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.

Shrimp recipe for Cheesy shrimp cakes recipe on platter with lemon aioli

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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!

Sauteed Shrimp cakes in pan garnished with parsley

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.

Ingredients for shrimp cakes and lemon aioli sauce for how to make shrimp fritters

how to make lemon aioli recipe

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.

How to make sauteed shrimp patties

Easy Shrimp Recipes to Explore:

Print-Friendly Sauteed Shrimp Cakes Recipe:

Shrimp Cakes with Lemon Aioli (VIDEO)

4.98 from 326 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Cheesy Shrimp Cakes aka Shrimp Fritters with irresistible lemon aioli sauce. One of our favorite shrimp recipes! 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; this recipe is GOOD | natashaskitchen.com
If you love shrimp recipes, these shrimp cakes are for YOU! The cheesy crust creates a juicy, tender and flavorful center. P.S. DO NOT skip the lemon aioli sauce
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 people (2 fritters per serving)

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:

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

*You can use a food processor to chop the shrimp, but pulse carefully so you don't turn it into ground shrimp meat.
Nutrition for Lemon Aioli Sauce is not included in the recipe since we usually don't consume the full amount with 1 batch of shrimp cakes. Based on 8 servings for the sauce, each serving has 96 calories, 89 mg sodium, 0 g sugars, 5 mg cholesterol (2%), 10 g total fat with 1 g saturated fat (5%). 

Nutrition Per Serving

258kcal Calories4g Carbs21g Protein16g Fat4g Saturated Fat233mg Cholesterol968mg Sodium93mg Potassium235IU Vitamin A4.8mg Vitamin C263mg Calcium2.1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Shrimp Cakes with Lemon Aioli (VIDEO)
Amount per Serving
Calories
258
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
233
mg
78
%
Sodium
 
968
mg
42
%
Potassium
 
93
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
4
g
1
%
Protein
 
21
g
42
%
Vitamin A
 
235
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
 
4.8
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
263
mg
26
%
Iron
 
2.1
mg
12
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Shrimp Cakes
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 258
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

sautéed shrimp fritters or shrimp patties on a plate with lemon aioli sauce

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

4.98 from 326 votes (90 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Jbpt
    September 10, 2023

    The whole family loved them. Next time I might add more flour or perhaps some breadcrumbs so they bind together better. They were a little too free form for me. It was stressful trying to flip them because they always seemed too loose, like they were on the verge of falling apart.

    Reply

  • JoEllen
    September 6, 2023

    This recipe looks delicious! I am making them in a smaller size to serve as an appetizer at an upcoming party. Do you think that I could mix them the day before and then fry them right before the party? Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 6, 2023

      Hi JoEllen! I have not tested it myself but I think it would work fine to mix everything and refrigerate it and them fry them right before the party. Let us know how it turns out.

      Reply

  • Kimberley
    September 3, 2023

    Hi Natasha. Thank you for your recipe. I am a huge fan and love all your recipes. This shrimp cakes are the bomb(great). My family were impressed.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 3, 2023

      Thanks so much for sharing that with us, so happy to hear that!

      Reply

  • Steph G
    August 10, 2023

    Delicious!!! Made these for friends and family and they were a huge hit. The combination of cheese and shrimp was excellent.
    Didn’t have parsley so added green onions to add some colour and it tasted great!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 10, 2023

      That’s wonderful! Thanks a lot, Steph for sharing that with us. We’re happy that you enjoyed our Shrimp Cakes!

      Reply

  • Mary Nell
    August 7, 2023

    These are the BEST flipping shrimp cakes I have ever eaten!
    You’ve got to make this recipe. I used frozen shrimp from the grocery store.
    Thank you Natasha!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 7, 2023

      Hi Mary! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • Denni
    July 29, 2023

    I was craving seafood today and had some shrimp in the freezer so googled and came across your recipe. I’m sooo glad I did! So easy and absolutely delicious. I will definitely be making them frequently!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 30, 2023

      Wonderful, Denni! So glad you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply

  • Sheila
    July 29, 2023

    Would you be able to make this like a half shrimp/half crab cake?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 29, 2023

      Hi Sheila, I haven’t tried that mix, but I imagine it will work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

      Reply

  • Pam
    June 21, 2023

    I made these many times now. I have added extra cheeses, paprika, dijon mustard, w-shire sauce, green onion, and some bread crumbs to hold them together…………One time i even added some fresh corn off the cob……………Then I add tarragon to my lemon aoli………love these babies!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 21, 2023

      So glad you love the recipe, Pam! Thank you for the feedback.

      Reply

  • Jeff Morton
    June 15, 2023

    So good, so easy. We have tons of crab in the PNW so I was looking to switch it up a bit. No matter the age, these were a hit. Thank you.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 15, 2023

      That’s wonderful, Jeff!

      Reply

  • Kat
    May 20, 2023

    I made these for dinner the other day and they were so DELICIOUS and they are still delicious as left overs!! I’ll definitely be making these again!!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 20, 2023

      That’s wonderful, Kat! Thank you for the feedback.

      Reply

  • Karla
    April 21, 2023

    I’ve done these many times, excellent recipe!!! Has anyone tried them in an Air Fryer yet??

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 21, 2023

      Hi Karla! I haven’t tried these in an air fryer but here’s what one of our readers wrote: “These are really good! Love the lemon aioli too. I rotate between that and a spicy sauce. I made these in the air fryer and they came out great. I preheated it to 350 and lightly sprayed olive oil on top. I did for a total of 14 minutes flipping the cakes halfway through. Already made these a couple of times. Yum!” I hope this is helpful.

      Reply

  • Susan Day
    April 21, 2023

    The shrimp cakes and lemon aoili was amazing. Look forward to more of your recipes!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 21, 2023

      Thank you for your good comments and review, Susan!

      Reply

  • Janice
    April 16, 2023

    Made these shrimp cakes twice – everyone loved these. The first time made them exactly as written, and the second time added red bell pepper, celery and chives (finely chopped) and old bay seasoning instead of salt & pepper. I will be making these a lot more since everyone request them. Thank you for a wonderful recipe.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 16, 2023

      So glad you love it, Janice! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Maria Castillo
    March 27, 2023

    Hi!! Can I use pre-cooked shrimp instead?? If so, how much cooking time per side would you recommend? I don´t want to over-cook the shrimp. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 27, 2023

      Hi Maria, I have had some people report good results using pre-cooked shrimp in this recipe, but it depends on the recipe. I always suggest using what is recommended in a recipe before modifying it.

      Reply

  • Mark Henderson
    February 19, 2023

    Killer… yielded 9 cakes. Used fresh gulf shrimp. Substituted tsp old bay for salt/pepper. Also put a tbs butter in the olive oil.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 19, 2023

      Sounds great, Mark. Thank you for your comments and feedback!

      Reply

  • Kristin
    February 13, 2023

    Made it! Ate it! And will make it again! This were wonderful and the aioli took them to the next level. Made them for Super Bowl last night but I should have made two batches. The went faster than the Chief’s receivers! HaHa!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 13, 2023

      Hi Kristin! Wonderful to hear. Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad they were a hit.

      Reply

  • Patricia Nester
    February 12, 2023

    I added some green onion to the to this recipe and people loved it.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 12, 2023

      Nice, thanks for sharing and review!

      Reply

      • Caroline
        May 21, 2024

        Could I make them ahead and freeze them? Would love to bring these camping, where I always get seafood cravings but don’t have a full kitchen to cook. I’d reheat in a cast iron pan or blackstone.

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          May 21, 2024

          Hi Caroline, I haven’t tried freezing these shrimp cakes, but if I did, I would probably freeze them already cooked, or they may not stay together well. If you experiment, let me know how it goes!

          Reply

  • Ronnie
    February 1, 2023

    I did not have mozzarella in the frig but I did have Gouda cheese. OMG… These are the best shrimp cakes ever. During crabbing season I will try to make them with lump crab.
    Thank you thank you and thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 1, 2023

      Hi Ronnie! You’re so very welcome. I’m glad the recipe still worked out for you. Thank you for sharing. I’m happy to hear you loved it!

      Reply

  • Cissy
    January 26, 2023

    My daughter is allergy to dairy products; what do you recommend to replace the cheese in the recipe?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 26, 2023

      Hi Cissy, the cheese helps to hold them together and does add some flavor, but I think they would still work without the cheese. One of my readers mentioned they planned to use vegan cheese. I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Rich
    January 24, 2023

    I would just follow the way she made them and not modify a thing. They where made that way for a reason.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 24, 2023

      Thank you, Rich! I always recommend making recipes as written the first time around.

      Reply

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