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Grilled Shrimp Skewers are a healthy and delicious grilled dinner idea, perfect for summertime! Shrimp gets marinated in fresh lemon juice, herbs and seasonings, and then threaded onto skewers and grilled to perfection.
Do you love shrimp? Be sure and try this Shrimp Macaroni Salad, Shrimp Rolls, or this sweet & savory Honey Garlic Shrimp made in a skillet pan.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe (Shrimp Kabobs)
If you love seafood, specifically shrimp, then you are going to love this recipe for marinated grilled shrimp! The grill gives the shrimp a charred exterior while keeping the shrimp juicy and delicious with all that flavor locked in.
The way to get maximum flavor into shrimp is by marinating it in a delicious blend of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dried seasonings. Skewer the marinated shrimp onto wooden skewers, or metal, and grill for just a few minutes. Dinner is ready in no time!
Ingredients Needed & Substitution Ideas
- Extra Virgin Olive Olive – I like to use the ‘light tasting’ extra virgin olive oil because it does not have a heavy, thick olive taste to it. Any oil an be used like avocado oil, canola oil, regular olive oil, etc. I do recommend sticking with the EVOO because combined with the fresh lemon juice it creates this magically flavorful base for the shrimp.
- Garlic Powder
- Italian Seasoning
- Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
- Paprika – For a smokier flavor try using smoked paprika.
- Ground Black Pepper
- Fresh, Raw Large Shrimp – I usually buy the large fresh shrimp from the deli counter. You can also use frozen shrimp, just make sure it’s completely thawed (in the fridge) prior to making this recipe.
- Fresh Lemon – You need two lemons for this recipe. One for the fresh lemon juice and one to squeeze over top the lemons.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley – Chopped parsley is an excellent garnish for the grilled shrimp skewers.
How To Make Grilled Shrimp Skewers (Step-by-Step Directions)
- In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to combine the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
- Place the peeled and deveined shrimp into the prepared marinade mixture and marinate for 15 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to occasionally stir the shrimp while it’s marinating.
- While the shrimp are marinating, preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Place 4-5 shrimp on a skewer. Place the shrimp skewers on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are opaque.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and lemon wedges. We like to squeeze a lemon wedge over top the shrimp.
Why Do You Skewer The Shrimp?
Skewering the shrimp prevents them from falling between the grates and makes it really easy to turn them on the grill.
What Skewers Should I Use?
You can use either metal skewers or wooden bamboo skewers. If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them completely in water for 1 hour before threading the shrimp on to grill them. This ensures that the wooden skewer won’t burn while on the grill.
How To Store Grilled Shrimp Leftovers
Store leftovers in the fridge, inside an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat using a skillet pan with a little butter, air fryer, or the microwave.
Can I Make Any Changes To This Recipe?
There are few things you can do to change up this recipe if wanted. Here are some ideas.
- Shrimp : Use fresh raw shrimp from the deli counter at your local store or use frozen shrimp that has been thawed completely (in the fridge) for this recipe. Make sure to drain the extra juices inside the bag (from thawing) and discard them. If you prefer, use shrimp with the tails on.
- Lemon Juice : Although I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice, you can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch or if that’s all you have.
- Make It Spicy! : Try using red cayenne pepper in place of black pepper. Add some red pepper chili flakes to the marinade, use smoked paprika, add some chili powder or hot sauce.
Serving Suggestions For Grilled Shrimp
We love these grilled shrimp skewers served with some Coconut Rice. You can also eat them as is, put the grilled shrimp on top of a salad, eat it over pasta with some Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce, or try serving them mixed into this Easy Garlic Parmesan Pasta.
Recipe Tips
- Marinade Tip : Don’t let the shrimp marinate for much longer than the 15-30 minutes called for in the recipe. If shrimp marinates and sits in citrus and salt too long, it will start to cook, which we don’t want because we want to grill the shrimp. Remember to let the shrimp sit in the marinade in the fridge and not at room temperature.
- Cooking Shrimp : Shrimp really don’t need that long to cook properly. If overcooked, the shrimp will end up with an unpleasant rubbery texture to them. 2-3 minutes per side should be enough. You can also use visual cues to help determine if they’re done – the shrimp will turn a pink color and they should feel firm to the touch.
- What Temperature Should Shrimp Be Cooked To? : If you are using a food thermometer and want to make sure the shrimp are cooked correctly, make sure the internal temperature of the shrimp is at 120 degrees F.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound large raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- chopped parsley & lemon wedges (optional garnish)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, and black pepper.3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Place the peeled and deveined shrimp into the prepared marinade mixture and marinate for 15 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to occasionally stir the shrimp while it's marinating.1 pound large raw shrimp
- While the shrimp are marinating preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Place 4-5 shrimp on a skewer. Place the shrimp skewers on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are opaque.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and lemon wedges. We like to squeeze a lemon wedge over top the shrimp.chopped parsley & lemon wedges
Notes
- Marinade Tip : Don’t let the shrimp marinate for much longer than the 15-30 minutes called for in the recipe. If shrimp marinates and sits in citrus and salt too long, it will start to cook, which we don’t want because we want to grill the shrimp. Remember to let the shrimp sit in the marinade in the fridge and not at room temperature.
- Cooking Shrimp : Shrimp really don’t need that long to cook properly. If overcooked, the shrimp will end up with an unpleasant rubbery texture to them. 2-3 minutes per side should be enough. You can also use visual cues to help determine if they’re done – the shrimp will turn a pink color and they should feel firm to the touch.
- What Temperature Should Shrimp Be Cooked To? : If you are using a food thermometer and want to make sure the shrimp are cooked correctly, make sure the internal temperature of the shrimp is at 120 degrees F.
- Nutrition & Serving Size : This recipe yields 8 skewer sticks of shrimp, with each serving being two skewers of grilled shrimp. Deepening on how large/long the skewers are that you use, you could get more or less. Nutrition information is for two of the wooden skewers of marinated shrimp.
Nutrition
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