Spicy Grilled Shrimp are very easy and they pack a whole lot of flavor. These spicy shrimp are perfect to throw on the grill for an easy, smokey dinner. The sweet and spicy wet rub is very easy to mix together and a perfect compliment to the shrimp.
SPICY GRILLED SHRIMP
What to make for dinner is a never-ending dilemma. Whether you’re at the store or standing in front of an open refrigerator, it’s still annoying to decide on what to make. When in doubt, I go with shrimp. Shrimp is the easiest and fastest protein to make and it goes with so many flavors. I’m sure there is a bag of shrimp in your freezer somewhere, defrost it and you’ll have an awesome dinner.
If you like bold and spicy flavors, this is the perfect recipe. This wet rub is amazing and you can easily adjust the spice level if you prefer more or less heat. The reason why this seasoning is so good is the combination of sweet, spicy, and sour flavors. A touch of brown sugar and a squeeze of lemon is a great balance to the spicy cayenne pepper. It works well with the slight natural sweetness of shrimp too.
Since the shrimp will only take about 6-8 minutes on the grill, it will be great as an easy dinner or a nice addition to chicken and steak off the grill. If you will be serving shrimp with chicken, make sure to start cooking the chicken first. If you’re making the shrimp with steaks, temperature of the steak will demand when to put shrimp on the grill.
WHAT SPICES TO USE IN WET RUB
Wet rub is basically a combination of dry rub seasoning and wet ingredients. Wet ingredients can be anything like oil, vinegar, fruit juices, alcohol, mustard, or a combination of some of those. I love using wet rubs because they stick very well to meat, unlike a marinade.
For spicy shrimp, I combine sweet, salty, spicy, and earthy:
Fresh garlic
Cayenne pepper
Paprika
Brown sugar
Garlic powder
Salt
Thyme
Oil
Lemon Juice
GRILL NOTES:
Coals: briquettes or lump coal
Grill temperature: medium: 350°-425° (1/2 to 2/3 filled chimney)
Placement on the grill: direct
Wood if desired: apple, pecan, cherry, alder
HOW TO MAKE SPICY GRILLED SHRIMP
First thing you want to do is soak the skewers because it will take the longest. Submerge wooden skewers in water and let them soak for about 20-30 minutes.
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.
Prepare shrimp:
Make sure the shrimp is completely thawed if using frozen shrimp. Peel and de-vein shrimp if needed, rinse them off, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Combine all the ingredients for the wet rub and mix it well. Add shrimp and wet rub into a mixing bowl and toss until shrimp is evenly coated.
Let the shrimp sit while preparing the coals.
Grilling shrimp:
When the coals are ready, add them to the grill, spread them in one even layer (or build a two-fire zone) and close the lid to let the grill pre-heat.
While the grill is preheating, skewer the shrimp onto the soaked skewers.
If your grill grate is seasoned, you don’t need to add any oil to the shrimp. If not, you can spray shrimp skewers with some non-stick cooking spray on both sides before adding it to the grill.
Place shrimp skewers on the grill directly over the fire and let them cook for 3-5 minutes on each side. Exact time will depend on the size of shrimp. You are looking for shrimp to turn opaque on both sides.
SIDES THAT WILL GO GREAT WITH SHRIMP
Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Rice
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Spicy Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp
- 4-6 bamboo skewers
Wet Rub:
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper *adjust amount to personal heat preference
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
Soak the skewers:
- First thing you want to do is soak the skewers because it will take the longest. Submerge wooden skewers in water and let them soak for about 20-30 minutes.
Prepare shrimp:
- Make sure the shrimp is completely thawed if using frozen shrimp. Peel and de-vein shrimp if needed, rinse them off, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Combine all the ingredients for the wet rub and mix it well. Add shrimp and wet rub into a mixing bowl and toss until shrimp is evenly coated.
- Let the shrimp sit while preparing the coals.
Grill the shrimp:
- While the grill is preheating, skewer the shrimp onto the soaked skewers.
- If your grill grate is seasoned, you don’t need to add any oil to the shrimp. If not, you can spray shrimp skewers with some non-stick cooking spray on both sides before adding it to the grill.
- Place shrimp skewers on the grill directly over the coals and let them cook for 3-5 minutes on each side. Exact time will depend on the size of shrimp. You are looking for shrimp to turn opaque on both sides.
Notes
Nutrition
Love love love this recipe found my Grilled Spicy Shrimp recipe, hit the mark thanks for sharing. I’m also a big a griller, my family tells me I have too many grill and need to stop, I tell them that’s nonsense. 🤣
Anyway my family and I loved it thanks again, Dee
Thank you so much 🙂
It is absolutely a nonsense! Lol, grilling is not just fun but I feel like it bring the food so much more flavor! You keep doing a rocking job like you are! (So sorry for the late response!)