• Home
  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Sauces and Dips
  • Seafood
  • Sides
↑

Grilling, Smoking, Living

Living the Barbecue Life

  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Sauces & Rubs
  • Sides
  • Misc
    • Dessert
  • Home
    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Tips & Tricks

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

June 12, 2024 by Lyuba Leave a Comment

Pin
Share
Post
Share
Pin
Share
Post
Share
Jump to Recipe

Delicious, easy, buttery grilled shrimp made on skewers with garlic, herbs, and fresh lime juice. It’s the easiest shrimp dinner you can make in a few minutes but also full of flavor and smoky addition from the grill. You can make it during the week with ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

closeup shrimp skewers on the grey plate

Shrimp Skewers

When I want an easy dinner where I don’t have to wait to long for it to cook, I turn to seafood. More specifically, shrimp and scallops, because they take almost no time to cook. Both, shrimp and scallops take just a few minutes per side to cook. This means that you can have your dinner in less than 20 minutes if you pair it with an salad or easy vegetables.

Of course, firing up the grill for just shrimp seems a bit of a pain. So you can always reserve grilled shrimp for the times where you pair them with other meats or cooking for a crowd.

No matter when you decide to throw some shrimp on the grill, it will always be easy, quick and full of flavor. Get some good quality shrimp, fresh garlic, herbs, and lime for an easy summer seafood recipe.

Ingredients For Shrimp Skewers

labeled ingredients to make grilled shrimp skewers on a wooden cutting board.

Shrimp – For the best results, get the best quality shrimp. When possible, get fresh shrimp that are extra large or jumbo (like 16/20 or 21/25). That way they don’t cook too fast and become rubbery.

Garlic – fresh garlic will always give you better taste results than jarred, pre-minced one.

Lime – you will need lime juice and zest from 1 ripe lime for great citrusy flavor.

Oil – use a neutral high burn point oil to it stands up well to grilling, for example avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.

Parsley – get the best flavors from fresh parsley.

Butter – use unsalted butter to finish the shrimp and if you must, add just a pinch of salt. Using unsalted butter helps you control sodium amount and taste yourself.

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Grill Shrimp Skewers

About 30-60 minutes before cooking, submerge the wooden skewers in water and let them soak.

If using frozen shrimp, make sure they are completely thawed. Peel and devein shrimp if needed, rinse them off, and pat them dry with a paper towel.

In a small mixing bowl, combine shrimp, lime juice, lime zest, pressed garlic, oil, minced parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let it sit and marinade while you set up the grill and preheat.

While the grill is preheating, skewer the shrimp onto the soaked skewers.

tossing shrimp with garlic and lime mixture in a bowl
shrimp skewers onto wooden sticks on a baking sheet

Spray the shrimp with some non-stick cooking spray on both sides before adding it to the grill.

Grill shrimp over direct heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. (Time will vary depending on the size of shrimp but you are looking for shrimp to turn completely opaque.)

uncooked shrimp skewers on the grill
shrimp skewers cooking on the grill

Melt butter while shrimp is cooking and mix it with pressed garlic and parsley. Once shrimp is done, brush them with melted butter mixture and serve.

brushing grilled shrimp with herb butter mixture

Recipe FAQs

What is the temperature of the grill for shrimp?

You want to grill shrimp over medium to medium-high temperature, over direct heat. If you’re preparing a charcoal grill, fill the chimney starter about 3-4 of the way. Keep the coals on one side of the grill to keep them more concentrated but you will be grilling on the hot side. For the gas grill, keep temperature around medium-high, between 375°- 425°.

How long to cook shrimp on the grill?

You will want to grill shrimp skewers for about 3 minutes per size, depending on the size. Because the shrimp are clustered in the skewers, they will take a few more seconds on the grill than loose shrimp. Total cook time will be 6-8 minutes.

Can I add some wood chips?

Of course! One of the best ways to infuse extra wonderful smoke flavor it with wood chips. Throw some nice and mild flavored wood chips like apple, pecan, cherry, alder.

Why do I have to soak skewers?

Thin wooden skewers catch fire and burn easily. When you soak the skewers, you introduce moisture into them and that moisture will have to dry out before the wood will start burning. This will give your food ample time to cook before the skewers will be ablaze. If you forgot to soak them, wrap the tips with aluminum foil.

How To Serve Grilled Shrimp

These grilled shrimp would great with a salad or topped over a rice bowl.

Serve it with a grilled steak or steak kebabs for a nice surf & turf dinner. Likewise, you can make grilled chicken.

Feel free to throw some vegetables on the grill to cook at the same time like zucchini, asparagus, mixed vegetable skewers, green beans, and more.

holding a shrimp skewer up close

Some More Grilled Seafood Recipes

  • Grilled Lobster Tails
  • Maple BBQ Grilled Salmon
  • Grilled Scallops
  • Spicy Grilled Shrimp

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

IF YOU’RE MADE MY RECIPE, PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!

several shrimp skewers stacked on the grey plate

Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Delicious, easy, buttery grilled shrimp made on skewers with garlic, herbs, and fresh lime juice.
Print Recipe
CourseMain Course
CuisineAmerican
Keywordgrilled shrimp
Prep Time10 minutes minutes
Cook Time8 minutes minutes
Preheat the grill:15 minutes minutes
Total Time33 minutes minutes
Servings4
Calories348kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs large or jumbo shrimp
  • 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 lime – juice and zest
  • 2 garlic cloves pressed
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
  • salt
  • black pepper

To Finish:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 garlic clove pressed
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
  • pinch of salt if needed
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Before Grilling:

  • About 30-60 minutes before cooking, submerge the wooden skewers in water and let them soak.
  • Prepare the grill, preheat it to medium-high temperature, and make sure to clean the grill grate before adding food on it.

Prepare Shrimp:

  • If using frozen shrimp, make sure they are completely thawed. Peel and devein shrimp in needed, rinse them off, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine shrimp, lime juice, lime zest, pressed garlic, oil, minced parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let it sit until the grill is preheated.
  • Skewer shrimp ono the the skewers.

Cooking Shrimp:

  • Spray the shrimp with some non-stick cooking spray on both sides before adding it to the grill.
  • When the grill is preheated, use long metal tongs to add shrimp skewers to the grill.
  • Grill shrimp over direct heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. (Time will vary depending on the size of shrimp but you are looking for shrimp to turn completely opaque.)
  • Melt butter while shrimp is cooking and mix it with pressed garlic and parsley. Once shrimp is done, brush them with melted butter mixture and serve.

Notes

  • Add Smoky Flavor: One of the best ways to infuse extra wonderful smoke flavor it with wood chips. Throw some nice and mild flavored wood chips like apple, pecan, cherry, alder.
  • Make Sure To Soak Wooden Skewers: Thin wooden skewers catch fire and burn easily. When you soak the skewers, you introduce moisture into them and that moisture will have to dry out before the wood will start burning. This will give your food ample time to cook before the skewers will be ablaze. If you forgot to soak them, wrap the tips with aluminum foil.

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 587mg | Sodium: 1765mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 436IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 344mg | Iron: 5mg

Originally published on Grilling Smoking Living in July 2021.

Pin
Share
Post
Share
Pin
Share
Post
Share

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Filed Under: Seafood

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Let's get grilling!

Welcome, everyone! I’m Lyuba Brooke, come in, grab a beer, and head to the backyard. Here, I love to grill, barbecue, and share everything I make. You will find a ton of recipes for grilling, smoking, and the sauces to dip it in.

Our Popular Recipes

  • Smoking Sausage
  • top view of grilled chicken legs stacked on top of each other on a white plate Grilled Chicken Legs
  • Smoked Spatchcock Chicken
  • cooked smoked tenderloin on a cutting board Smoked Pork Tenderloin
  • holding a smoked turkey leg Smoked Turkey Legs
  • top view of spices of the beef rub on baking sheet Beef Rub Recipe
  • adding BBQ sauce to pulled chicken Smoked Pulled Chicken
  • starting to scoop the smoked baked beans with a spoon in a skillet Smoked Baked Beans

Categories

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2025, Grilling, Smoking, Living. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs

 

Subscribe to the

Grilling, Smoking, Living Recipe Newsletter

 

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


.