Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Chipotle Aioli

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Chipotle Aioli is an easy, fool-proof, and updated version of classic shrimp cocktail. Instead of poaching, the shrimp are quickly roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper for an instant upgrade in flavor. The garlic-infused chipotle dipping sauce is the perfect compliment! 

 

For more easy shrimp recipes, be sure to check out our Best Ever Shrimp and Grits, and this Five Ingredient Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo.

The recipe for this Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Chipotle Aioli is one of the first recipes I published back in 2013. Today I’ve updated the photos, tweaked the recipe a bit, and it’s ready to be shared again!

I’ve been borderline obsessed with Mexican food as of late. Enchiladas, tacos, nachos – you name, I’ve made it or eaten it. I didn’t even realize today’s post had Mexican flavors laced throughout it until I was typing up the recipe and noticed most of the key ingredients were typical of a Mexican dish. Go figure. Even when I’m not thinking Mexican, I’m thinking Mexican. Just as the heart wants what the heart wants, the stomach wants what the stomach wants.

 

Why Shrimp Cocktail?

This recipe came about as I was brainstorming food ideas for a get-together Kevin and I were hosting. I needed an easy-different-inexpensive appetizer that would appeal to all of the vastly different palates that would be attending. We had guests who love everything, and guests who love nothing. Guests who prefer savory and guests who prefer sweet. I think that’s probably the hardest thing about serving a large group of people, each person has their own idea of what’s tasty. Because of this, I have a go-to-no-fail dish I nearly always serve at parties – shrimp cocktail.

I’ve found shrimp cocktail to be one of those universally loved appetizers and is undoubtedly the first thing to be gobbled up at parties. Of course I can’t leave the tried-and- true classic alone, so I’m always trying to come up with new inventive spins on it. So far I’ve toyed with this shrimp cocktail with green goddess dip, a Thai-style shrimp cocktail with peanut dipping sauce, and today, we have roasted shrimp cocktail with chipotle dipping sauce – arguably my favorite to date.

How to achieve perfectly roasted shrimp

• Roast the shrimp instead of poaching or sautéing 
• Use just a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper
• Pull the shrimp out RIGHT when they start to turn pink and curl up
• Never reheat! It’s better to serve shrimp room temperature and cooked correctly. 

How to make Roasted Shrimp Cocktail

• Coat shrimp in olive oil and dust with a little bit of chipotle powder and salt.
• Throw into a hot oven and roasted until perfectly pink and plump.
• Make the aioli while the shrimp cook.Whisk light mayo, smoky cumin, a little bit of lime juice, and again, spicy chipotle powder in a small bowl.
• Serve shrimp with aioli. 

What I love about this recipe

• From start to finish the whole dish takes about 20 minutes to put together.
• The shrimp can be served warm or at room temperature.
• EVERYONE loves it! 

Chipotle Powder versus Chili Powder

A little note on CHIPOTLE powder versus CHILI powder. Chipotle powder isn’t as commonly used as chili powder, but it’s basically a dried chipotle pepper that has been ground up. So unlike normal chili powder which only has an underlying smoky flavor to it, chipotle powder is SPICY. A little goes a long way, so make sure to taste test before adding any more. I highly recommend seeking it out, but if you’re in a pinch, a little bit of cayenne pepper will work as well. 

One thing I will say, make a double batch, because these guys will go FAST.