Best Ever Homemade Bubba Gump Shrimp Recipe

Recreate one of the signature dishes at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is, of course, the Bubba Gump Shrimp. While this recipe may have been inspired by the movie Forest Grump, I know you are going to love this menu item.

This dish features tender, succulent shrimp that are sautéed in a garlic butter sauce and served with jasmine rice. Shrimp lovers will rejoice when you recreate this American classic for dinner.

overhead view of copycat Bubba Gump shrimp in a skillet.


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Why is Spicy Cajun Barbecue Shrimp so good?

When you hear barbecue shrimp, you might think it is cooked on a barbeque grill. It is known for its bold and spicy flavors. This is a dish that is a famous shrimp dish from New Orleans. The restaurant Pascale Manale is believed to have created this dish.

If you want to enjoy a meal with seafood lovers, I highly recommend going to that restaurant. Their barbeque shrimp features a wonderful spicy New Orleans sauce that is irresistible.

The shrimp used in this dish are typically large, head-on shrimp that are sautéed with a blend of spices, including garlic, cayenne pepper, paprika, and black pepper. The butter sauce is then added to the pan, along with a splash of Worcestershire sauce and some fresh lemon juice, which helps balance the heat and adds a tangy note to the dish.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.’s Shrimp is a succulent and flavorful dish that is both spicy and buttery. The dish is often served with crusty French bread or rice to soak up all the delicious flavors of the sauce. Barbecue shrimp is a popular dish in many New Orleans restaurants and is often served as an appetizer or main course.

Forest Gump Shrimp Ingredients

Here’s what you need:

  • Butter
  • Oregano
  • Garlic
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Large shrimp
Bubba Gump shrimp ingredients.

Ingredient Substitutions and Variations for Shrimp Cajun Style

  • Substitute cayenne pepper with pre-made Cajun seasoning.
  • Add parsley and thyme for more herbal flavors.
  • Add a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce for additional depth of flavor.
  • I have to mention my favorite shrimp seasoning; my favorite is Paul Prudhommes Shrimp Magic
  • Add a tablespoon of lemon juice for extra lemony flavor.
  • Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
  • Add a tablespoon of chopped white onions to the sauce for extra flavor; not part of their recipe, but it’s pretty tasty.

How to Make Bubba Gump Cajun Shrimp

There isn’t much preparation time involved. The most time-consuming task would be peeling and deveining shrimp, but you can eliminate that by buying shrimp already peeled and deveined.

Here are the simple recipe steps for this shrimp preparation:

  1. Peel and devein the shrimp if needed. Rinse and drain on paper towels.
  2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat on the stove.
  3. Add all spice ingredients and stir to combine.
  4. Cook until hot but not smoking.
  5. Add shrimp to the pan and stir occasionally.
  6. Simmer until shrimp turn pink and are just done about 5 minutes.
  7. Taste and season with salt and black pepper if desired.
  8. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a large bowl and serve with lemon wedges.
overhead view of copycat Bubba Gump shrimp in a skillet.

What to Serve with Cajun Shrimp

A fresh baguette, toasted bread, especially sourdough, is great for sopping up all the buttery sauce. It’s a little bit of heaven!

You can complete the meal with steamed or your favorite type of rice, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable such as air-fried broccoli or grilled corn on the cob.

copycat Bubba Gump shrimp in an oval skillet.

How to Store Leftover Cajun Style Shrimp

You should store any leftover Cajun style shrimp in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to three days.

How to Reheat Bubba Gump Shrimp

I like to reheat this by placing the leftover shrimp and sauce into a saucepan and heating it on low heat until warmed through. I find when I reheat this in the microwave the butter spatters and it the shrimp can overcook.

Love Cajun and Creole food? Check out these favorites

Delicious Shrimp Recipes

Be sure to take a look at more of my easy seafood recipes and the best casual dining restaurant copycat recipes.

Thanks to Kachurr50 for sharing this shrimp recipe.

overhead view of copycat Bubba Gump shrimp in a skillet.

Bubba Gump Shrimp

Make delicious barbecue shrimp also known as spicy Cajun shrimp, a New Orleans favorite.
4.50 from 28 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Seafood
Cuisine: Cajun
Keyword: Bubba Gump Shrimp, Keto, Low Carb
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 218kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 24 pieces large shrimp

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except the shrimp into a large skillet.
  • Cook on medium heat until the butter is melted and hot.
  • Add shrimp and stir occasionally. Cook until the shrimp are pink and just done, about 5 minutes.

Video

Notes

Serve with 2 slices of toasted sourdough or other good bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 730IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 0.6mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John

    What are you supposed to do with the toast? make breadcrumbs and add to the shrimp? I never had Bubba Gump Shrimp, but this recipe looks tasty. Thanks for making a website and kindly posting these recipes. Please do not let the rude people bother you with their nasty comments.

  2. tony

    I work at Bubba Gump restaurant and that is wrong is 3 ounces of unsalted butter. And you don’t put the Cajun and garlic together they are 2 separate types of shrimp

  3. John G.

    The best part of the recipe is the 2 slices of toasted sour dough bread! Just toss all the other ingredients. It’s no where near the color or taste of the real Bubba Gump Spicy Shrimp.

  4. Samethias

    I didn’t have Cayenne pepper so I used dried powder Thai chilies instead, my family loves spicy food so I also added 3 tablespoons of tabasco chili sauce! I love this recipe and can’t wait to share this with the rest of my family and friends!

  5. Greg

    You might like to try this first at Bubba Gumps or maybe your not a sea food person but it’s great when the recipe is followed. The last time I went to Buba Gumps the manager was cooking and making up his own recipe, it was crap and I let them know how unexpectedly dry and flavorless it was prepared, so they made me a new order just as bad. That’s why I looked for the recipe on line.

  6. Greg

    You might like to try this first at Bubba Gumps or maybe your not a sea food person but it’s great when the recipe is followed. The last time I went to Buba Gumps the manager was cooking and making up his own recipe, it was crap and I let them know how unexpectedly dry and flavorless it was prepared, so they made me a new order just as bad. That’s why I looked for the recipe on line.

  7. Matt

    I love me some Bubba Gump shrimp and really want to make this recipe, but I can’t find cheyene pepper anywhere. Is it similar to cayenne pepper?

  8. VILLA RENTALS CYPRUS

    I first had Bubba Gump shrimsps in South Carolina, but I now stay in Cyprus and thought I would never taste seafood like this again.
    Thank you for your recipe, it was exactly like the real thing!

  9. Danny

    HOLY COW!!! I was so skeptical as I love BG cajun shrimp. This tasted dang near identical. Just awesome and thank you so much for posting.

  10. Pat Littlejohn

    Finding these recipes is truly a dream come true. My family loves to dine at Bubba Gumps Rest. but seem to have to travel a little to eat at one. We travel frequently to Gatlinburg and also have eaten at the one in Charleston, SC several times. This may satisfy us in between our trips out of town….Thanks for the post. Hoping for one to open in Nashville, Tenn.

  11. Anonymous

    I tried this recipe because my boyfriend likes shrimp and he loved it….. But heres the awesome thing i dont like shrimp but i would eat this once a week its sooo good.

  12. John Stringer

    I have made this recipe numerous times and it always turns out great! If you don’t like it quite so spicy, cut the cayenne in half. If you use deveined cleaned shrimp, total time from bag to table is about 10 minutes!! The leftover sauce can be saved and used over toast by itself, or as a dipping sauce for chicken. Delicious!

  13. bob tremblay

    made Bubba Gumps spicy cajun shrimp today.GREAT..Depending on how hot you like it,you might want to cut back on the cayenne pepper,because it does come out HOT..But it is delicious..Goes great with dirty rice.

4.50 from 28 votes (18 ratings without comment)

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