Name: Shrimp Bruschetta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 24 ounces cherry tomatoes; 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 Tablespoon minced garlic; Kosher salt; Juice of ½ a large lemon; 1 lb. large raw shrimp (peeled and deveined); 4 ounces feta (crumbled); ¼ cup fresh basil (sliced); For the bread:; 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 French baguette (or bread of your choice)

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Shrimp Bruschetta is an irresistible appetizer you can make in just 30 minutes! Take your basic tomato bruschetta to the next level with roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, feta and shrimp! Save this recipe for those late summer days when tomatoes are cheap, abundant, and so delicious.

Can’t get enough shrimp? Be sure to try our Creamy Shrimp Pappardelle, Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos, and Shrimp Sandwiches with Peach Salsa.

Table of Contents

Restaurant Worthy Shrimp Bruschetta

Roasted tomato shrimp bruschetta with feta and lemon in a white baking dish.

A few years ago (ok, probably more like 10 years ago), my husband and I visited Cape Cod to celebrate our anniversary. We ate A LOT of fantastic seafood while we were there–everything from lobster rolls to steamed mussels to bouillabaisse–but one of our most memorable meals came from a restaurant called The Ocean House.

It was a cozy sort of place with a view of the water, and quite a lot fancier than what we were used to. We splurged on drinks, filet mignon, and dessert, but the best part of the meal was, surprisingly enough, the appetizer.

It was a seafood bruschetta featuring a mix of mussels, shrimp, and lobster, all swimming in a garlicky roasted tomato sauce. It was served with big hunks of toasted Tuscan bread, which we piled high with seafood then used to sop up every last bit of the juices left in the pan.

Of course, we came home and immediately wanted to recreate the recipe. We decided to skip the lobster and mussels to save money and reduce the preparation time, but we kept the basics the same.

The result is this Shrimp Bruschetta, a fabulous appetizer that is made in a single dish and takes just 30 minutes from start to finish. Filled with roasted tomatoes, juicy plump shrimp, crumbles of feta cheese, and a squeeze of lemon, this dish is bright and comforting all at the same time.

This dish is a bit soupier than your typical bruschetta, but that makes it ideal for soaking into every nook and cranny of the bread. It’s so good you may even be able to convince yourself you’re vacationing on the coast.

Toasted bread scooping up shrimp and roasted tomatoes.

Key Ingredients + Substitutions

Tomatoes– We have tested this bruschetta recipe with cherry tomatoes and slicer tomatoes (and a mix of both). Both work well, though I slightly prefer the cherry tomatoes. No slicing needed!
Garlic– We use a full tablespoon of minced garlic. Trust me, this dish is worth the potent garlic breath.
Shrimp– We recommend purchasing raw, peeled and deveined shrimp for this recipe. Fresh or frozen shrimp both work well, just defrost the shrimp under cold running water before adding it to the dish.
Basil– Fresh basil imparts loads of bright summery flavor to the finished dish.
Lemon juice– We always recommend using fresh squeezed lemon juice, not bottled.
Feta cheese– For a savory, briny punch, we add feta cheese. Mini mozzarella balls would also be great!
Bread- Choose a hearty white bread like sourdough, Italian, or a French baguette for bruschetta.

Raw shrimp, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and French baguetta on a baking sheet.

How to Make Shrimp Bruschetta

Step 1: Roast the tomatoes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the tomatoes in a baking dish and cover with olive oil, salt, and garlic. Roast about 20 minutes, until tomatoes are bursting.

Cherry tomatoes with garlic and olive oil in a baking dish.

Step 2: Add shrimp. Stir in the shrimp, lemon juice, and feta and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or until shrimp is pink and opaque.

Roasted tomatoes tossed with shrimp, feta, and lemon juice in a baking dish.

Step 3: Toast the bread. While the shrimp is cooking, brush thin slices of bread with olive oil on both sides. Grill in a grill pan over medium high heat, until the bread is crisp and toasted on both sides.

French baguette slices brushed in olive oil.

Step 4: Garnish and serve. Give everything a good stir. Taste to see if more salt or lemon juice is needed. Stir in the fresh basil, and serve with toasted bread slices.

Baked shrimp bruschetta with lemon and feta.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

Shrimp Bruschetta can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the fridge. To reheat, cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

The bread is best grilled right before serving.

How to Toast Bread for Bruschetta

The bread used for bruschetta is typically a sturdy white bread with a hearty crust, like sourdough, ciabatta, or a French baguette. Slice baguettes at an angle to get elongated slices, perfect for toppings.

Larger breads can be sliced and halved for individual, hand held portion sizes.

If you prefer bread that is completely crisp, use thinner slices. If you prefer bread that still has some chew in the middle, use thicker slices.

Bruschetta bread is usually brushed with oil on both sides and can be toasted in a grill pan or on the grill. Use high heat to get those gorgeous grill marks!

For a great comparison of crostini and bruschetta, check out this post. Spoiler: this shrimp bruschetta can be made with crostini too!

Shrimp Bruschetta with feta, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Make It a Meal

Want to turn this appetizer into a main dish? Serve it over angel hair, spaghetti, or linguine pasta.

The juicy lemon garlic tomatoes make the perfect light, summery sauce for pasta!

More Summer Appetizer Recipes to Try