This grilled shrimp recipe is soaked in a quick and easy, slightly sweet marinade, then seared to smokey perfection in just a few minutes per side. It’s full of flavor, comes off the grill quicker than everything, and is hard to overcook. Grilling shrimp is our favorite way to eat it, let me show you why!
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Start with The Grilled Shrimp Marinade
This grilled shrimp marinade comes together so quickly and easily, using a handful of pantry staples. Plus the marinade takes only 30 minutes to infuse loads of flavor (just like my salmon marinade).
My trusting combo of ingredients helps to tenderize the shrimp (thank you lemon juice), while caramelizing its edges (hello honey). The rest are flavor enhancers that you’ll love.
How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp (quickly!)
Frozen shrimp can be thawed one of 3 ways, depending on how much time you have. Make sure your shrimp is completely defrosted before placing it in the marinade or attempting to grill it.
- In a colander (quickest), under cold running water for 5-10 minutes.
- In a bowl of cold water. Place the shrimp in a resealable bag, dunk in the water, and place a plate on top to prevent the frozen shrimp from floating up. Should take roughly 1 hour to defrost.
- In the fridge, the night before you plan to dunk them in the grilled shrimp marinade. If they’re in a plastic bag, make sure you have them in a bowl to prevent leaking as the ice thaws. It’ll take about 8 hours to defrost shrimp this way.
How to Grill Shrimp
Easy to grill, and easier to eat. Here are your how to grill shrimp step-by-step instructions, plus some photos to help along the way.
- Combine marinade ingredients.
- Add shrimp, and toss to coat.
- Allow shrimp to marinade for 30 minutes.
- Sear on a hot grill for 2-3 minutes per side.
How Long to Grill Shrimp Kabobs
Grill your shrimp for about 2-3 minutes on each side. This will depend on the heat of your grill (I recommend high heat so you don’t overcook them), and how large your shrimp are. You’ll know your grilled shrimp is done once they’re completely opaque and lightly charred. Bbq shrimp should lift from the grill grates easily.
Top BBQ Shrimp Tips
Grilled shrimp are super easy to make–their small size prevents the need for temping, making them hard to over/undercook. Here are some of my top tips when grilling shrimp
- Should grilled shrimp be on skewers? I strongly recommend threading shrimp kabobs on skewers, this allows the shrimp to come in contact with the grates for a delicious charred flavor. Alternatively, you can bbq shrimp in a grill basket–shrimp are small and can easily fall through the grill grates, so be sure to use either a basket or skewers.
- Should I peel shrimp before grilling? Peeling shrimp before grilling is important, to allow the marinade to soak in and the grates to char the flesh. You can leave the tail on or off based on your preference. (Off = easier to eat!)
- Do you grill shrimp with the lid open or closed? Grilling shrimp is best done with the lid open–shrimp cook quickly and can overcook when the lid is closed.
What Goes with Grilled Shrimp?
We love serving this recipe with grilled veggies and rice. But these grilled shrimp are simple and delicious just about any way you serve them: consider…
- A simple salad like this arugula salad. Or use this shrimp to make a salad; see my shrimp caesar salad or shrimp and avocado salad for inspo.
- A grain bowl and roasted vegetables.
- Dice up leftovers and toss them in a frittata or omelet.
- Grill other veggies like onions and bell peppers (for a grilled take or shrimp fajitas), zucchini, and mushrooms. Or even pineapple (ala jerk shrimp).
More Healthy Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Carbonara
- Keto Shrimp Scampi
- Shrimp Saganaki
- Chimichurri Shrimp
- Chipotle Shrimp
- Cashew Shrimp
Grilled Shrimp
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Shrimp:
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled + deveined, tail on
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
To Serve:
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Whisk oil, honey, lemon juice, salt, garlic, and parsley together in a large bowl. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the marinade to top the cooked shrimp.
- Add shrimp and toss to coat. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes as you preheat the grill.
- Heat the grill to 400 F and grease the grates.
- Thread shrimp onto skewers, and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side. You'll know they're done once they're opaque and pink.
- Drizzle reserved marinade on top before serving and enjoy!
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