America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Oven-Fried Shrimp

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on June 22, 2011

Time

35 minutes, plus 30 minutes refrigerating

Yield

Serves 4

Oven-Fried Shrimp

Ingredients

2 cups panko bread crumbs (see note)¼ cup polenta, instant (see note)1 ½ teaspoons paprika ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepperSalt ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 cups potato chips (about 2 ounces), crushed to fine crumbs¾ cups all-purpose flour 2 large eggs 1 ½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Before You Begin

Large shrimp (26 to 30 shrimp per pound) are essential here. Lay’s Kettle Cooked Original is our favorite brand of potato chips. Panko is a Japanese-style bread crumb available in most grocery stores. Instant polenta is available in the international section of most supermarkets.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to upper position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Toss bread crumbs, polenta, paprika, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and oil in microwave-safe bowl until well coated. Microwave crumb mixture until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 3 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time. Stir potato chips into crumb mixture, then transfer to shallow dish. Spread flour in second shallow dish. In third shallow dish, whisk eggs until evenly combined.
  2. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt. One at a time, coat shrimp lightly in flour, dip in egg mixture, then dredge in crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Arrange breaded shrimp ½ inch apart on wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  3. Spray shrimp with cooking spray and bake until crumbs are deep golden brown and shrimp are just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve.
Oven-Fried Shrimp

Oven-Fried Shrimp

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

35 minutes, plus 30 minutes refrigerating

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups panko bread crumbs (see note)
¼ cup polenta, instant (see note)
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 cups potato chips (about 2 ounces), crushed to fine crumbs
¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 ½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 cups panko bread crumbs (see note)
¼ cup polenta, instant (see note)
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 cups potato chips (about 2 ounces), crushed to fine crumbs
¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 ½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 cups panko bread crumbs (see note)
¼ cup polenta, instant (see note)
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 cups potato chips (about 2 ounces), crushed to fine crumbs
¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 ½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

We chose larger shrimp for our recipe because they took longer to cook, which gave the exterior more time to brown. To avoid soggy Oven-Fried Shrimp, we elevated them on a flat rack set in a baking sheet, which promoted better air circulation and required no flipping. We baked the shrimp on the top oven rack for maximum color.

Our original cornmeal coating was tough and pebbly, so we combined three unlikely ingredients (along with paprika and cayenne pepper for kick) to make the perfect coating. Instant polenta provided rich corn flavor without grittiness, while toasted panko bread crumbs added serious crunch. Ground potato chips added even more crunch and gave the coating a “deep-fried" flavor.

Before You Begin

Large shrimp (26 to 30 shrimp per pound) are essential here. Lay’s Kettle Cooked Original is our favorite brand of potato chips. Panko is a Japanese-style bread crumb available in most grocery stores. Instant polenta is available in the international section of most supermarkets.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to upper position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Toss bread crumbs, polenta, paprika, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and oil in microwave-safe bowl until well coated. Microwave crumb mixture until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 3 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time. Stir potato chips into crumb mixture, then transfer to shallow dish. Spread flour in second shallow dish. In third shallow dish, whisk eggs until evenly combined.
  2. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt. One at a time, coat shrimp lightly in flour, dip in egg mixture, then dredge in crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Arrange breaded shrimp ½ inch apart on wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  3. Spray shrimp with cooking spray and bake until crumbs are deep golden brown and shrimp are just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.