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    Home » Real Food » Seafood

    Easy Grilled Shrimp

    June 22, 2020 | By Kristen Chidsey | 29 Comments | *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. 

    This recipe for Grilled Shrimp is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to prepare shrimp. Made with a sweet and slightly spicy honey garlic marinade and grilled to perfection, the Shrimp Skewers are infused with flavor and coated in a rich glaze that is mouthwatering good!  

    Grilled Shimp on Skewers with lemon wedges.

    This recipe for Grilled Shrimp is a go-to dinner during the summer months. Including the time to marinate, the shrimp skewers are ready in less than 30 minutes, making this meal FAST. But the real reason this recipe is on repeat at my house is the FLAVOR!

    The shrimp are marinated in a simple honey garlic sauce that is sweet and spicy and infuse the shrimp with incredible flavor. As the shrimp skewers grill, they are coated in a bit of the reserved marinade which creates a glaze that makes the shrimp out-of-this-world divine. We are talking lick your fingers kind of good!

    Served alongside Grilled Vegetable Kabobs or Succotash, Grilled Shrimp is guaranteed to become a fast favorite on your dinner table as well!

    Notes on Key Ingredients

    This grilled shrimp recipe is made with fresh or frozen shrimp and a flavorful honey garlic marinade that is also featured in my recipes for Honey Garlic Salmon and Honey Garlic Pork Chops--it is so easy and so good! And you probably already have the ingredients on hand for this simple marinade

    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 and prevent the shrimp from falling through the grill grates. 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 Make Grilled Shrimp Skewers

    • For the marinade, whisk together the lemon juice, honey, olive oil, garlic, spices, and salt in a large bowl. Use a large bowl so that you can add the shrimp right to the bowl rather than dirtying another dish.
    Marinade for grilled shrimp in glass bowl.
    • Remove ¼ cup from the marinade and set aside for brushing onto the shrimp while grilling. That is really going to finish this grilled shrimp with amazing flavor.
    • 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.
    • Once the shrimp are cooked, remove them 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 the leftover shrimp cold on a salad or wrap, or heat to enjoy in shrimp tacos or over cheese grits.

    To reheat the shrimp, lightly heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat until just warm. Do NOT microwave, as that will cause the shrimp to become rubbery.

    More Favorite Grilled Entrees

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

    Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.

    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 27 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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    Categorized Under: 30-Minute Meals, Allergy Friendly Recipes, Dairy-Free Recipes, Gluten Free, Grilling, Seafood

    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.

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    1. Sheila G

      August 06, 2022 at 7:28 am

      5 stars
      My family loved this!! Delicious and so easy to make!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 06, 2022 at 7:58 am

        Thanks for sharing Sheila!

        Reply
    2. Kristyn

      August 03, 2022 at 6:18 pm

      5 stars
      So much flavor & easy to make! My whole family enjoyed them! Most of my kids have learned to love shrimp, so now they want it all the time!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 04, 2022 at 6:57 am

        I love hearing that your family enjoyed Kristyn! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Cheryl

      July 22, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      Third time making this tonight! A great combination of sweet and spicy! A definite keeper!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 22, 2022 at 6:02 pm

        Wahoo! Love hearing you enjoy so much!

        Reply
    4. Jennifer

      July 05, 2022 at 1:50 am

      5 stars
      Came out so yummy!! Loved it!

      Reply
    5. 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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