These Grilled Shrimp Skewers have fantastic garlic lemon flavor, are simple to prepare, and quick to grill. This is one of those easy, high-protein summer recipes you’ll want to add to your meal rotation.
Easy Shrimp Skewers
- Flavor: Shrimp skewers on the grill are tender and juicy with a light smoky char and delicious lemon garlic flavor.
- Make Ahead: Grilled shrimp skewers are one of the best high-protein party recipes because you can prep them ahead and reheat, or served chilled.
- Tools: All you need are some metal or wooden skewers, a zip-top bag, grill, tongs, and an instant-read thermometer.
- Serving: Shrimp skewers are a versatile choice. Serve as a main, an appetizer, as a salad topper, or just tucked into shrimp tacos with my mango salsa recipe.
Total Time: 31 Minutes Servings: 4 servings Cooking Method: Grill
Shrimp Skewer Ingredients
- Shrimp: Use fresh or thawed frozen shrimp that are peeled and deveined.
- Marinade:
- Olive oil coats the shrimp so the ingredients cling evenly and helps prevent shrimp from sticking on the grill.
- Freshly minced garlic has delicious flavor, or use garlic powder as it’s less likely to burn on a hot grill.
- Lemon juice adds a bright, tangy flavor plus balances the rich garlic butter. The acid can affect the shrimp’s texture so do not marinate too long.
- Fresh parsley not only adds a pop of color but also fresh flavor.
- Kosher salt and black pepper is a simple seasoning that brings out the shrimp’s naturally sweet, fresh flavor.
- Garlic Butter: While optional, it gives the shrimp a restaurant-style finish with rich garlic flavor and a glossy coating. Leave it out for a lighter, dairy-free version.
Variations
- Spice things up by adding red pepper flakes, taco or Cajun-style jerk seasoning, adobo, or smoked paprika to the marinade.
- For herb forward skewers use basil, dill, cilantro, or a mix of soft herbs.
- No grill? No problem! You can cook the skewers in a grill pan, under the broiler, or in a hot skillet.
- Turn these skewers into a full meal by adding quick cooking zucchini rounds, bell pepper chunks, or cherry tomatoes. Leave space between the shrimp so they grill evenly.
How to Make Shrimp Skewers
- Marinate shrimp in marinade (Full recipe below).
- Soak skewers in water before threading with marinated shrimp.
Grilled:
- On medium-high heat, grill skewers 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Brush with garlic butter, garnish with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Stovetop:
- Sauté marinated shrimp in a dry skillet, flipping until shrimp reach 165°F, about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Remove from heat and brush with garlic butter.
- Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Best Shrimp Skewer Tips
- Use large or jumbo shrimp because they are easier to thread onto skewers and stay juicier.
- Skewer shrimp in the same direction so they cook evenly.
- Pat frozen, thawed shrimp dry with paper towels so they sear on the grill for the best texture.
- Keep marinade time to a short 20 to 60 minutes. This will add plenty of flavor without letting the lemon juice affect the shrimp’s texture.
- Oil grill grates to prevent the shrimp from sticking.
- Do not overcook shrimp! They cook super fast, so watch closely and remove as soon as they turn opaque and reach 165˚F.
Storing Leftover Shrimp
- Refrigerate leftover grilled shrimp in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat shrimp gently. Re-cooking can make them turn rubbery fast. Microwave covered at low power just until warm, or warm in a skillet over low heat with a little butter or olive oil.
More Easy Shrimp Favorites
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Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Juicy and tender shrimp cook in minutes on the grill with a fresh lemon garlic marinade and buttery finish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
Marinade
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, plus more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garlic Butter, optional for serving
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 clove garlic minced
- fresh parsley chopped, optional for garnish
- lemon wedges optional for serving
Instructions
Marinate Shrimp
- Soak 8 wooden skewers in water (about 1 hour).
- Meanwhile, add marinade ingredients to a large zip-top bag. Mix ingredients together and add shrimp. Gently massage bag to ensure shrimp is covered. Refrigerate and marinate for 20 to 60 minutes.
Cook Shrimp
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (375° to 400°F).
- Thread shrimp onto skewers.
- Grill 2 to 3 minutes per side, until shrimp is opaque and cooked through, or until shrimp reaches 165°F.
- Meanwhile, (if using garlic butter) in a small bowl, combine melted butter and garlic.
- Place cooked shrimp on a serving dish and drizzle with garlic butter if using. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
- Be sure to soak wooden skewers in water for at least 1 hour to avoid scorching.
- Use a meat thermometer to check if shrimp have come to a temp of 165°F before removing from heat.
- Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for 3 to 4 days. Serve shrimp cold or warm gently in the microwave (do not recook).
- Cooked shrimp may be frozen, but they will not be as firm once thawed due to their high-water content.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 364 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 213mg | Sodium: 518mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 441IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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