Learn how to grill shrimp perfectly so you can have juicy skewers whenever you’re cooking outdoors. It’s really fast and easy.
Shrimp are one of my favorite things to eat, especially in the warm months. They’re light and juicy, but are also an awesome source of protein. Grilling shrimp is one of the best ways to prepare them because the high heat cooks them quickly but leaves them tender on the inside. The smoky flavor the char marks leave is really tasty too.
What Kind Of Shrimp Should I Use?
I try to keep frozen shrimp in my freezer at all times for when I need a fast dinner. Here’s how I thaw my shrimp when I need them. I like frozen shrimp because they are frozen quickly after they’re caught, which makes them really fresh when defrosted.
Whether fresh or frozen, you’ll want your shrimp to be peeled and deveined.
How To Grill Shrimp
As much as I love grilled chicken, grilling shrimp is much faster. The tricky part about grilling shrimp is that they’re small, so they have a tendency to fall through the grates if you don’t grill them on a skewer. Just make sure to soak wood skewers in water for 30 minutes prior to putting them on the grill so they don’t burn.
You also want to make sure you pat your shrimp completely dry before you grill them. This prevents them from sticking to the grill. After you pat them dry, drizzle on a little bit of olive oil, and sprinkle with salt, and pepper.
How To Serve Grilled Shrimp
When I serve plain, grilled shrimp, I like to serve them with a squeeze of lemon juice. It adds the perfect little extra flavor to the shrimp. Of course, you could also serve them with a sauce. Check out this grilled shrimp recipe with a garlic butter sauce. Yum!
Try using your grilled seafood in shrimp tacos or over rice. And since you already heated the grill, maybe with some grilled vegetables like asparagus.
More Shrimp Cooking Methods
How to Grill Shrimp Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
Learn how to grill shrimp perfectly so you can have juicy skewers whenever you’re cooking outdoors. It’s really fast and easy.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. peeled and deveined shrimp
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 5–6 skewers
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Instructions
- If you’re using wooden skewers, 30 minutes prior to grilling soak them in water so they don’t burn on the grill.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Lay the shrimp on a flat surface and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Rub them with the olive oil and sprinkle on the salt and pepper.
- Fill the skewers with the shrimp, adding about 5 to each.
- Lay the skewers on the grill for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove them from the grill and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing onto the shrimp.
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This post originally appeared in May 2019 and was revised and republished in June 2022.