs in this super-easy shrimp casserole.

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 375˚F and grease a baking dish with butter.
2. Layer: Arrange the cleaned shrimp in one single layer on the bottom of the baking dish.
3. Prepare the Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the softened butter, breadcrumbs, sherry, garlic, shallot, parsley, and seasonings. Mix well to combine.
4. Bake: Spoon the topping mixture over the shrimp and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through and the topping is golden brown.
5. Serve: Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Watch the Time: I advise using jumbo shrimp, but if you use smaller shrimp, they will cook more quickly, so watch them carefully to avoid overcooking. Overcooked shrimp are chewy, tough, and inedible.
• Sherry Options: This seafood recipe calls for dry sherry instead of lemon juice — but if you don’t have any sherry, you can use white wine or substitute a few tablespoons of lemon or lime juice.
• Thawed Shrimp: If you’re using frozen shrimp, ensure they are thoroughly thawed before cooking. If you’re short on time, you can place the shrimp in a colander and run cold water over them for about 5 to 10 minutes. Be sure to pat the shrimp dry with paper towels after thawing.
• Clean the Shrimp: The most time-consuming part of this dish is prepping the shrimp by peeling and de-veining them. Frozen shrimp are almost always cleaned, but if you can’t find already prepared raw shrimp, consider asking the fishmonger at your grocery store to do it.
• Prep Ahead: You can make the buttery topping up to 1 day ahead and keep it refrigerated until ready to use. Take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes before you want to assemble the dish because it’s easier to crumble the topping when it’s at room temperature.

Serving Suggestions

Shrimp de Jonghe has become a beloved dish, celebrated for its unique blend of flavors and ease of pairing it with other sides. We love serving it with pull-apart bread or zucchini fries, even a spicy chicken soup as a starter. Our bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are also a tasty contrasting treat, as is this Easy Garlic Bread Bruschetta.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 3 days or freeze them for 3 to 4 months. Thaw before reheating.
• Reheat the shrimp at 375˚F for about 10 minutes or until heated through.

Other Shrimp Recipes

• Shrimp Enchiladas
• Shrimp Salad with Avocados
• Shrimp Tempura