These Grilled Shrimp Skewers are delicious, easy to prepare, and cook up in minutes. The marinade with the perfect blend of spices and herbs takes no time at all to mix together and takes these succulent shrimp to the next level. I love to serve them as an appetizer. Or as a main meal with a simple side dish like roasted red potatoes, Asian cucumber salad, lemon rice, or quinoa. Try these tasty shrimp in your shrimp tacos.
My daughter and I love shrimp, and this is one of our favorite seafood recipes. It comes together so quickly with incredibly fresh and healthy flavor.
How to grill shrimp skewers
Start by marinating the shrimp in a large bowl for at least 15 minutes up to 1 hour in the fridge. Then thread them on either wooden or metal skewers to prevent them from falling through the grill grate. Now preheat the grill to medium-high heat or around 450 degrees. Grill the shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side or until pink. Do not overcook them, or they will become rubbery. Sprinkle with fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley and serve with a spritz of lemon juice or lime juice.
How long does it take to grill shrimp?
Shrimp are a little on the pricey side, so the last thing you want to do is overcook them and make them rubbery. Grill shrimp at 450 degrees for about 2 minutes on each side or until they turn light pink on the outside and are no longer translucent but opaque or white on the inside. Another way to identify when shrimp are cooked through is they curl into a ‘C” shape, but you don’t want that “C” too tight. The head and the tail should not be touching. You have to be ready to go and remove them from the grill as quickly as possible.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Use good quality fresh or frozen large or jumbo shrimp. Prep the shrimp ahead of time by peeling (leave the tails intact) and deveining them. Dry them well with paper towels.
- For frozen shrimp, thaw them by running them under cold water. Dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Toss the shrimp with the marinade either in a bowl or zipper bag for at least 15 minutes up to 1 hour. Store in the fridge while it is marinating.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes prior to threading the shrimp on.
- Preheat the grill to 450 degrees. These are equally delicious grilled over a charcoal or gas grill.
- If you want to add vegetables to the recipe, marinate them separately. Thread them on separate skewers and add them to the grill about 5-7 minutes ahead of the shrimp.
- Shrimp cook really fast. Cook for about 2 minutes per side or until the shrimp are light pink on the outside and white or opaque in the middle.
- Serve with veggies like broccoli, corn, asparagus, or grilled tomatoes.
- For best results, enjoy right after grilling. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, place the shrimp on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a paper towel. Heat at 30-second intervals at 60% power until warm.
Tails on or tails off?
Whether you leave the tails intact or remove them is really a matter of personal preference. I prefer tails on with this recipe because we like to enjoy these as an appetizer or finger food. It is easier for your guests to grasp and eat them with the tails on. However, if I am serving a dish like Cajun Shrimp Pasta, then I remove the tails. You would not want your guests to have to stop and cut all the tails off their shrimp before enjoying their pasta.
How do you devein shrimp?
To devein the shrimp, take a small paring knife and make a shallow cut down the center of the back to the top edge of where the tail is or was. Then remove the intestine by running the back of the shrimp under cool running water and rubbing it with your fingers so the vein will rinse out easily.
More shrimp recipes you will love!
PrintGrilled Shrimp Skewers
These quick, delectable Grilled Shrimp Kabobs are easy enough for a busy weeknight yet elegant enough for company.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes plus marinating time
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: appetizer, main meal
- Method: grill
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley or basil
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, olive oil, salt, black pepper, paprika, crushed red pepper, and Worcestershire Sauce.
- Preheat the grill to 450 degrees. Grill for 2 minutes on each side or until they turn light pink on the outside and opaque or white on the inside. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with fresh lemon wedges.
Notes
- Use good quality fresh or frozen large or jumbo shrimp. Prep the shrimp ahead of time by peeling (leave the tails intact) and deveining them. Dry them well with paper towels.
- Marinate the shrimp either in a bowl or zipper bag for at least 15 minutes up to 1 hour. Store in the fridge while it is marinating.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes prior to threading the shrimp on.
- Preheat the grill to 450 degrees. These are equally delicious grilled over gas or charcoal.
- If you want to add vegetables to the recipe, marinate them separately. Thread them on separate skewers and add them to the grill about 5-7 minutes ahead of the shrimp.
- Shrimp cook really fast. Cook for about 2 minutes per side or until the shrimp are light pink on the outside and white or opaque in the middle.
- Serve with broccoli, corn, asparagus, or grilled tomatoes.
- For best results, enjoy right after grilling. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, place the shrimp on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a paper towel. Heat at 30-second intervals at 60% power until warm.
Keywords: how to grill shrimp, how long to grill shrimp, grilled shrimp recipe, grilled shrimp marinade
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Nancy
For easy turning, thread your shrimp on two skewers; easy to flip and they don’t twist around.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip, Nancy!
Karen
This is my new favorite way to cook shrimp. It is tasty, easy, and quick. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth.
Tammy
Oh these look so delicious! What a wonderful dish…my mouth is watering. It’s so easy to make too…perfect for summer!
Kat
Your detailed instructions and beautiful photos make me excited to try the recipe myself. Thanks for sharing your passion for cooking!
★★★★★
StarTraci
Gosh, these look gorgeous. I am glad I read this because I think that I have been overcooking my shrimp a bit. You’re right, they’re expensive, so I don’t want to be pushing that!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
So true!
Sue-Tanya Mchorgh
Wow, these grilled shrimp kebabs look absolutely scrumptious! I can’t wait to fire up the grill and try this recipe for my next outdoor gathering. Thanks for sharing this delightful and easy-to-follow recipe that will surely impress my guests!
★★★★★
Moni
I’m really impressed with your grilled shrimp skewers recipe! The step-by-step instructions and tips make it easy to follow along, and the accompanying photos are mouthwatering. I appreciate the variety of marinade options you provided. Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Kimberly C
We loved these grilled shrimp. They were easy and so flavor packed. Great summer recipe. I will make them again.
★★★★★
Nadalie
I love shrimps but it’s always tricky to devien them. I have to do better next time and prep this grilled shrimp kebabs!
★★★★★
Sam
Just made this and was surprised about how easy it was to make. The marinade is truly what makes this so delicious. Putting it in our weekly rotation during the warmer months.
★★★★★
Valentina
These grilled shrimp kebabs are so juicy and loaded with flavors!
★★★★★
Samantha
We made this shrimp last night and served it over salads. So easy and delicious! These kebabs would also make a great party appetizer! Saving this one for sure…thank you!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Samantha! So glad that you liked it!
Michele
We loved these grilled shrimp. Seasoning is perfect and it was on the dinner table so quickly! This will be a summer staple for us.
★★★★★
Kristen
These shrimp turned out perfectly. Loved the seasoning!
★★★★★
Tavo
I loved these shrimps! I was always afraid to cook them, but the pictures made me think that maybe it wasn’t that difficult! gave it a try, and they came out delicious! Thanks!
★★★★★
Amanda Livesay
This is my favorite way to cook shrimp! The marinade is so flavorful!
★★★★★
Beti
So many amazing flavors going on here! I can’t wait to try these! SO GOOD!
★★★★★
katerina
I love how simple and delicious these are! Perfect for summer!
★★★★★
Erin
These Grilled Shrimp Kebabs are on my must-make list!
★★★★★
Catalina
I can’t resist these shrimp kebabs! They look amazingly delicious!
★★★★★
Krystle
Full of flavor, it tastes like something from my favorite restaurant.
★★★★★
Dorothy
Grilling season is here and I am a happppy camper! This looks like a perfect meal for my crew.
Chichi
Super tasty and delicious shrimp kebabs! So so good! Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Tara
Such a flavorful marinade to pair with these shrimp kebabs and I love how easily everything comes together! Definitely perfect for grilling season and serving with zucchini noodles. Yum!
★★★★★
veena
My kids to feast on this grill platter. Love your recipe and I definitely need to get going. Love the presentation too.
★★★★★
Sara Welch
What a great recipe for the grill! Looking forward to enjoying these for dinner tonight; looks too good to pass up!
★★★★★
Anjali
These kebabs had great texture and spice, and were so easy to make! We had a great time enjoying these this weekend!
★★★★★
Biana
Yum! These shrimp kebabs look so simple to make. A perfect summer dinner recipe.
★★★★★