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    Home » Real Food » Seafood » Easy Grilled Shrimp

    Easy Grilled Shrimp

    By Kristen Chidsey | 22 Comments | Published June 22, 2020 | Updated June 13, 2022 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Grilling shrimp is one of the tastiest ways to prepare shrimp. Made with a slightly spicy honey garlic marinade, these Grilled Shimp Skewers cook up fast and are filled with flavor. 

    Made with a sweet and spicy honey garlic marinade, this recipe for Grilled Shimp is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to prepare shrimp. 

    Grilled Shimp on Skewers with lemon wedges

    There are not many recipes that beat grilled shrimp when it comes to being fast and flavorful.

    And this recipe for Grilled Garlic Shrimp is always a winner--in terms of both ease and flavor. From start to finish, this recipe only takes 30 minutes.

    But the real beauty of Grilled Shrimp is the flavor! The shrimp is marinated in a honey garlic sauce that is sweet, spicy, and the perfect complement to the shrimp. And you probably already have the ingredients on hand for this simple marinade!

    Notes on Key Ingredients

    Ingredients for grilled shrimp labeled on white counter
    • Shrimp: You can use fresh or frozen shrimp for this recipe. You can also prepare the shrimp with or without the tails. Personally, I prefer to serve without the tails, as it makes for less mess. Just be sure your shrimp is peeled and deveined before proceeding with this recipe. Pro-tip: It is WELL worth the cost of purchasing the shrimp already peeled and deveined as this will save you so much time!
    • Garlic: Use minced jarred garlic, grated, or finely minced fresh garlic. The garlic is key to the flavor in this recipe.
    • Honey: Honey will sweeten the marinade and bring marry together the lemon, garlic, and paprika perfectly.
    • Lemon Juice: Be sure to use FRESH lemon juice, not jarred lemon juice. The flavor is simply not comparable.
    • Spices: A bit of cayenne pepper and paprika add a little kick to the marinade for the shrimp and helps to balance out the sweetness of the honey. Feel free to omit the cayenne if you are sensitive to heat.

    Pro-Tips for the Best Grilled Shrimp

    • Fresh is best. While you can use fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp, it is crucial to prepare the shrimp as soon as possible. Plan to grill fresh shrimp within 24 hours of purchasing and use the frozen shrimp as soon as it is defrosted, for the best flavor.
    • Peeled is the way to go. This recipe calls for shrimp that has been peeled. This allows the shrimp to absorb the flavor of the marinade. It also makes for easier eating and allows the shrimp to achieve char marks that also flavor the meat.
    • Skewer the shrimp. Use metal or wooden skewers to thread the shrimp onto before grilling. This will make flipping the shrimp easier. If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to using them to prevent the skewers from catching fire on the grill.
    • Grill Over Direct Heat. It will only take a few minutes for the shrimp to cook through. The shrimp are finished cooking once the outside is a pink color and the inside should be white and opaque. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp or else it will become tough.

    How to Grill Shrimp

    • For the marinade, whisk the lemon juice, honey, olive oil, garlic, spices, and salt together in a large bowl.
    Marinade for grilled shrimp in glass bowl.
    • Remove ¼ cup from the marinade and set aside for brushing onto the shrimp while grilling.
    • Then add the shrimp to the remaining marinade and toss to coat.
    • Cover the bowl and refrigerate to marinate the shrimp. Allow the shrimp to sit in the marinade for 15 minutes and up to 1 hour. Do not marinate the shrimp for longer than 60 minutes or the acid from the lemon juice will begin to cook the shrimp.
    • Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
    • While the grill is preheating, remove the shrimp from the marinade and thread on skewers.
    Skewered marinated shrimp on wooden cutting board.
    • Grill shrimp until they are pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side, brushing with reserved ¼ cup marinade before and after flipping the skewers.
    • Remove from the grill and serve immediately.
    Shrimp on grill pan.

    Using Frozen Shrimp

    If using frozen shrimp, you want to use it within 12 hours of thawing for the best results.

    To thaw shrimp, you have two options. You can place the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Or for faster thawing, take the shrimp out of its package and place them into a sealed Ziploc bag. Submerge the bag of shrimp into a large bowl of cold water and let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes for the shrimp to thaw.

    Storing Leftovers

    Grilled shrimp is best enjoyed the day it is prepared. However, if you have leftovers, store the cooled shrimp in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Enjoy cold on a salad or in a wrap or lightly heat in a dry skillet over medium heat until just warm. Do NOT microwave, or the shrimp will become rubbery.

    More Grilled Entrees

    • Grilled Pork Tenderloin
    • Grilled Burgers
    • Grilled Chicken Kabobs
    • Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
    • BBQ Chicken Burger

    This grilled shrimp makes one of the fastest, most flavorful meals. I would love to hear how much you enjoy the sweet and spicy marinade on this Grilled Shrimp. Please leave a comment and review below.

    Close up of Grilled Shrimp on Skewers

    Grilled Shrimp

    Made with a slightly spicy, garlic-infused marinade, these Grilled Shimp Skewers cook up in minutes for a quick and flavorful way to enjoy fresh or frozen shrimp.
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes
    Marinate: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 202kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • 3 tablespoons honey
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 2 pounds jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
    • Lemon wedges for serving
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • If using wooden skewers, soak in water for at least 30 minutes before placing shrimp on the skewers. This will prevent the skewers from catching fire on the grill.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, honey, cayenne pepper, and paprika.
    • Reserve ¼ cup marinade for brushing onto shrimp while grilling.
    • In a large bowl, toss shrimp with remaining marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. Allow the shrimp to sit in the marinade for 15 minutes up to 1 hour. Do not allow the shrimp to sit in the marinade for longer than 60 minutes or the acid will begin to cook the shrimp.
    • Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
    • While the grill is preheating, remove the shrimp from the marinade and thread on skewers.
    • Grill shrimp until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side, brushing with reserved ¼ cup marinade before and after flipping the skewers.
    • Serve hot with lemon wedges.

    Equipment Needed

    • wooden skewers
    • metal skewers

    Notes

    Notes on Shrimp: Use frozen or fresh shrimp, with or without the tails. I prefer shrimp with the tails removed for easier eating, but the choice is yours. If you use shrimp that is are not jumbo in size keep in mind that that the cooking time will change slightly. Watch for the shrimp to be pink and opaque.
    Frozen Shrimp: If using frozen shrimp, thaw overnight in the fridge. Or for faster thawing, take the shrimp out of its package and place them into a sealed Ziploc bag. Submerge the bag of shrimp into a large bowl of cold water and let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes for the shrimp to thaw. 
    This recipe can easily be cut in half. 
    Grilled shrimp is best enjoyed the day it is made but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 286mg | Sodium: 1173mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 3mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vivian

      April 06, 2022 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Grilled Argentina red shrimp using this recipe. Delicious!! Definite keeper. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 07, 2022 at 4:28 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed Vivian!

        Reply
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