Need a quick, crowd-pleasing seafood dish? These Easy Shrimp Cakes with Hot Sauce are crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor—perfect for busy weeknights or weekend feasts.
Shrimp cakes are one of those magical meals that feel fancy but come together fast. This version brings a spicy twist with hot sauce and jalapeño, balancing richness with heat and a citrusy kick. They’re crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, and seriously versatile—great as a main, slider filling, or appetizer.
Love seafood dinners? Try them alongside my Balsamic Grilled Vegetables or Baked Spinach Ricotta for a flavor-packed plate.
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💖 Why This Recipe Works
- Fast + Flavorful: These seasoned patties are packed with juicy shrimp, herbs, and spice in every crispy bite.
- Baked, not fried: Still golden and crispy, without the mess.
- So versatile: Serve shrimp patties as a main, in a sandwich, or appetizer—whatever fits your vibe.
⭐ Star Ingredients
- Shrimp: I use wild-caught when possible—freshly chopped shrimp gives these cakes unbeatable texture and rich seafood flavor.
- Hot Sauce + Jalapeño: These two bring the heat! Just enough spice to keep things exciting without overwhelming the shrimp.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: My crispy little secret—light, airy, and perfect for holding everything together without weighing it down.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Shrimp + Crab = Pure Seafood Bliss—mix ‘em together and suddenly, your weeknight meal feels like a fancy seafood feast.
- Cheese makes everything better—toss in some shredded goodness and watch those shrimp cakes go from tasty to OMG, I need another one.
- Asian-inspired magic—ginger, lemon zest, soy sauce, and sesame oil give these cakes a bold, zesty kick that’ll have you coming back for more!
Want to mix it up even more? Serve your shrimp cakes with Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad, Creamy Jalapeno Coleslaw or Red Cabbage Coleslaw for crunch and contrast.
🔪 How To Make Shrimp Cakes
- Step 1: Grind the raw shrimp in a food processor until finely chopped.
- Step 2: Heat vegetable oil in a pan and fry the red pepper until softened.
- Step 3: In a bowl, combine the shrimp mixture, fried red pepper, red onion, green onions, parsley, egg, mayonnaise, hot jalapeño pepper, garlic, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well incorporated.
- Step 4: Shape the mixture into patties, place them on parchment paper, and sprinkle each with panko bread crumbs.
- Step 5: Bake the patties in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Step 6: Serve the shrimp patties warm with your choice of vegetables, lime or lemon wedges.
💡Hint: For even crispier edges, give the shrimp patties a quick spray of oil before baking.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Use Fresh Shrimp: Fresh shrimp will give the shrimp patties a better flavor and texture than frozen or pre-cooked shrimp.
- Don’t overmix: Combine just until everything holds together to avoid tough patties.
- Uniform shapes: Use a scoop or your hands to form even patties for consistent baking.
💭 FAQs
Egg and panko do the heavy lifting here—holding the cakes together without making them dense.
Totally! Just pan-fry in a bit of oil over medium heat until both sides are golden and the shrimp is fully cooked.
We love spicy sriracha mayo, garlic aioli, or even classic tartar sauce. Sweet chili or sour cream + dill work great too!
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan or oven to keep the outside crisp.
💖 Serving Suggestions
Serve shrimp cakes with the following side dishes:
- Instant Pot Wild Rice – Fluffy, herby rice that complements the shrimp perfectly.
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries – Crispy, sweet, and great with the spice.
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob – Buttery and juicy, a summer-style side.
- Cheesy Garlic Pizza Bread – Warm, gooey, and seriously satisfying.
- Parmesan Au Gratin Potatoes – Creamy, cheesy, and ultra-comforting.
- Baked Brie with Garlic and Honey – Sweet, melty, and totally indulgent.
🍽 Try These Easy Shrimp Dishes
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Shrimp Patties
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Shrimp
- 1 ½ Cups Red Pepper Chopped
- 1 Cup Red Onion Finely Chopped
- 2 Cups Panko Bread Crumbs
- 2 tbsp. Green Onions
- 3 tbsp. Parsley
- 1 Egg
- 4 tbsp. Mayonnaise
- ½ tsp. Hot Jalapeno Pepper
- Pinch Salt
- 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 tsp. Hot Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
- 1 Garlic Head Chopped
- Pinch Black Pepper
Instructions
- Grind the shrimp in a blender until finely chopped.
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan and fry the red pepper until softened.
- In a bowl, combine the shrimp, fried red pepper, red onion, green onions, parsley, egg, mayonnaise, hot jalapeño pepper, garlic, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into patties, place them on parchment paper, and sprinkle each with panko bread crumbs.
- Bake the patties in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve shrimp patties warm with your choice of vegetables.
Made these shrimp cakes for dinner and wow—they were crispy, flavorful, and had just the right amount of heat! I dunked mine in garlic aioli and devoured every bite. Total win!