Description
Delicious Shrimp Toast featuring toasted baguette slices topped with a flavorful shrimp mixture blended with cream cheese, cheeses, and spices, then baked until golden and bubbly. This appetizer combines crispy bread with a creamy, savory shrimp topping, perfect for entertaining or a tasty snack.
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 16-inch French baguette, sliced into 16 even portions
- Olive oil, for brushing
Shrimp Mixture
- 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
- 6 medium green onions, thinly sliced (reserve some for garnish)
- 1 tsp seafood seasoning (e.g., Old Bay or Seafood Magic)
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
- 4 oz chive and onion cream cheese, softened
- Few dashes hot sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Smoked paprika, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Bread: Preheat your oven to the broil setting. Brush a large sheet pan with olive oil or spray it with cooking spray. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with olive oil and arrange them evenly on the prepared pan. Broil the slices for 2-3 minutes on each side until lightly toasted.
- Sauté Vegetables: While the bread is toasting, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced red bell pepper and thinly sliced green onions (reserving some green onion for garnish). Cook for about 2 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the roughly chopped shrimp to the skillet with the vegetables. Cook the shrimp for 2 minutes, until fully cooked and opaque.
- Season and Combine: Stir in the seafood seasoning, granulated garlic, salt, and lemon pepper. Mix well to coat the shrimp and veggies evenly. Then add the softened chive and onion cream cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese, Parmesan cheese, and a few dashes of hot sauce. Turn off the heat and stir everything together until fully combined and creamy.
- Assemble Toasts: Use a tablespoon to evenly spread the shrimp mixture atop each toasted baguette slice. Sprinkle the remaining shredded Colby Jack cheese over the top of each piece. Dust the tops lightly with smoked paprika for color and flavor.
- Bake and Broil: Lower the oven temperature to 400°F (204°C). Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake the shrimp toasts for 8-10 minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese has melted. For an extra golden, browned finish, broil the toasts briefly at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the shrimp toasts from the oven, garnish with the reserved green onions, and serve immediately while warm and bubbly.
Notes
- Make sure shrimp is cooked fully before adding cheese to avoid a rubbery texture.
- Adjust hot sauce amount to your preferred spice level.
- Broiling at the end is optional but adds a pleasing golden crust.
- You can substitute the chive and onion cream cheese for plain cream cheese with fresh chives and onions mixed in.
- Use a quality seafood seasoning like Old Bay for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
