27 Catch-of-the-Day Plates You’ll Want to Serve With Cold Drinks and Absolutely No Apologies

There’s no need to fake it with these plates. The 27 catch-of-the-day plates are built for people who want seafood that speaks for itself, no translator required. It’s the kind of food that gets passed around before anyone remembers to grab a fork. Just toss it on the table, crack open something cold, and let the cleanup wait until tomorrow.

Shrimp Stock

Some things are built to carry more weight than they let on. Shrimp Stock isn’t flashy, but it knows its role and plays it well. It brings depth where other things just splash around, and it quietly holds a meal together without hogging the credit. Great meals start with smart decisions, and this one happens to be the silent workhorse. Don’t overlook the thing that makes everything else taste like it means it.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Stock

Seafood Chowder

Not every bowl needs a backstory, but Seafood Chowder comes in hot with a reason to grab a spoon and sit down. It’s thick, it’s loaded, and it doesn’t play coy about what it came to do. Whether it’s raining or ninety degrees, this dish still finds its way to the center of the table. It gives off that no-apologies energy from the first bite. Bonus points if you remember to grab bread, but no one’s judging.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Chowder

Classic Shrimp Scampi

There’s something about meals that hit hard without dragging out the drama. Classic Shrimp Scampi doesn’t pretend to be complicated, but it shows up like it knows it belongs. It’s the kind of plate that skips small talk and goes straight to the part where everyone’s reaching for seconds. Nothing too fancy, nothing too fussy—just straight-up good food that gets along with whatever’s in the cooler. This one’s all business, with the kind of flavor that doesn’t waste time.
Get the Recipe: Classic Shrimp Scampi

Crab Cake Benedict

Brunch doesn’t need a dress code, and Crab Cake Benedict proves it. It skips the silverware talk and lands on the table with real intent. This is the kind of seafood move that turns heads without saying a word. It’s just as fitting for an easy Saturday morning as it is for a late night when breakfast somehow feels right. Serve it with something cold and stop pretending anyone’s counting calories.
Get the Recipe: Crab Cake Benedict

Creamy Shrimp & Corn Chowder with Chipotle

Bowls don’t usually get this much attention, but Creamy Shrimp & Corn Chowder with Chipotle isn’t built for background noise. It lands with a mix of comfort and quiet confidence, like it knows it’s about to win the table. It’s not loud, but it leaves a mark in the way that actually counts. You don’t need cold weather or a special excuse—just a spoon and a crowd willing to stop talking long enough to eat. This one doesn’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Shrimp & Corn Chowder with Chipotle

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

They look like finger food, but Crab Stuffed Mushrooms come with heavyweight flavor. It’s the kind of bite-sized move that makes people hover near the tray without making it obvious. No one admits they came just for these, but they absolutely did. It brings seafood to the party without needing to introduce itself. You could make a whole meal out of them, and honestly, maybe you should.
Get the Recipe: Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Southern Style Pickled Shrimp

This dish doesn’t wait around for approval. Southern Style Pickled Shrimp comes with bite, attitude, and just enough boldness to make people pause mid-sentence. It’s not trying to be delicate or subtle—it shows up and expects a cold drink and a plate. The kind of seafood that makes everyone ask, “What is that and why haven’t we had it sooner?” It’s part southern charm, part seafood smack, and somehow always the first thing gone.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Pickled Shrimp

Smoked Salmon Spread

When the snacks start getting serious, it’s time for Smoked Salmon Spread. It’s the kind of thing that looks like a sidekick but quietly takes over the whole scene. One minute it’s on the table, the next it’s scraped clean with someone casually asking if there’s more. This isn’t the kind of spread that fades into the background. It demands crackers, good company, and maybe a heads-up that it’s the real deal.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon Spread

Salmon Pasta Salad

The fridge meal that somehow feels like a plan. Salmon Pasta Salad doesn’t need to be served hot or hyped up to get its point across. It’s cool, reliable, and always the one people circle back to when everything else starts feeling heavy. Great for lazy dinners and even better when nobody feels like turning on the stove. Honestly, it’s doing more than it gets credit for.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Pasta Salad

Smoked Shrimp

Straightforward and sharp, Smoked Shrimp doesn’t play around with extra steps or unnecessary fluff. It hits hard with every bite and doesn’t wait for a second opinion. Great when the grill’s still hot, better when the drinks are cold, and best when served straight from the pan. This one isn’t background noise—it’s the main reason people hover near the food table. Zero pretense, maximum effect.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Shrimp

Salmon & Leek Phyllo Tartlets

Don’t let the size fool you—Salmon & Leek Phyllo Tartlets come with more power than they let on. It’s the kind of seafood snack that disappears in twos and threes before anyone realizes what’s happening. They’re light enough to feel casual but rich enough to hold their own. This isn’t something you nibble politely—it’s something you plan your plate around. They don’t wait long on the table, and they don’t need to.
Get the Recipe: Salmon & Leek Phyllo Tartlets

Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo

It’s big, bold, and definitely not shy. Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo doesn’t try to be refined—it just shows up ready to remind everyone that comfort food still wins. It leans into the creamy side of things and dares you to pretend you’re only having one serving. This is the plate people remember and the reason you’ll need a bigger pot next time. It doesn’t whisper, it announces dinner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo

Pickled Shrimp Egg Shooters

The name alone is enough to raise eyebrows, and Pickled Shrimp Egg Shooters deliver on the weird-in-a-good-way promise. They’re part snack, part statement, and totally not here for quiet conversation. It’s the kind of dish that gets people talking before they’ve even tasted it. If you’re tired of predictable, this is your move. Loud, messy, and unforgettable—in the best way possible.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Shrimp Egg Shooters

Salmon Gnocchi Bake with Gremolata

Some meals don’t even pretend to be light, and Salmon Gnocchi Bake with Gremolata leans into that with zero shame. It shows up hot, full of intent, and absolutely ready to make dinner feel like a done deal. Nobody leaves the table still hungry, and no one minds that there’s zero room for seconds. It’s a full-on situation, not just a side gig. Bonus: it doesn’t care what day of the week it is.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Gnocchi Bake with Gremolata

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

There’s no ceremony here—Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp just hits the grill, lands on the plate, and disappears like it was never there. It brings the kind of flavor that makes talking optional and eye contact impossible. Pile it high, hand out napkins, and let the silence do the talking. When it’s done right, people remember it without needing a photo. This one keeps things simple but doesn’t hold back.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

Seafood Stuffed Bell Peppers

Some meals look neat but hide a little bit of chaos inside. Seafood Stuffed Bell Peppers are like that—tidy on the outside, packed with action inside. They come in strong and make the fork do extra work, but nobody’s mad about it. Good for dinner, even better for leftovers, and basically impossible to serve just once. You don’t see them coming, but you’ll remember them later.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Stuffed Bell Peppers

Cajun Pasta with Shrimp

Not every plate has to play nice. Cajun Pasta with Shrimp shows up with some heat and doesn’t apologize for it. It’s bold, fast-moving, and usually halfway gone before anyone remembers to grab a drink. This is the one people talk about after the plates are cleared. If dinner needs a little energy, this is where it comes from.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Pasta with Shrimp

Cold Crab Dip

It’s cold, it’s messy, and it’s everything a seafood dip should be. Cold Crab Dip shows up when the chips are out and people suddenly remember they’re hungry. It doesn’t need heat to make its point—it’s sharp, straight to the point, and usually wiped clean before anything else. Nobody’s asking if it’s homemade because nobody really cares. They’re just going back for more.
Get the Recipe: Cold Crab Dip

Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

This dish doesn’t care about trends or plating—it’s here to do what it’s always done. Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole is reliable, easy to recognize, and still standing strong when all the flashier meals have faded. It’s the kind of seafood comfort that somehow keeps showing up at just the right time. Nothing flashy, but somehow always gone first. If you know, you know.
Get the Recipe: Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

Garlic Shrimp Scampi

Some recipes just refuse to sit quietly in the corner. Garlic Shrimp Scampi shows up loud, full of flavor, and ready to disappear before you can blink. It’s a plate that makes people lean forward and forget the rest of the menu. No one’s faking excitement when this hits the table—it’s the real deal. You could try to make less next time, but good luck with that.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Scampi

Crab Spanakopita

It looks like a snack, acts like a main, and vanishes faster than you’d expect. Crab Spanakopita is one of those crossover dishes that doesn’t stay in its lane and doesn’t need to. It’s crisp, packed, and way too easy to eat without thinking twice. People keep calling it “just one more” until the tray is empty. If you’re not watching closely, you might miss your chance.
Get the Recipe: Crab Spanakopita

Copycat Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

This one’s sweet, crunchy, and probably more addictive than it should be. Copycat Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp isn’t pretending to be healthy—it’s pretending you didn’t just grab your third helping. It brings the kind of familiar chaos that makes fast food feel like a very good idea. Plates clear fast and silence follows. You didn’t plan on loving it this much, but here we are.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

Seafood Stuffed Salmon

This one doesn’t tiptoe in—it shows up like it owns the place. Seafood Stuffed Salmon brings a kind of swagger that makes everything else on the plate feel like filler. It’s big, layered, and designed to be the thing people remember. If dinner needed a centerpiece, this would be it. Just try not to make eye contact with anyone while chewing.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Stuffed Salmon

Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp

It’s chill, it’s flexible, and it works whether you’re inside, outside, or somewhere in between. Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp doesn’t need a special invite—it just fits. It balances the line between relaxed and full-on satisfying, and somehow disappears before the grill’s even cooled down. Great as a side, sneaky good as the main. Either way, there won’t be any left.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp

Baked Shrimp and Avocado Tacos

This is the kind of taco that doesn’t need a Tuesday. Baked Shrimp and Avocado Tacos land hard and don’t stick around. They feel casual, but they pack enough to steal the spotlight from whatever else is on the table. You could try to save a few, but it won’t happen. Just make more and act surprised when they vanish.
Get the Recipe: Baked Shrimp and Avocado Tacos

Baja Fish Tacos

These aren’t the polite kind of tacos. Baja Fish Tacos are loud, a little messy, and perfect for anyone who likes food that doesn’t stay in one place. Great for crowds, better for nights when nobody feels like making decisions. Everyone knows what’s coming, but they still grab two. You don’t plan these—they just happen.
Get the Recipe: Baja Fish Tacos

Shrimp & Corn Chowder

This bowl doesn’t pull punches. Shrimp & Corn Chowder fills the space like it’s got something to prove, and honestly, it backs it up. It’s warm, thick, and not afraid to make a little noise on the way down. Good for any season, better with friends, and probably the reason someone’s licking the spoon. It holds its own and doesn’t need a backup plan.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp & Corn Chowder