Easy Creole Shrimp Toast is a tasty, bite-size seafood appetizer. It is baked in the oven and features a crisp, toasted bread round, blanketed with a flavorful filling made with cooked shrimp, sour cream, and two kinds of cheese.
These delectable bites of heaven are so good they will fairly fly off the plate and take less than 20 minutes to prepare.
Like my buffalo shrimp recipe and fried oysters recipe, this easy shrimp toast recipe checks all the boxes; it’s quick and simple to make, it can partially be made ahead of time, and the taste is fantastic.
This recipe was inspired by Chinese shrimp toast appetizers I had at a party. If you follow my blog, you know how much I love shrimp, appetizers, and all things cheese.
After just one taste, I was smitten, and I spent the next day coming up with this version, giving it a slightly more spicy and robust, New Orleans-inspired Creole flavor.
As good as the authentic recipe, just different, this recipe can be made in half the time and is baked in the oven instead of fried. Best of all, It captures the delicious essence of the authentic appetizer.
Ingredients – here’s what’s in it:
- Toast – this easy recipe for baked shrimp toast uses either premade and purchased toasted french bread rounds or baguette slices.
- Shrimp – you can purchase it already cooked and seasoned from your favorite grocery or seafood store, or you can roast your own using my easy 10 Minute Roasted Shrimp recipe.
- Creole seasoning – gives the savory topping just a bit of a kick. Cajun seasoning, a touch milder, can be substituted to make Cajun shrimp toast.
- Cheese – two kinds of cheese, parmesan and mozzarella, come together to make the filling in this delicious cheesy appetizer. (Parmesan cheese isn’t pictured in the image above.)
- Mayonnaise and sour cream – bind the topping together and add creamy, tangy deliciousness.
- Spices and seasonings – onion powder, dried thyme, kosher salt, and pepper round everything out and enhance the flavors in this recipe.
Directions – here’s how to make it:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Dice the shrimp into small bite-size pieces.
- Add the shrimp, mayonnaise, sour cream, mozzarella, parmesan, thyme, salt, pepper, onion powder, and one teaspoon of the creole seasoning to a large bowl and mix well.
- Place the toasted rounds on a baking sheet and top each with a spoonful of the topping mixture.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of creole seasoning. Bake for six to eight minutes, or until the cheese melts and the topping is lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Frequently asked questions:
Authentic Asian shrimp toast is a classic take-out item at many Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants. It originated in China, and this delicious treat is popular worldwide.
These flavor-packed appetizers are made with small triangles of bread covered in a paste made with shrimp, scallions, and other seasonings, topped with sesame seeds, and then fried.
You can prepare the topping up to 48 hours beforehand to make this dish ahead. Then, keep it covered and in the refrigerator until you are ready to add to the toast and bake it.
I have not tried freezing it, but sour cream recipes generally do not freeze well because they change the texture.
Shrimp toast is best eaten shortly after it’s made. After that, the toast tends to get a little soggy. However, If you have leftovers, they can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To reheat, place them on a baking sheet and heat in a 350-degree oven for about five minutes. This appetizer can also be reheated in an air fryer at 400 degrees for about six minutes.
I like to serve this shrimp toast for a party with one or more of these easy appetizers: Oysters Rockefeller, Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese, Make-Ahead Caprese Skewers, Chicken Ranch Dip, Smoked Queso, Cheese Quesadillas, Chicken Egg Rolls, Macho Nachos, Potato Skins, Hanky Panky Recipe, or Roasted Pecans.
Sharon’s tips:
For convenience, I like to use purchased toasted french bread rounds or baguette slices in this recipe. If you can’t find them, you can slice a baguette into rounds and toast it before topping it with the shrimp mixture. You can also substitute toasted Texas toast or French bread cut into quarters.
Cooked and seasoned shrimp can be purchased from your favorite grocery or seafood store or roast your own using my easy 10 Minute Roasted Shrimp recipe.
You can prepare the topping up to 48 hours beforehand. Then, keep it covered and in the refrigerator until you are ready to place on top of the bread and bake it.
This appetizer is about a six or seven on the spicy scale. If you would like to dial back the heat, reduce the amount of creole seasoning, and do not add it to the top before baking.
You can use frozen cooked shrimp in this recipe, and they should do fine. Just be sure to let them thaw and dry them off before adding them to the topping mixture. I have never tried canned shrimp, and I don’t know how they would work.
More shrimp recipes:
If you love shrimp as much as I do, you might also want to try these popular dishes:
- Easy Crispy Pan-Fried Shrimp,
- Roasted Shrimp Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette,
- Southern BBQ Shrimp and Cheese Grits,
- Shrimp and Blue Cheese Pasta,
- Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, and
- The Best Crispy Buffalo Shrimp.
Do you need more menu ideas? Check out all of my seafood recipes here!
★★★ ★★ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!
Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!
📋 Recipe:
Creole Shrimp Toast Recipe – Easy & Cheesy
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh shrimp cooked, peeled, deveined, and tails removed,
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried ground thyme
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning divided (I used Zatarain’s)
- 7 ounces package toasted French bread rounds about 24
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Dice the shrimp into bite-size pieces.
- Add the shrimp, mayonnaise, sour cream, mozzarella, parmesan, thyme, salt, pepper, onion powder, and one teaspoon of the creole seasoning to a large bowl. Mix well.
- Place the toasted rounds on a baking sheet and top each with a spoonful of the topping. Sprinkle with a pinch of creole seasoning and bake for six to eight minutes, or until the cheese melts and topping is lightly browned.
- Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
**This recipe was originally published on December 20, 2017. It was republished on May 4, 2022, with new photos, an FAQ, and expanded tips.
Big hit at the Halloween party – bring a side. Taking again to Day of the Dead. Thank you!
Really good! Excellent to make ahead and then pop in the oven before guests arrive. Thanks for a new hit!!
Hi Mindy, I’m so glad you liked it, and thank you too for taking the time to leave such a nice review!
All the best,
Sharon
Can the mixture be frozen?
Hi Kay, I would not try to freeze it. The sour cream will separate and change texture when frozen.
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
All the best,
Sharon