If you love shrimp recipes, these shrimp cakes are for YOU! They are juicy, tender and so flavorful. These shrimp fritters always disappear fast! P.S. DO NOT skip the lemon aioli sauce.

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This is a surprising way to use shrimp but it’s also the best way to make a pound of shrimp go a long way. Biting into juicy shrimp, fritter style, is a real treat. The cheese creates an irresistible cheese pull inside and forms a golden crust on the outside. Watch the Video tutorial and you will just know; these are GOOD!

Shrimp Calories / Shrimp Nutrition:
- Purchase wild-caught shrimp whenever possible.
- Avoid “Farm Raised Shrimp” or anything marked “Farmed,” especially coming from overseas where they may be produced in unsafe or unhealthy conditions and could lead to health problems.
- There are about 99 calories in 100 grams of cooked shrimp.
How to Devein Shrimp:
Deveining larger sized shrimp is especially important. Check out our video tutorial on how to peel and devein shrimp. You can use a small pairing knife or a deveining tool like this one from OXO.
Ingredients for Shrimp Cakes Recipe:
The ingredients here are so simple and come together quickly for an easy appetizer or side with dinner or lunch. Combining raw diced shrimp with a batter creates an irresistibly good shrimp fritter. I hesitate to call them ‘fritters’ because fritters are often deep fried but you don’t need much oil at all in this recipe. I usually use 1 to 2 Tbsp for the entire batch. Seriously though, don’t skip the lemon aioli sauce – it is everything with these shrimp cakes; dunk after dunk.


Watch How to Make Sauteed Shrimp Patties:
Watch Natasha make these cheesy shrimp cakes. You will be surprised by how easy this recipe is! If you haven’t already, to our and click the bell icon so you’ll be the first to know when we post a new video.
Cook’s Tips: Here are our favorite measuring spoons that I bragged about in the video. Also, a trigger release ice cream scoop makes it so easy to portion and and sauté these while keeping your hands clean. Also, a non-stick pan works best to keep the patties from falling apart while cooking.

Easy Shrimp Recipes to Explore:
- Coconut Shrimp with a ridiculously good 2-ingredient dip
- Shrimp Cucumber Bites – so easy and good. They fly off the plate!
- Shrimp Ceviche Salsa – we are obsessed with this shrimp salsa
- Creamy Shrimp Pasta (with our favorite Alfredo sauce!)
Print-Friendly Sauteed Shrimp Cakes Recipe:
Shrimp Cakes with Lemon Aioli (VIDEO)

Ingredients
For the Shrimp Cakes/ Fritters:
- 1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese, (1 1/2 cups shredded)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped, plus more to garnish
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, or gluten free flour
- 2 Tbsp light olive oil, or high heat cooking oil of choice
For the Lemon Aioli Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, pressed or finely minced
Instructions
How to Make Shrimp Cakes:
- Pat dry shrimp with paper towels then dice into pea-sized pieces.*
- Transfer chopped shrimp to a large mixing bowl. Add 4 oz shredded mozzarella, 1 egg, 1/4 cup mayo, 2 Tbsp parsley, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Stir together then add 1/4 cup flour and mix until batter is creamy and well combined.
- Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add 1 heaping Tablespoon at a time (or a level ice cream scoop) and flatten out the tops of your fritters as you go so they are about 1/2" thick patties. Saute about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown on the edges and cooked through.
How to Make Lemon Aioli Sauce:
- In a small bowl, add mayo and stir to remove any lumps. Add 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 Tbsp lemon juice and pressed garlic clove and stir to combine.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Would YOU try these sauteed shrimp fritters? We think you will be impressed 😉



I was wondering if anyone has made these and frozen them. I would like to make these for a bridal shower and was thinking I could throw them in the oven the day of 🤔
Hi Amanda, I haven’t tried freezing them. If someone else has, please let us know how that worked out and thanks in advance! 🙂
This was AMAZING!! One thing… Your recipe says dice the shrimp into pea-sized pieces. I went a little larger and I think it worked better. Last time I diced something that small (crabmeat), the texture got lost. You want to know you’re eating shrimp and I think you’d lose that with smaller pieces. THANKS SO MUCH!!
Hi Don, I’m so glad you loved the recipe! I find the shrimp cakes hold together better on the skillet when chopped smaller but I agree the larger pieces are amazing for taste and texture 🙂
I’m trying to use up the ingredients I already have in my house. I have everything except mozarrella. However, I do have sharp cheese. Does it make a huge difference what type of cheese we use?
Hi Melanie! I haven’t experimented with other cheeses but I think that should still work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hi Melanie, I haven’t tried that so can’t tell you the final outcome taste wise. I use mozzarella because it’s more mild and less salty.
I have can’t eat wheat. Can I use coconut flour instead of regular flour?
Hi Annette, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
Hi, these were excellent! You’re so right, they were gone so fast. I ended up using 1/2 almond flour and 1/2 coconut flour (because I like the taste of coconut shrimp lol). Also, after seeing a lot of folks having a time dicing the shrimp, I decided to do it when whey were about 95% thawed (I didn’t have fresh, but had a bag of frozen in the freezer). It was much easier because they still were kind of firm. Thanks SO much for your wonderful recipe!!!
I what else would you recommend for people that don’t like mayonnaise.
I haven’t tried substituting it, but some of my readers have. They used sour cream instead.
Super tasty! Cooked this up with your spinach salad and a quinoa salad for very tasty light summer dinner!
That sounds like the perfect combination! Thank you for sharing that with us, Valerie!
I tried these tonight, and they were wonderful! I may have added a bit too much garlic and lemon to the aioli, as it was pretty strong – but good anyway!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that.
for a party looking for a crab ball recipe with a dip.
Hi Barbara we don’t have any crab ball recipes but we do have salmon cakes and a great tartar sauce as well if that helps! 🙂
Could coconut flour or almond flour be substituted for wheat flour? If so, how much?? Trying to fit into a keto diet. Thanks 🙂 They look delish!
Although I haven’t tried it this way myself, our readers have reported using almond flour as a substitution and they loved it!
Thank you so much for posting back so fast. I will definitely give it a try!!
You’re so welcome!
Can I used cooked shrimp instead??
You can use it but they won’t be as juicy.
Super! Melts in your mouth, soooo good! Very easy to make. I did add a little garlic powder and paprika, also doubled up the recipe. Both of my toddlers just devoured them!
That’s so great, Mila! That is the best when kids love what we moms make. I’m glad you enjoyed the Shrimp Cakes!
What’s the name of the pots and pans you use?
I use variety of pots and pans. In this recipe I’ve used this one. 😀
Fantastic shrimp cakes recipe! I’m impressed with how well the shrimp patties stayed together, being chunky. However you came to this recipe was a great idea! My children liked these and my toddler ate them too! May God bless you and your family. Great job, Natasha!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Made these tonight and they were the best I’ve ever had! Followed the recipe exactly except for using almond flour because I have to limit carbs. Even my 4-year-old loved them!! Thank you so much for such an amazing recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. That is the best when kids love what we moms make. Thank you for the great review, Adrijana
Super good but I will put in less salt next time and add some garlic & cayenne to the cakes.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like your customization will be your new favorite!
HOLY, restaurant quality. my husband and I loved these. Thank You
You’re so welcome, Kim! Thank you for the wonderful compliment! 🙂
Hi Natasha! Just to let you know that lunch with the girls: shrimp cakes, mango avocado chicken salad and strawberry cake (and coulis) was a total hit!!! Thanks again for your wonderful recipes!
I’m so happy to hear that, Lydia! Thank you for sharing your great review!
It may be helpful to some: sometimes wild-caught shrimp go on sale at QFC here in Washington, for $6/lb. That’s a good deal.
Wow! Thanks for the awesome tip, Alena!
This was one of the best recipes I’ve ever had. My husband and I both loved it and the lemon aoli. I added green onion and used a plastic 1/4 measuring cup instead of a scoop because I didn’t have one. Thank you! Yum!!!!
I’m so happy to hear that, Kay! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Just made these for dinner.
Will definitely repeat!
They were so good.
I am going to replace Tartar sauce with this lemon aioli.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Paula!