Grilled Shrimp Skewers

5 from 1199 votes

These grilled shrimp skewers are so quick and easy to make and wonderfully flavored with a lemon and herb marinade.

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If you are planning a cookout, then these Grilled Shrimp Skewers need to make an appearance! Marinated in a lemon and herb dressing they take minutes to prep and are super quick to cook. Wonderfully juicy and full of flavor.

Grilled Shrimp Skewers garnished with parsley
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How do you make grilled shrimp

  1. Peel and devein the shrimp. You can keep the tails on or remove them. I like the presentation of grilled shrimp with the tails on.
  2. Place the ingredients for the marinade into a bowl large enough to fit the shrimp.
  3. Whisk to combine the ingredients.
  4. Add the shrimp and coat evenly with the marinade. It helps to just use your hands here for even coating.
Four shots to show how to marinate the shrimp

Skewer the shrimp onto bamboo sticks or metal skewers. Then cook on a grill or grill pan until cooked through, opaque and pinkish-orangish in color. They really don’t need a lot of time on the grill!

The shrimp on skewers before cooking

Tips for grilling shrimp

  1. Don’t marinate the shrimp for longer than 2 hours. The acid from the lemon juice can actually cook the shrimp without any heat needed, which is what happens with a long marinade time.
  2. Broil the shrimp in the oven if you don’t have a grill. Once the broiler is preheated, place the shrimp skewers on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper. Broil for 2-3 minutes, then flip and broil for another 2-3 minutes; watching it closely so it doesn’t over-cook.
  3. Peel and devein the shrimp before you marinade them. Otherwise all the marinade will be on the outside of the shrimp only. I prefer to leave the tails on, but you can remove them if you like.
  4. Don’t overcook the shrimp. Shrimp cook super fast, and only need 2 to 3 minutes each side. If you overcook them, they lose their juiciness and become rubbery. Th shrimp skewers are cooked when they turn an opaque pink, they are overcooked if they start to curl up.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use frozen shrimp?

I prefer to use fresh shrimp for the grilled skewers, but you can use frozen if that’s what you have. Be sure to fully defrost them before adding to the marinade. Ideally, thaw them in the fridge overnight in a fine mesh sieve so the water drains out of them. If you are short on time, place them in a bowl in the sink and run them under cold water tap.

Can you cook shrimp ahead of time?

Cooked shrimp can be stored in the fridge safely for up to 3 days, but I recommend you serve them as soon as they are cooked for the best taste and texture. Be sure not to marinate the shrimps for more than 2 hours though.

Why do you skewer the shrimp?

Skewering the shrimp is the easiest way to cook them on the grill. They won’t fall between the grates and it means that you can turn them all at the same time so that they cook evenly. You can use either metal or wooden skewers, if you use wooden, soak them in water for an hour before grilling so they don’t burn.

Grilled Shrimp Skewers served on a white plate with lemon slices

These grilled shrimp skewers are so quick and easy to make and they make a fantastic addition to any cookout. The lemon and herb marinade is wonderfully fresh. You can serve them as an appetizer or alongside your favorite sides like Mediterranean potato salad, a Greek salad, or shredded red cabbage slaw.

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Grilled Shrimp Skewers

These grilled shrimp skewers are so quick and easy to make and wonderfully flavored with a lemon and herb marinade.
5 from 1199 votes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 216
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Chopped parsley for serving
  • Lemon slices for serving

Instructions

  • Place the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, oregano, paprika and garlic powder in a large bowl; whisk to combine.
  • Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss gently to coat evenly with the marinade. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours max.
  • Skewer 4-6 shrimp on each soaked skewer and place on a plate while skewering the remaining shrimp.
  • Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat and cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until the color is pink and shrimp is opaque.
  • Serve warm with fresh parsley and lemon slices, if desired.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet with a little olive oil.
Make Ahead Tips: You can marinate the shrimp in advance but be careful not to do it for more than 2 hours because the acid from the lemon will end up cooking the shrimp. You can mix the marinade up to 5 days in advance though.

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 286mg, Sodium: 1173mg, Potassium: 109mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 203IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 176mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American

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Comments

  1. I love this recipe, it is so simple and yet taste great! I make it every time i have a party and there’s usually never any left over. I usually just did the old boil in old bay and serve but then I found this recipe one night to try and kick it up a notch since i had a chef coming over and he loved it. thank you very much for sharing. I’ve also had a few parties were I forgot to pick up skewers so i did them loose in the broiler and on the grill, just as good

  2. Delicious!! Best simple grilled shrimp recipe we’ve ever made. Let them marinade for 2 hours with the recipe provided & they were full of flavor. Only grilled 3 minutes per side on a freezing Christmas day & everyone raved about them. It was definitely worth switching up to a new recipe! Loved them!

  3. I made it off the skewer and heated the residual marinate to make a bit of a sauce. I put it over rice and it was absolutely delicious!! I’ve actually never cooked shrimp before and the recipe helped me learn. This will be a staple in my house.

    Thank you!

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