What to Serve with Shrimp Cakes (15 Easy Sides)

When you’re craving seafood, shrimp cakes are a flexible and appetizing option.

But what should you serve with your shrimp cakes once they’re on the table?

Fortunately, weve got that part covered.

What to Serve with Shrimp Cakes?

If you want to match shrimp cakes with something sweet and salty, a sweet and savory combo is the way to go. You may serve them with roasted asparagus and crispy French bread, for example. Alternatively, serve them with a green salad and homemade ranch dressing.

Still looking for options?

Here are 15 shrimp cake-friendly side dishes:

1. Biscuits

The beauty of biscuits is that they are simple to prepare at home and go with almost everything.

One of my personal favorites is shrimp cakes.

The sweet crunchiness of the biscuits complements the soft, buttery taste of the shrimp cakes perfectly.

If you want to go all out, add some mushrooms to your shrimp cakes. Bonus points if you use a combination of oyster and shiitake mushrooms.

You may also add a little lemon zest for added zing, or serve the whole dish on top of a bed of greens for a well-rounded dinner.

Before you pick this specific side dish, keep in mind that it may not be the ideal option if you’re managing your carbohydrate consumption.

Instead, I’d recommend a fruity squash or something similar.

2. Steamed broccoli

Prepare for this meal to become a staple in your life: steamed broccoli.

Heres how to make it:

1. Start by slicing the broccoli into small florets.
2. Place the broccoli in a pot and steam for 4 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
3. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.

If you’re serving this as a side dish with shrimp cakes, there are a few things to think about: what sort of sauce will you use?

Steamed broccoli complements tart sauces such as lemon or orange juice.

If you’re concerned that the flavor may overshadow the flavor of your shrimp cake, consider adding some salt and pepper!

3. Garlic bread

I actually love making garlic bread at home.

All you need is a baguette, a garlic clove, butter, salt, and pepper.

Heres how to make this side:

1. Slice the baguette into thin pieces and place them on a baking sheet.
2. Melt some butter (or olive oil if you want), mince your garlic clove (the more the better), and season with salt and pepper.
3. Brush your butter mixture over the bread slices.
4. Bake at 350°F until golden brown and serve with shrimp cakes!

When selecting garlic bread as a side dish, consider if your dinner mates have dietary limitations that might preclude them from eating it.

If you’re cooking for someone who is lactose intolerant, for example, substitute margarine for butter!

4. Fried rice

Heres how we make fried rice:

1. Cook the rice: Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, then add the rice. Allow it to boil for 5-10 minutes. Drain it in a sieve and set it aside for a few minutes before proceeding to step 2.
2. Fry the rice in oil: Heat the oil in a big pan, then add the rice. If you’re feeling brave, you may also add some chopped onion or garlic to this stage! Cook, stirring periodically, until all of the grains are slightly toasted and crispy, about 20 minutes.
3. This recipe calls for 3 cups (although you may alter to your liking). To garnish, chop up some green onions and put them on top of everything!To taste, add soy sauce:When the rice is done, season with soy sauce to taste.You will most likely need 1

And now youre ready to serve!

Finally, don’t be scared to be creative with your fried rice ingredients!

Toss in any leftover vegetables from the night before, or even some pineapple pieces for a tropical touch.

5. Salad

We get what you’re thinking: salad? How uninteresting. Salad doesn’t seem to go with anything.

But hear us out!

Salad does not have to be boring iceberg lettuce with a drizzle of dressing.

In only a few minutes, you can prepare a gourmet chef-level salad at home.

Heres how:

1. Purchase some mixed greens from your local supermarket.
2. Chop your favorite vegetablesCarrots, tomatoes, and celery are favorites of ours!then mix them in with the greens.
3. Combine 1 part red wine vinegar and 2 parts olive oil to make the dressing. Mix it everything together and season with salt & pepper to taste!
4. Serve it with shrimp cakes (which, if you don’t already know how to prepare, may be found online).

Now thats a meal!

When preparing this meal at home, one thing to keep in mind is portion size: after all, even a basic salad may become uninteresting if eaten in excess.

That’s why we prefer to offer them in half-portions for a quick appetizer or snack at any time!

6. Coleslaw

This meal is incredibly simple to cook at home, but if you’re short on time, you can always purchase it at the store.

Its always a crowd pleaser.

Heres how to make it:

1. If you want to make it yourself, just run some cabbage through the shredder (or cut it up with a knife if necessary).
2. Then add a couple tablespoons of mayonnaise and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix to incorporate.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Thats all there is to it!

One thing to keep in mind is that this side isn’t very filling.

If you’re cooking shrimp cakes for dinner instead of an appetizer or snack for your family or friends, be sure to pair them with something more substantial if your group eats a lot.

7. Cornbread

Making cornbread from home may seem to be a daunting task, but we assure you that it is more simpler than you may imagine.

Heres our approach:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large mixing basin, combine cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
3. Add milk and melted butter or vegetable oil.
4. Stir until just incorporated (be careful not to overmix!).
5. Pour into an oiled loaf pan or cast iron skillet and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cooked through (a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf should come out clean).
6. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

One thing to keep in mind before using cornbread as a side dish for your shrimp cakes is that it contains a high amount of gluten, which may cause allergic reactions in some people if you’re serving your shrimp cakes to guests with different dietary restrictions (don’t worry, you can use gluten-free flour instead of regular flour if that’s an issue).

8. Macaroni and cheese

You know what goes great with shrimp cakes?

Macaroni and cheese.

And you can make it at home!

Simply gather some elbow macaroni, butter, milk, and cheese (ideally American or Cheddar, but any kind would do).

Heres how to make it:

1. Boil the macaroni in lightly salted water.
2. Drain the water and return the macaroni to the saucepan when it is soft.
3. Stir in a dollop of butter until the noodles are coated.
4. Pour in the milk and stir until it is entirely absorbed by the noodles.
5. Before adding extra cheese, add approximately a half cup at a time and mix until well melted and blended into the other ingredients. Repeat until you’ve used up all of the cheeseyou’ll probably need approximately two cups of cheese for one cup of pasta (but it’s really up to you).
6. Serve immediately!

Consider topping this delectable side dish with breadcrumbs or bacon pieces to give crisp texture to this creamy side dish.

9. Onion rings

These onion rings are produced with an excellent batter that forms a beautiful shell around a crispy onion center.

They’re just as light as the shrimp cakes and have a lovely golden-brown hue that contrasts well with the cream-colored cakes without being overpowering or detracting from the overall appearance of your meal.

1. Plus, they’re EASY to make: in a mixing dish, combine one egg, one cup of flour, one cup of milk, half a teaspoon of baking soda, and a sprinkle of salt.
2. Then, dip your onions into this mixture and deep fried them for about two minutes, or until golden brown.

Boom! Perfect side dish!

Before you choose this specific side dish, keep in mind that onion rings are often greasy and may be heavy enough to overpower the flavor of your handmade shrimp cakes.

So, before selecting whether or not this is the ideal side dish for you, consider the taste profile of your dinner.

10. French fries

Lets face it: French fries are fantastic.

But theyre also super easy to make at home.

So let’s speak about how to serve them as a fantastic side dish to your beautiful supper!

1. First, you must choose your potatoes. And we’re not going to lie: when it comes to creating French fries, not all potatoes are made equal. Russet potatoes should be used if you want fries that are crispy on the exterior and fluffy on the inside.
2. To begin, peel the potatoes and cut them into half-inch thick strips. Then immerse them for a couple of hours in ice-cold water. This will assist to remove some of the starch from the potatoes, making them crisper!
3. After that, rinse off the potato strips as much as possible before tossing them in oil (we prefer avocado) and frying them at 350 degrees until golden brown. Allow it rest for a few minutes before serving with salt, pepper, or anything else you want!

Now, before you choose this specific side dish, consider this: if you prefer a healthy choice, you could always bake your fries instead of frying them!

11. Mashed potatoes

You know what goes great with shrimp cakes?

Mashed potatoes.

Making mashed potatoes at home is also a breeze.

So, heres how to do it:

1. Cook a couple russet potatoes in water until fork-tender.
2. Drain the water and stir in some butter, milk, salt, and, if you’re feeling fancy, some sharp cheddar cheese and bacon pieces.
3. Mash! And enjoy.

One thing to consider before selecting this specific side dish: the amount of butter used in the recipe you pick.

It can end up being more than you bargained for!

12. Roasted Asparagus

This is ideal if you want something nutritious, delicious, and easy to prepare.

To make it, youll need:

• one bunch of asparagus (1 lb.)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of coarse kosher salt
• a pinch of black pepper

Heres how to do it:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (a nonstick baking sheet may also be used if you have one).
3. Holding the spear at both ends, bend the thick end until it breaks naturally to remove the woody ends.
4. If some spears are thicker than the others, remove the skin from the bottom third or so with a vegetable peeler.
5. Place them on a baking pan, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
6. Roast until tender, about 1315 minutes.
7. Serve immediately!

The one thing to keep in mind when picking this side is that it does not store well and becomes mushy shortly after cooking.

13. Green Beans

Green beans are used because we like the way they pop between our teeth.

It’s a terrific side dish since it’s fast to prepare and cook, giving you more time for other things.

Green beans are simple to prepare and cook quickly:

1. If using fresh, just snip off the ends and add them in a salad or discard them.
2. Then steam them till al dentenonot so soft that they’re mushy, but yet not crunchy. When you bite into them, you want a lovely little bounce but not so much that they shatter in your mouth like marbles.
3. When they’re done steaming, drizzle with butter or olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste.
4. If you enjoy things like that, try adding some garlic powder as well!

14. Corn on the Cob (preferably roasted)

Corn on the cob is one of our favorite summer pleasures, and it complements this dish well.

The sweet, buttery crunch of roasted corn on the cob contrasts nicely with these savory tiny cakes, giving each mouthful an unforgettable experience.

And here’s how to cook this delectable meal at home:

1. Purchase a handful of ears of corn and remove the husks.
2. Toss them in butter, then rewrap them in the husks.
3. Place them on a grill and cook for approximately five minutes each side (or until golden brown). Then remove from the fire and let aside for 5 minutes to cool.
4. Peel back the husks, spread the corn with extra butter, and season liberally with salt and pepper (and maybe a pinch of paprika).
5. Eat it.
6. Repeat until you are unable to eat any more, then eat some more because it is amazing!

Just one thing to think about before selecting this side dish for your Christmas party:

You may wish to share it with your visitors ahead of time.It may be rather dirty!

15. Baked beans

Baked beans complement shrimp cakes surprisingly nicely.

Making your own baked beans is really quite simple, and they taste much better than store-bought varieties.

1. In a pot, combine 4 cup molasses, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon dry mustard.2 cup onion, diced 1Simply blend one cup of navy beans with one cup of
2. Return the pan to a boil with three cups of boiling water, then remove from the heat and set aside overnight.
3. Pour everything into a baking dish in the morning and top with another half cup of boiling water.
4. Cover securely with foil and bake for two hours, or until done, at 325°F, stirring periodically.

Just be cautious while choose which molasses to use.Your baked beans will have a much richer taste if you use fancy molasses (also known as blackstrap molasses) instead of light molasses or sorghum syrup.