This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A Chicago classic, Shrimp de Jonghe is a delicious, buttery, baked shrimp dish loaded with garlic, breadcrumbs, butter, shallots, and dry sherry.
![overhead shot of arranged shrimp in a white oval dish and topped with garlic butter and breadcrumbs mixture.](https://easyweeknightrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Garlic-Butter-Baked-Shrimp-6.jpg)
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.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375˚F and grease a baking dish with butter.
- Layer: Arrange the cleaned shrimp in one single layer on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Prepare the Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the softened butter, breadcrumbs, sherry, garlic, shallot, parsley, and seasonings. Mix well to combine.
- 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.
- 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
Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp – Shrimp De Jonghe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds raw jumbo shrimp,, thawed, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
- 8 tablespoons butter,, softened
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup dry sherry
- 4 cloves garlic,, minced
- 1 shallot,, minced
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt,, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper,, or to taste
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
- pinch cayenne,, or to taste
- chopped fresh parsley,, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚F and butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- Arrange the shrimp in the baking dish in a single layer. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, breadcrumbs, sherry, garlic, shallot, parsley, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne; mash and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Spoon the breadcrumb mixture over the shrimp.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Remove the shrimp from the oven and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
- Shrimp: Use jumbo shrimp for best results, but if using smaller shrimp, watch them closely to prevent overcooking and toughness.
- Sherry Alternatives: I prefer dry sherry for this recipe, but white wine, lemon, or lime juice are acceptable substitutes.
- Thawing Shrimp: For frozen shrimp, thaw them thoroughly and always pat dry before cooking.
- Make The Topping in Advance: Make the buttery breadcrumb topping a day ahead, keep it in the fridge, and let it warm to room temperature for easy crumble before assembly.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
can I use dry vermouth instead of white wine?
Yes. You can use your favorite white wine because that will affect the taste.
Can I use frozen cooked shrimp in this recipe?
I wouldn’t because if you cook them again, they will be rubbery.
Can i make the topping mixture the day before and refrigerate it? Then I can just spoon on top of shrimp right before I’m ready to bake it. May take out of fridge an hour before to soften.
Yep, that works. Just keep it refrigerated.
Can you use scallops in lieu of the shrimp?
I think that would be great! I have yet to test this recipe with scallops, but since they cook at about the same rate as shrimp, it should work.
This was so easy to make! My oldest loves shrimp and she said it was phenomenal – asked me to make it again!
I’m very glad the shrimp dish was easy to make and that your oldest really enjoyed it, even asking for it again. Thank YOU! ๐
Wow, I’ve never done baked shrimp before! This was soooo tasty!! Thanks!
I’m thrilled to hear you tried baking shrimp for the first time and found it really tasty! Thank you so much! ๐
So buttery and flavorful – loved it!
I’m very glad you loved the dish and found it buttery and flavorful! Thank YOU! ๐
I really love the combination of buttery richness, sweet garlic, and perfectly cooked shrimp. I served it over a simple white rice, and it was fantastic.
I’m very glad to hear you loved the combination of buttery garlic flavor and shrimp, and that it tasted great with white rice. Thank you so much! ๐
I love this recipe! Made it as an appetizer and everyone loved it! So yummy!
I’m happy to hear that the recipe was a hit and everyone enjoyed it as an appetizer! Thank YOU! ๐
Tried the Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp, and it’s absolutely to die for! The garlic butter sauce was rich and packed with flavor, and the shrimp were cooked to perfection!
That’s great to hear you enjoyed the Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp! Happy to know the sauce was flavorful and the shrimp were cooked well. Thank YOU! ๐