Quick & Zesty Shrimp Grilled Cheese Recipe Everyone Will Love

Grilled cheese with succulent shrimp elevates a classic comfort food into a mouthwatering culinary adventure.

Seafood lovers crave unexpected twists on traditional sandwiches that spark excitement at mealtime.

The combination upgrades ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary taste experience that surprises and delights.

Melted cheese creates a luxurious backdrop for tender, perfectly seasoned shrimp nestled between golden, crispy bread.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of rich, creamy textures and bold marine flavors that dance across your palate.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this sandwich breaks through standard lunchtime monotony with its innovative approach.

Seafood enthusiasts and grilled cheese fanatics will find themselves captivated by this inventive dish.

Other Takes on Shrimp Grilled Cheese You Can Try

• Spicy Sriracha Seafood Melt: Kick up the heat by mixing sriracha sauce into the shrimp before adding to the cheese mixture, creating a zesty and bold flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Incorporate chopped fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and parsley into the shrimp and cheese blend, giving the sandwich a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired taste.
• Cajun Coastal Crunch: Sprinkle Cajun seasoning over the shrimp and add crispy bacon bits for a Southern-style grilled cheese with intense, smoky undertones.
• Tropical Pineapple Shrimp Surprise: Dice fresh pineapple and mix with the shrimp for a sweet and tangy tropical dimension that complements the rich cheese and seafood.

Shrimp Grilled Cheese That’s Creamy and Bold

• Savor Seafood Sophistication: This gourmet grilled cheese elevates the classic sandwich by incorporating succulent shrimp, transforming an everyday comfort food into an elegant culinary experience.
• Burst of Flavor Layers: The recipe blends aromatic garlic, bright lemon zest, rich Gruyere and mozzarella cheeses, creating a complex taste profile that dances across your palate with each bite.
• Quick Weeknight Gourmet Hack: Prepared in just 15 minutes, this recipe offers restaurant-quality taste with minimal effort, making it perfect for busy home cooks craving something extraordinary without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Versatile Cooking Techniques: Whether you prefer air frying for crispy perfection or stovetop grilling for traditional golden-brown edges, this recipe accommodates different cooking styles and kitchen equipment.

What You’ll Need for Shrimp Grilled Cheese Perfection

• Cocktail Shrimp: Succulent and precooked, perfect for a quick protein boost with a light, sweet ocean flavor.

• Gruyere Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Rich, melty cheeses that create a creamy and stretchy texture with deep nutty undertones.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a sharp, salty finish and helps create a golden crispy exterior.

• Sourdough Bread: Tangy, sturdy bread with excellent structure for grilling and holding ingredients.
• Olive Oil: Helps with even cooking and adds a subtle fruity note.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and ensures a crisp, golden-brown exterior when grilling.

• Garlic: Adds robust, pungent flavor that complements the seafood.
• Lemon Zest: Brings bright, citrusy notes that enhance the shrimp's natural sweetness.
• Lemon Juice: Adds fresh acidity to balance the rich cheese and butter.
• Ground Black Pepper: Provides a mild, warm heat and depth to the overall flavor profile.

Cooking Shrimp Grilled Cheese with Flavor

Step 1: Craft the Flavor Foundation

• Unsalted butter
• Olive oil
• Minced garlic
• Lemon zest

Heat a small skillet over medium temperature. Melt butter and olive oil together. Add garlic and cook until fragrant for about 60 seconds. Sprinkle lemon zest and let it dance in the pan for another minute.

Step 2: Elevate the Seafood

• Shrimp
• Lemon juice
• Gruyere cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Black pepper

Introduce shrimp to the skillet and warm them through. Transfer shrimp to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Allow seafood to cool slightly. Grate Gruyere and mozzarella cheeses. Combine shrimp with cheeses and crack black pepper for extra zest.

Step 3: Prepare the Bread Canvas

• Sourdough bread
• Softened butter
• Parmesan cheese

Take sourdough slices and spread softened butter on one side. Generously sprinkle Parmesan cheese, gently pressing to create a crispy exterior.

Step 4: Build the Sandwich Masterpiece

Layer the buttered side facing outward. Generously fill the center with the shrimp-cheese mixture. Ensure even distribution for maximum flavor in every bite.

Step 5: Cook to Golden Perfection

Air Fryer Method:

Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cook sandwich for 5 minutes, flipping midway to ensure even browning.

Stovetop Method:

Place sandwich in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until bread turns golden and cheese melts into a gooey delight, approximately 3-4 minutes per side.

Tips to Get That Golden Shrimp Cheese Sandwich

• Select Fresh Shrimp: Choose large, plump shrimp that smell clean and have a firm texture to ensure maximum flavor and juiciness.
• Toast Bread Carefully: Achieve golden-brown perfection by using a cast-iron skillet or griddle, which provides even heat distribution and creates a crispy exterior.
• Layer Cheese Strategically: Mix different cheese varieties like Gruyere and mozzarella to create a more complex, creamy melting profile that complements the shrimp.
• Control Cooking Temperature: Maintain medium heat to prevent burning the bread while allowing the cheese to melt smoothly and the shrimp to warm through gently.
• Enhance Seasoning Subtly: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or fresh herbs like chives to elevate the overall taste without overpowering the delicate shrimp flavor.

Best Way to Store and Heat Shrimp Grilled Cheese

• Refrigeration: Store leftover grilled cheese sandwiches in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap to prevent sogginess.
• Reheating Oven: Preheat to 350°F and place sandwiches on a baking sheet. Warm for 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and bread crisps up, ensuring shrimp doesn't overcook.
• Air Fryer Reheat: Warm at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, checking midway to maintain crispy texture and prevent burning. This method restores the sandwich's original crunch and keeps shrimp tender.

Foods That Pair Well with Shrimp Grilled Cheese

• Seafood Sips: Pair this zesty shrimp grilled cheese with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, its bright acidity and citrus notes complementing the lemon-infused shrimp and cutting through the rich, melted cheese.
• Bubbly Brew Match: Try a wheat beer or Belgian-style witbier with subtle orange peel and coriander notes that echo the sandwich's bright, lemony flavors and refresh the palate between bites.
• Crisp Companion Salad: Serve alongside a light arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette, creating a refreshing contrast to the rich, cheesy sandwich and adding a peppery green element to the meal.
• Tangy Dip Delight: Whip up a quick lemon-garlic aioli for dipping, which will enhance the shrimp's flavor profile and provide an extra layer of zesty, creamy indulgence to each bite.

Shrimp Grilled Cheese Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 17 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Cheesy Shrimp Grilled Cheese brings coastal flavors together with classic comfort. Golden-brown sourdough bread hugs succulent shrimp and melted monterey jack, creating a sandwich that transports hungry diners straight to seaside bliss.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 6 ounces (170 grams) cocktail shrimp, peeled, deveined, cooked
• 4 slices sourdough bread
• 0.75 cup (180 milliliters) grated Gruyere cheese
• 0.75 cup (180 milliliters) grated mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) grated Parmesan cheese

Cheese Preparation Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil

Seasoning and Flavor Ingredients:

• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice
• 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Create an aromatic foundation by gently melting butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, allowing minced garlic to release its fragrant essence for approximately one minute.
2. Incorporate lemon zest into the skillet, letting it sizzle and bloom for an additional minute, enhancing the underlying flavor profile.
3. Introduce shrimp to the warm skillet, heating them briefly until they are just warmed through and glistening.
4. Transfer the heated shrimp to a separate mixing bowl, drizzling with fresh lemon juice to brighten their natural sweetness.
5. Gently fold grated Gruyere, mozzarella, and a whisper of black pepper into the cooled shrimp, creating a harmonious cheese-seafood blend.
6. Prepare sourdough slices by lavishly spreading softened butter across one side, then delicately sprinkling Parmesan to create a crisp, golden exterior.
7. Strategically layer the shrimp-cheese mixture between the prepared bread slices, ensuring even distribution.
8. Select your preferred cooking method: For air fryer enthusiasts, crisp at 400°F for 5 minutes, rotating midway to achieve uniform golden-brown perfection. Alternatively, for traditional skillet lovers, cook over medium heat until each side transforms into a crispy, molten masterpiece.

Notes

• Zesty garlic and butter create a fragrant foundation that elevates the shrimp’s natural sweetness.
• Parmesan-crusted sourdough adds a crispy, golden exterior that crackles with each bite.
• Melted Gruyere and mozzarella blend seamlessly with tender, lemon-kissed shrimp for a luxurious sandwich experience.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 688
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 1025 mg
• Fat: 40 g
• Saturated Fat: 24 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 49 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 27 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg