First Published December 2011; Updated September 2020
Spicy Bloody Mary Shrimp Shots
Appetizers are always my favorite part of a meal. In fact, my weekend dinners often consist of all appetizers. Really, who doesn't love finger food? I also love Bloody Marys. They are my favorite brunch drink. I don't mind drinking them at any time of the day or night, especially if I am eating seafood. So I put my fondness of appetizers, Bloody Mary's and seafood all together in one shot glass. Aren't they cute?
We can't forget the tomatoes! As I have professed my love for canned tomatoes before, now I am telling you they REALLY make me happy. The can of Red Gold tomatoes is what started this whole recipe. I decided to make my own Bloody Mary mix and it sure did pay off. Now I have a delicious concoction of tomatoes, broth, celery salt and fresh lemon just blending together in my refrigerator waiting for some shrimp to come along. Since I like spicy, I used tomatoes with chilies. If you would like a milder drink, you can use regular tomatoes and add a little hot sauce to your liking.
I made this bloody mary recipe with shrimp in shot glasses which are great for a crowd but if you would rather have a cozy party for two, you can serve them in martini glasses. I garnished them with olives but lemon wedges, celery, or any pickled veggies would work. The amount of vodka you add is up to you. They can even be made non alcoholic but that would be a shame. You can purchase already cooked shrimp but I prefer to make my own spiced shrimp cocktail. Then I have plenty of leftover shrimp to nibble on.
FAQ
How do I choose the best shrimp?
- Typically, the safer bet for shrimp is to buy them frozen, as this ensures they are fresh. For this recipe, as long as you're planning on using the shrimp right away, it might be better to buy fresh.
- If you’re feeling adventurous and would rather try fresh shrimp, make sure the shrimp don’t smell like ammonia or have shells that are slimy. They should be firm with solid tails.
- For a recipe like this one, aiming for medium to large -sized shrimp is the best option. Still, this would work with jumbo shrimp if you're serving it in larger glasses.
Variations
For some extra information about variations on the bloody mary, check out this guide from Eater.
- Bloody Maria: use either tequila or mezcal instead of the vodka. For garnish, consider charred jalapeño or roasted corn.
- Michelada: If a bloody mary isn't typically something you enjoy, this variation might be for you. Use beer instead of vodka, and make sure to add some lime juice and rim your glass with spices and salt.
- Bloody Caesar: For this variation, add some clam broth into your tomato mixture in addition to the chicken broth. Horseradish and chili flakes are often regularly incorporated into this drink.
- There's an absurd amount of variations on this drink, but here are some other basic suggestions.
- Instead of vodka, use: Scotch, whiskey, gin, spiced rum, or sake
- If you're in a rush, instead of the homemade tomato mixture, just combine vodka with V8!
- Add beef bouillon to your tomato mixture for a drink that veers away from surf and instead toward turf.
Other Alcoholic Beverage Recipes
- Strawberry Mojitos with Fresh Strawberries
- Lime Cucumber Cosmos from Mama Gourmand
- Rosemary Peach Maple Leaf Cocktails from The Bojon Gourmet
- Red Wine Hot Chocolate from Downshiftology
- Green Tea and Peach Juleps from Hello Glow
If you like this Spicy Bloody Mary Recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below!
RECIPE
Spicy Bloody Mary Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 oz diced tomatoes and green chilies 1 can
- 8 oz chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- Worcestershire sauce just a dash
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- half a lemon zest and juice
- seasoned salt to taste
- 4 oz vodka
- 16-20 cocktail shrimp
- green olives for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add the can of tomatoes and process until smooth.
- Put the tomatoes in a small sauce pan on medium heat. Add broth, celery seed, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and lemon. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes. Add seasoned salt to taste.
- Refrigerate mixture to cool. Flavors will blend best in a few hours.
- Add the vodka to the mixture. Garnish with shrimp and olives or your favorite garnishes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Leslie
Ohhhh.I can get drunk while eating shrimp???? SCORE!
Pegasuslegend
I am having shrimp cocktail, it doesnt look this good! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!
Biz
What a wonderful idea! HAPPY NEW YEAR LISA!
Cathy W
What an excellent way to use your canned tomatoes! Appetizers are my favorite part of the meal...next to dessert. ;)Happy New Year!
Anonymous
These look sooooo good!! A great way to start the new year.
Gloria
Look delicious:) Happy New Year:)
MaryBeth
How cute are these...A little drink and a snack all in one, love it
Shelby
Happy New Year Lisa!! I'm betting you already know I love your appetizer!
That Girl
bloody marys are a great way to start the new year! Especially after a rousing New Year's Eve.
Zee
I have never had something like this before.. Would love to give it a try soon
The Blonde Duck
I hope you had a great New Year!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
omg looks great!
Autumn@Good Eats Girl
Oh. My. Goodness. Two of my favorite things all in one. Genius! Can't wait to take these to our next gathering with friends!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE
Mmmm. That looks ridiculously good!
teresa
gorgeous and SO delicious, i can practically taste it now! happy new year!
Curt
Yes they are! They're very cute. And very tasty looking. And yea, I'm talking about the shrimp and the drink!
DessertForTwo
Gorgeous! What a fun party food!
Happy New Year 🙂
Lizzy Do
Oh, boy, who wouldn't love these????
Patricia
Boy do these look yummy!
Happy New Year!
Feast on the Cheap
Oooh, I've been looking for a good bloody mary recipe!
Mrs. L
Can I have one of these NOW? 🙂
Catalina
Yum! This reminds me of the shrimp shooters at Tiki Bar in Point Pleasant! Delish!
Happy New Year 🙂
Diane {Created by Diane}
These look great. I recently had some shrimp shots at a party and they were delicious. LOVE that you have them in Spicy Bloody Mary shots!!!
I love you new blog design 🙂
Aggie
I love bloody Mary's!! And every now and then when we've ordered them out we've gotten a shrimp and got excited! 🙂
These look amazing!!
And so does your new look! Really love it Lisa!!