Grilled Shrimp
Make the best grilled shrimp ever with this easy recipe! Just mix together a few basic ingredients for an easy marinade and then grill up this tasty seafood. Simple, flavorful and fun!
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Grilled Shrimp Recipe
Grilling season is upon us, and that means I'm grilling up all manners of meat! From juicy grilled chicken to flavorful grilled pork tenderloin, we have no shortage of delicious grilled recipes over here.
This easy grilled shrimp recipe makes the most flavorful, tender and perfectly cooked shrimp. There are loads of different marinades out there for grilled shrimp, but I love this easy marinade because it's so quick.
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My shrimp marinade is pretty similar to my grilled chicken marinade, which I love! It means that I likely already have all of the ingredients on hand and I can whip up a quick marinade whenever we want tasty shrimp.
Serve this simple grilled shrimp recipe as a main dish or a quick appetizer. It's a crowd pleaser and is truly the easiest way to prepare super flavorful shrimp! You're gonna love it!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Easy grilling recipes are a summer go-to around here, especially the ones that require minimal effort. This has definitely become a favorite for many reasons:
- Grilled shrimp is a great make-ahead recipe since you can marinate shrimp for up to 24 hours. You can also just prep the shrimp, prep the marinade, and mix it up later!
- This dish is flavorful, but goes with many different flavor profiles. Serve it up however you want and make multiple different dishes with it.
- Easily adjust this marinade to fit your dietary restrictions or flavor preference. It's a great base recipe.
Ingredients
Make sure you have each of the marinade ingredients, as well as raw shrimp. Here's a list of everything that you need:
- medium sized raw shrimp
- honey
- fresh lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- olive oil
- salt
- parsley
Substitutions and Variations
You can use fresh lime juice in place of lemon juice! The flavor will be a bit different, but still extra tasty.
Avocado oil is a great substitute for olive oil if that is what you prefer to use.
Worcestershire sauce adds a nice depth of flavor if you want to add a little to this shrimp marinade. Soy sauce or coconut aminos work too!
Feel free to add fresh herbs or dried herbs for added flavor. You can also use spices like red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper. Fresh minced garlic and lemon zest are other flavorful options!
Essential grilling tools
Truthfully, you don't need more than a good pair of tongs and a grill that works. Whether it's charcoal, pellet or gas is up to you.
However, if you're willing to invest in a few tools, you're setting yourself up for grilling success. Here's what I recommend:
- No-stick spray: Weber Grill Spray is the perfect spray to coat the grates and makes it easy to clean.
- A meat thermometer: Any meat thermometer will work. We have a simple handheld meat thermometer, but I've been eyeing the wireless, Bluetooth thermometers.
- A grill brush: A good-quality grill brush will help you clean off any burnt-on residue without scratching the grates.
- Kitchen shears: I don't go a day in my kitchen without using my kitchen scissors, and that goes for grilling too. They are handy for snipping off fatty parts of meat.
- Utensils: A great pair of tongs and a turner will go a long way in helping you flip anything you cook, from burgers to chicken wings to corn on the cob.
- Grill basket: Use a metal basket for kebabs, veggies like carrots or cut squash or small cuts of meat that might fall through the grill grates.
One thing you need to know: Always start with a clean grill! Check out my post on how to clean a grill for the best tips and tricks.
How to Make Grilled Shrimp
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make the best grilled shrimp:
If you did not purchase peeled and deveined shrimp, then peel and devein them before you start on the marinade.
Mix together the simple marinade ingredients in a small bowl and then pour the mixture over the shrimp in a large bowl or bag.
Allow the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes, and up to overnight.
When you're ready to start cooking shrimp, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375°F-400ºF). Once the grill is preheated, clean grill grates with a grill brush.
Prepare the grill grates with grill spray, or use half an onion to naturally season the grates to prevent sticking.
Use grill tongs to place the marinated shrimp onto grill. Cook each side 1-3 minutes until 140ºF (60°C). Once the shrimp is pink, it's good to go!
Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
How to Store Grilled Shrimp
Allow leftover shrimp to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Let the frozen shrimp thaw before reheating! Reheat in the oven or on the stovetop, then serve.
What to Serve with Grilled Shrimp
Serve this delicious seafood with simple sides like grilled squash and zucchini and cilantro lime cauliflower rice. I also love really simple sides like Instant Pot mashed potatoes and roasted root vegetables.
You can even make shrimp tacos and top them with things like peach salsa and fresh guacamole.
Swap out the chicken on this grilled chicken salad for fresh grilled shrimp, or add shrimp as a topping to things like lemon orzo pasta salad or bucatini cacio e pepe.
Finish out the meal with a fun summer sweet treat like strawberry crunch cheesecake cones!
Tips for Success
These succulent shrimp are pretty simple, but here's a few tips to ensure they are extra perfect:
- Make sure you grab shrimp that are large enough to not fall through grill grates, but not jumbo shrimp. Peeled and deveined shrimp are the best to grab.
- Do not marinade shrimp for longer than 24 hours or the lemon juice can start to break down the meat and mess with the texture of the shrimp.
- Shrimp cooks pretty quickly! You'll know it's done when it turns a vibrant pink color! Be mindful not to overcook shrimp - it will lose some of its color and start to curl.
FAQ
After you peel and devein shrimp, I recommend rinsing them to get the remaining debris off. This ensures that they are fully clean and will taste the best!
It is essential to use a little oil on the grill grates before placing the shrimp on the hot surface. You can also naturally oil a grill by rubbing half an onion over the grates.
More Grilling Recipes
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Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium sized raw shrimp large enough to not fall through grill grates, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon parsley
Instructions
- Prepare shrimp by peeling and deveining.
- Mix together all ingredients for the marinade and pour over prepared shrimp in a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes up to overnight. (Longer than 24 hours can start to break down the meat because of the lemon juice in the marinade.)
- When you're ready to start cooking shrimp, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375°F-400ºF). Once the grill is preheated, clean grill grates with a grill brush.
- Prepare grill grates by spraying with grill spray or using half an onion to naturally season the grates to prevent sticking.
- Use grill tongs to place shrimp onto grill. Cook each side 1-3 minutes until 140ºF (60°C). You'll know the shrimp is cooked when it turns a vibrant pink color! Be mindful not to overcook shrimp - it will lose some of its color and start to curl.
Notes
Nutrition
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