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This grilled shrimp is perfectly seasoned and over the top delicious! Here’s how to grill shrimp: it’s easy and cooks up in 5 minutes.
Once the weather is right, grilled shrimp is where it’s at! This succulent seafood is one of the fastest things you can cook on the grill. It takes less than 5 minutes to grill shrimp to charred, seasoned perfection!
Why we love this recipe: As two cookbook authors who have grilled just about everything (from grilled salmon to nearly every vegetable), we think grilled shrimp can’t be beat. It’s so simple and the juicy, seasoned flavor has our hearts every time. It’s extremely versatile and you can serve it with rice and grilled vegetables, in a grain bowl, on skewers, or in tacos. Here’s how to make this simple grilled shrimp recipe!
How to grill shrimp
Grilled shrimp is one of the fastest and easiest ways to cook this tasty shellfish. The only part that takes time is preheating the grill! It’s so simple that it’s not even really a recipe: more like a concept. Make it once and memorize it! Here’s how to cook shrimp on the grill (or jump to the full recipe):
Step 1: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450°F). Place fresh or thawed shrimp in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and season with oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt.
Step 2: Place the shrimp directly on a grill and grill 1 to 2 minutes per side until bright pink and cooked through.
Step 3: Remove from the grill and squeeze on fresh lemon juice from several wedges of the lemon, to taste.
Should you peel shrimp before grilling?
You can grill shrimp both with the shell on or ones that have been peeled. Some sources will swear by shrimp in the shell, because it leaves it incredibly moist. But peeled shrimp are just as good. We like to use tail on shrimp because they look the most appetizing. Just make sure not to cook it too long! Cooking even a minute too long can make shrimp tough and dry.
Grilled shrimp on skewers
You can thread your shrimp onto skewers before you grill it, which makes them easier to turn. We recommend using wooden skewers, since the shrimp can tend to spin on metal skewers, making them hard to flip. The shrimp stays solidly in place on wooden skewers. You’ll need to soak them for about 20 minutes so they don’t burn on the grill. Head to this grilled shrimp Sskewers recipe for instructions.
How long to grill shrimp
It takes just 3 to 5 minutes to grill shrimp, using medium-high direct heat (375 to 400°F). Timing will depend on the exact temperature, whether you’re cooking with the shell on, and how big the shrimp are.
For this recipe, we used medium shrimp that were 26 to 30 per pound size. We’ve tested it both with shrimp in the shell and shell off, and both turn out great.
Ways to thaw frozen shrimp
Frozen shrimp works well in this recipe: make sure to thaw before you start. How to thaw frozen shrimp? There are a two different ways:
- Night before: Place the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
- Day of: Place the frozen shrimp into a large bowl with very cold water. Stir the bowl every 5 minutes to break up clumps of shrimp that freeze together. The shrimp should defrost in about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on its size.
How about marinated grilled shrimp?
Grilled shrimp is tender and flavorful when soaked in a marinade first. Go to our favorite shrimp marinade and allow the shrimp to marinate for 1 hour before grilling with the instructions below.
Seasoning variations
Want to try a few different seasoning blends for grilled shrimp? Here are some ways to mix it up:
- Go for Cajun grilled shrimp with a homemade Cajun seasoning blend.
- Try blackened shrimp, with a simple mix of homemade spices.
- Brush shrimp with homemade teriyaki sauce before and after grilling.
Ways to serve grilled shrimp
Shrimp is one of our favorite grilled dinner ideas. But how to eat it as part of a meal? Here are some ideas for how to serve grilled shrimp:
- Whole grains. Serve grilled shrimp on a bed of whole grains, like seasoned quinoa, farro, coconut rice, cilantro lime rice, or polenta.
- Pasta. For quick options, pair with orzo or couscous.
- Salad. Add a chopped salad, Italian salad, strawberry salad, watermelon feta salad, or cucumber salad.
- More grilled veggies. Already got the grill fired up? Try grilled asparagus, grilled peppers and onions, grilled corn, or grilled green beans.
- Tacos. Try zesty grilled shrimp tacos.
More ways to cook shrimp
Shrimp is a great healthy meal choice if you eat seafood. Here are some of our favorite shrimp recipes:
- Stovetop: Try sauteed shrimp or honey garlic shrimp.
- Baked: This baked shrimp has great flavor, seasoned with garlic and herbs. Add a crispy breading before it’s roasted for an irresistible crunch!
- Broiled: This broiled shrimp is one of the fastest ways to cook it: you don’t even need to preheat the oven.
Dietary notes
This grilled shrimp recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and pescatarian.
Frequently asked questions
Aim for medium or large shrimp, though jumbo work too. They’re less likely to fall through the grates, and their larger size prevents them from overcooking too quickly.
Yes, deveining is recommended: buy deveined shrimp for easiest prep. While not harmful if left in, the deveining process creates a more visually appealing and better-tasting shrimp.
The key is to avoid overcooking! Shrimp cook very quickly, only needing a few minutes per side. They’re done when they turn pink and opaque and form a “C” shape.
You can, but it’s not necessary! Marinating is a great way to add flavor, but keep it brief (20-30 minutes max). Longer marinating times, especially with acidic marinades, can start to break down the delicate shrimp. Go to Shrimp Marinade.
Absolutely! Skewers make handling shrimp on the grill easier. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent them from burning. Go to Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
Perfect Grilled Shrimp
This grilled shrimp is perfectly seasoned and over the top good! Here’s how to grill shrimp: it’s easy and they cook up in 5 minutes. Or, try them with our Best Shrimp Marinade.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, tail on and deveined (we used 26–30 per pound size)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Thaw the shrimp. Then pat the shrimp dry.
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450°F).
- Place the shrimp in a bowl and add the olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
- Place directly on a grill and grill 1 to 2 minutes per side until bright pink and cooked through.
- Remove from the grill and squeeze on fresh lemon juice from several wedges of the lemon, to taste. Leftovers last refrigerated for 2 to 3 days in an airtight container.
Notes
Seasoning variations: Try Cajun grilled shrimp with a homemade Cajun seasoning blend, or blackened shrimp with a mild mix of homemade spices. Or, brush shrimp with homemade teriyaki sauce before and after grilling.
Shrimp skewers: Grill the shrimp on wooden skewers (make sure to soak them at least 20 minutes before cooking). Go to Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
Grilled marinated shrimp: Soak the shrimp in this Shrimp Marinade for 30 minutes before grilling.
Last updated: April 2020
Why does the size of the shrimp change with the serving size? I’m going to make this for Sunday lunch this week for at least 5 people and it will be served with a salad caprese.
That’s a bug, sorry about that!
Can shrimp be grilled the day before and served chilled?
Yes!
My dad and I used this recipe tonight to grill shirmp! So helpful and flavorful.
Can i use frozen cooked shrimp on the grill?
Yes, just thaw them first!
Are these schrimp already cooked or raw?
Raw
This was excellent! I left the shells on just to see how they would cook. Delicious!
Let us know if you have any questions!