This 5-Minute Shrimp Dinner Is My Ultimate Summer Miracle Meal

Miracle Meals are the family-friendly dinners that save you time, money, and effort — but not at the expense of taste. They’re dishes that allow you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with the people you love. This month’s Miracle Meal comes from Faith Durand, Kitchn’s editor-in-chief.

The internet is the land of over-promise, under-deliver. We’re promised 30-minute, 10-minute, five-minute meals and honestly, there’s usually a catch. But this fast meal is — I promise! Cross my heart! — just as fast as I say it is. Because, when you get right down to it, all you need to do is open a bag. (A bag of shrimp.) That’s right — have you ever considered just eating a bag of shrimp for dinner, with cocktail sauce? It’s pretty much the most ingenious summer dinner ever: dead easy, a little fancy, but still cheaper than takeout. (And pretty good for you too, if you want to eat low-carb and high-protein!)

I first did this in the wintertime, when I had a bag of shrimp left over from a holiday party (to my happy surprise, since usually shrimp is the first treat to go!). Jumbo shrimp are not cheap; I paid about $22 for a 24-ounce bag, so I certainly didn’t want it to languish in the freezer.

So I thawed the shrimp in the fridge overnight, opened some cocktail sauce, put it out and called it dinner. My husband was elated. I mean, shrimp cocktail is simply the best appetizer, right? Cold, sweet shrimp dunked in horseradish cocktail sauce — a little spicy and tangy. Why not make a whole meal out of it?

Since then, we’ve done this many times. Instead of a 10-dollar pizza, I keep a bag of shrimp as a luxurious backup Miracle Meal in the freezer for the nights I just can’t manage cooking.

To serve, I combine some store-bought cocktail sauce with extra horseradish for a zippy kick. If you want to make your own cocktail sauce, though, knock yourself out.

Get a recipe: Classic Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

I add in a salad kit and sometimes a loaf of local bread with butter to round out the meal. A little crisp white wine or a really good margarita (here’s my favorite) and you’re all set.

See our favorite salad kits: The Best Salad Kits in America (2019 Edition)

Yes, a bag of shrimp is a bit of a splurge, but when you contrast it to paying over $30 with delivery fee and tip for takeout for two, it makes sense.

I keep an eye on my calorie budget too, personally, and if that is something you track or care about, 12 ounces of cooked shrimp has less than 350 calories plus way more protein than you even need in a day.

The Miracle Moment of this meal is just how utterly no-cook it is. Most no-cook meals are, to be frank, oversold or depend on a lot of packaged ingredients. This one is whole food-driven and a little luxurious to boot.

What’s your family’s Miracle Meal? Share in the comments below!