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Home » Recipes » Main Entrées

Grilled Shrimp on the Barbecue

Published: May 26, 2021 by AmyG Modified On: Jan 29, 2025. This post may contain affiliate links. 10 Comments.

There's nothing like the smell of Grilled Shrimp on the Barbecue. A quick and easy meal or appetizer. And, what says summer more than lighting up the barbecue and making grilled seafood, grilled steak or grilled vegetables?

Lightly dressed with a tangy marinade these grilled shrimp skewers will be on and off the grill in 10 minutes, more or less.

Like grilling? Try my recipe for Grilled Squid, Grilled Brussel Sprouts in Balsamic or my Grilled Vegetables with a Vinaigrette.

plated grilled shrimp with brussel sprouts
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Jump to:
  • Here's Why You'll Love this Dish
  • Ingredients
  • Prepping & Tools You will Need
  • How to Prevent Wooden Skewers From Burning
  • How to Make Grilled Shrimp on the Barbecue
  • How Long to Grill Shrimp on the Barbecue
  • Storage
  • Top Tips
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Perfect Side Dishes
  • Recipe Details
  • Pin for Later
  • Food Safety
  • Comments

Here's Why You'll Love this Dish

  • easy to make
  • ready in 15 minutes or less
  • great as a meal or pre meal appetizer
  • flavor kids will like

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

For a marinade you usually need something tart and and oil. For the grilled shrimp marinade I used the following ingredients:

  • shrimp
  • lemon juice
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt
  • ground pepper
  • garlic
  • Parsley

For exact measurement details see recipe card...

Prepping & Tools You will Need

If you have bought frozen shrimp, you will need to thaw them out. It's best to thaw them out in the fridge 24 hours before you are ready to use them.

Once they are thawed out you will need to peel and devein them, if they still have the shell on. Peeling them is a breeze, just pull the legs and remove the shell. The shell will come off easy.

You will also want to remove the tail. I always find the best way to do this is to kind of snap it on either side and then pull. This works better if they are slightly frozen.

If you want to be environmentally friendly you can use metal skewers. Metal skewers don't require any prep work when using them and they are great because you can wash them after use and store and use them again.

If you don't have metal skewers, you can use disposable wooden skewers. In fact, I prefer to use wooden ones because once you are done with them you can toss them out. Ultimately, they are more convenient. At the end of the day it's your choice.

How to Prevent Wooden Skewers From Burning

I learned this trick recently about preventing wooden skewers from burning when they are on the grill that I'll share with you. If you soak them for at least 30 minutes before placing them on the grill the moisture will prevent them from burning.

I soaked my skewers this last time I made the grilled shrimp and I found that the grilled shrimp weren't so dry either. The soaked skewers prevented flare ups and the shrimp were juicy and flavorful.

Once you have your marinade ready, you will want to place the shrimp on the skewers, piercing them on the top and bottom of their body making a C shape. You'll want to feed all of the shrimp the same way (for esthetics), but if you don't that's ok too!

Once you have all the skewers loaded up, place the skewers in a shallow dish. To marinate the shrimp, I used a clear baby spinach container. I then poured the marinade over the shrimp skewers and minced the clove of garlic over them and used a basting brush to rub the marinade and garlic all over the shrimp.

How to Make Grilled Shrimp on the Barbecue

If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.

shrimp shelled and in a bowl separated

Peel your thawed shrimp and discard the shell and tail.

Shrimp on a skewer

Push the skewer through the top and bottom of the shrimp forming a C and push the shrimp to the top of the skewer.

Repeat feeding the raw shrimp through the skewers and pushing them up until you have 3 to 4 shrimp on each skewer

Shrimp on skewers marinating

In a small bowl mix the oil and lemon juice together and place in a container where you can lay the shrimp skewers flat.

Place the shrimp skewers in the container.

Chop the garlic and sprinkle over the shrimp skewers. Using a basting brush rub the garlic and oil and lemon juice mixture over the shrimp. Let stand for 30 minutes.

Just before barbecuing them season with salt and pepper.

Shrimp on a barbecue

Place on grill for 5 minutes each side. Once they are bright orange on both sides and the thickest part of the shrimp goes from translucent to opaque they are ready.

Remove from grill and place on serving dish. Sprinkle parsley or dill for garnish.

How Long to Grill Shrimp on the Barbecue

I warmed up the barbecue and once hot, I lowered the temperature to medium-low. Once you put the shrimp on a heated grill it should take no more than 5 minutes on each side.

You want the shrimp to turn bright orange, and you want to avoid grill marks. Grill marks are better for steak not grilled shrimp!

You can use tongs to gently flip the skewers to the other side.

This is the trick to knowing when them grilled shrimp are done: keep an eye on the thickest part of the back of the shrimp. It's usually at the top of the shrimp opposite to the tail. This is the area where they vein used to be but now is removed. When the middle front part of the shrimp turns from translucent to opaque, the shrimp should be done.

Make sure that both sides of the shrimp are opaque and no longer translucent. This is how you know it's ready and cooked through.

Storage

If you have leftovers, these babies will store well in a microwave safe container for 2 to 3 days. You can also store them in the freezer for later. When you are ready to consume them, just take thaw them out in the fridge overnight and warm up in the microwave or in a pan.

Top Tips

If you are making this as a meal and using one package of shrimp which is usually about 340 g, it will likely serve two people. As an appetizer, it will likely serve 4 to 6 adults.

You want to buy a bag that will have at least a 20 count of shrimp and have at least 19 to 20 shrimp.

You may need more than one bag if you are making this for more than two people and serving this as part of a main dish.

Keep an eye on the thickest part of the back of the shrimp. It's usually at the top of the shrimp opposite to the tail. This is the area where they vein used to be but now is removed. When the middle front part of the shrimp turns from translucent to opaque, the shrimp should be done.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are some ideas on how to make grilled shrimp different. Use any one or all of the ingredients below to make these grilled shrimp your own:

  • dill: instead of using parsley, sub in dill. Dill always goes well with seafood. Dried dill or fresh dill works well
  • hot pepper: hot pepper or chili flakes are always a great way to make these grilled shrimp skewers unique. Not everyone like spicy foods, but if you do, this is one you can add
  • rice vinegar: if you don't have balsamic white vinegar, you can sub in rice vinegar or another vinegar that is lightly colored
  • vegetables: add vegetables like peppers, mushrooms or anything else and alternate one shrimp and a piece of vegetable.

Go ahead and add it if you like the taste to make these your own recipe. The perfect recipe isn't that far away. I'd love to know how you substituted ingredients to fit your dietary needs. Drop a comment below and let me know!

Perfect Side Dishes

  • burrata salad with grape tomatoes in a white plate
    Burrata Salad with Grape Tomatoes: Fresh and Easy
  • peas and mushrooms in a white plate
    Italian Peas and Mushrooms
  • Sauteed Kale and Potatoes in a white plate
    Sautéed Kale and Potatoes Recipe
  • Polpette di Riso in a white plate
    Polpette di Riso (Balls of Rice)

Recipe Details

grilled shrimp and brussel sprouts

How to Make Grilled Shrimp

https://easyhomemaderecipes.ca
AmyG
There's nothing like the smell of Grilled Shrimp on the Barbecue. A quick and easy meal or appetizer. And, what says summer more than lighting up the barbecue and making grilled seafood, grilled steak or grilled vegetables?
Lightly dressed with a tangy marinade these grilled shrimp skewers will be on and off the grill in 10 minutes, more or less.
Like grilling? Try my recipe for Grilled Squid, Grilled Brussel Sprouts in Balsamic or my Grilled Vegetables with a Vinaigrette.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Seafood
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 209 kcal

Equipment

  • 2-4 wooden skewers

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz shrimp raw, peeled and deveined
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ lemon juice and slices
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 stalks parsley chopped
  • 1 clove garlic chopped

Instructions
 

  • If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.
  • Peel your thawed shrimp and discard the shell and tail.
  • Push the skewer through the top and bottom of the shrimp forming a C and push the shrimp to the top of the skewer.
  • Repeat feeding the raw shrimp through the skewers and pushing them up until you have 3 to 4 shrimp on each skewer
  • In a small bowl mix the oil and lemon juice together and place in a flat container where you can lay the shrimp skewers flat.
  • Place the shrimp skewers in the container.
  • Chop the garlic and sprinkle over the shrimp skewers. Using a basting brush rub the garlic and oil and lemon juice mixture over the shrimp. Let stand for 30 minutes.
  • Just before barbecuing them season with salt and pepper.
  • Place on grill for 5 minutes each side. Once they are bright orange on both sides and the thickest part of the shrimp goes from translucent to opaque they are ready.
  • Remove from grill and place on serving dish. Sprinkle parsley or dill for garnish.

Notes

Top Tips
If you are making this as a meal and using one package of shrimp which is usually about 340 g, it will likely serve two people. As an appetizer, it will likely serve 4 to 6 adults.
You want to buy a bag that will have at least a 20 count of shrimp and have at least 19 to 20 shrimp.
You may need more than one bag if you are making this for more than two people and serving this as part of a main dish.
Keep an eye on the thickest part of the back of the shrimp. It's usually at the top of the shrimp opposite to the tail. This is the area where they vein used to be but now is removed. When the middle front part of the shrimp turns from translucent to opaque, the shrimp should be done.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 209kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 34gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 274mgSodium: 203mgPotassium: 461mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 84IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 1mg
Keyword grilled shrimp, marinated shrimp
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Pin for Later

grilled shrimp PIN

Food Safety

Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.

Remember to:

  • Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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Comments

    5 from 3 votes

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  1. Terri says

    June 06, 2021 at 11:54 pm

    Grilled shrimp isn’t something I often make and I just bought a new grill so I’m excited to try this!

    Reply
  2. Sabrina says

    June 07, 2021 at 2:48 am

    5 stars
    This step by step is perfect. I always worry about overcooking but now i won’t! Thanks

    Reply
  3. Sharon says

    June 05, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    Delicious! We added the hot pepper flakes as suggested and it turned out fabulous. Thanks!

    Reply
    • AmyG says

      June 05, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      I'm glad you like them!
      Amy

      Reply
  4. nancy says

    June 04, 2021 at 11:31 am

    yummy!!! i love how you skewered the shrimp to make it mess free and I love grilled shrimp! Def will be making this on the weekend!

    Reply
    • AmyG says

      June 04, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      Thanks Nancy.
      Let me know how they come out.

      Reply
  5. Vanessa says

    June 03, 2021 at 4:05 am

    5 stars
    Grilled shrimp is one of my favourite summer meals. Love the flavour combo here!

    Reply
  6. Bernice says

    June 02, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    Perfect timing! I'm taking some shrimp out of the freezer so we can grill them up tonight.

    Reply
  7. Shelby says

    June 01, 2021 at 2:29 pm

    Such a perfect summertime meal! My kiddos love shrimp oddly enough

    Reply
  8. Steph says

    May 31, 2021 at 11:17 pm

    5 stars
    I love shrimp and I'm glad I found your recipe on how to grill shrimp. I didn't know it was so easy.

    Reply

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This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

About Me

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Hey, I'm Amy! And I'm so happy you're here!! So many of my favorite memories in life seem to take place around the table, especially when surrounded by the people I love. And of course, all the better when nourished by some seriously delicious food.

Stick around and explore the site to get great ideas.

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*This page may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

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