Sweet, tender shrimp take just minutes to make on the grill. That's what I'm talking about! How to grill Shrimp Skewers for a quick and easy weeknight meal! This meal couldn't get any easier or any more delicious!
Let me show you some quick shortcuts and you'll be making grilled shrimp kabobs for dinner tonight!
If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to try Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs next, they are amazing!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
One of the reasons I love shrimp is because it's such an easy weeknight meal and tastes just delicious! I have several great shrimp recipes on the blog - Garlic Parmesan Roasted Shrimp and Garlic Shrimp, and Cajun Baked Shrimp - YUM!
Yup, shrimp is a fav here at the house and my favorite dunkers for shrimp is this easy Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Recipe or Alabama White Sauce - both are fantastic with seafood!
When I'm grilling just about any protein, I try to keep it simple. Olive oil and seasoning, perhaps some sauce at the end - your choice!
🗒️ Ingredients
For the exact ingredients and measurements, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- peeled, deveined shrimp
- olive oil
- grill seasoning
- fresh lemon
- non-stick coating
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
It doesn't take long to grill the shrimp kabobs recipe at, only 5-7 minutes per side depending on the size of the shrimp!
- Preheat the grill.
- Rinse the shrimp, pat dry with paper towel and thread onto skewers.
- Brush the shrimp with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with seasoning.
- Shrimp cook quickly and will only need to 5-7 minutes total, turning once during grilling.
- Serve with wedges of fresh lemon on the side, finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
🙋♀️ FAQ's
One of the biggest mistake people make with shrimp is overcooking it. When properly the tails of the shrimp will be pink and the flesh just slightly white. Overcooked the flesh will be bright white and the shrimp will be rubbery.
Cooked shrimp will curl into a little C shape.
I think it's easier to enjoy this meal when the shells are removed, but it's purely personal preference.
It's easy to overcook shrimp. It just takes minutes per side. Shrimp shouldn't be chewy or dry. They should taste sweet, flavorful and moist.
Use plenty of seasoning! Don't skimp, it adds so much flavor.
Tips
- My first tip for making these easy grilled shrimp skewers is to purchase shrimp that has been shelled and deveined. Keep it easy-peasy!
- Using wooden skewers that are flat ensures the shrimp won't twirl on the skewer. It makes flipping them so much easier! If you have round grill sticks, double skewer them.
- Buying the largest shrimp that meets your budget. The little ones cook so quickly and are easy to overcook.
- Often frozen bags of jumbo shrimp go on sale and are quite inexpensive. Watch for the sale!
- Unless you live on the coast, nearly all shrimp have been frozen. Nothing wrong with frozen shrimp!
- Flat (rather than round) bamboo skewers, are best because the meat won't twirl when you're trying to flip it.
- Always soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes to avoid the wood from burning while grilling.
- Metal skewers work great as well and don't need soaking!
Grilling shrimp kebabs are easy! A perfect meal, great for appetizers and delicious over a salad - seriously you can't go wrong!
Tips for purchasing fresh shrimp
- buy shrimp on the day you're going to use it
- seafood should smell like the ocean - not fishy or spoiled
- refrigerate it prior to grilling
- rinse and pat dry before putting on the grill
Variations
Add veggies to your skewers. Quick cooking veggies are perfect like asparagus, slices of zucchini, yellow squash, red or yellow onions. Peppers and tomatoes are also delicious grilled.
BBQ Sauce is delicious - or give your shrimp kabobs a Mexican flair by sprinkling with taco or fajitas seasoning or using a shrimp marinade (this teriyaki recipe is AMAZING!).
Serving suggestions
Here are some of my favorite sides the enjoy with this meal.
- Asparagus are easy to make and go so well with the grilled shrimp. Learn all the tips for how to grill asparagus here!
- Deviled Egg Potato Salad - creamy and tangy, this is a family favorite!
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans - packed with great flavor, baked beans go with any meal!
- Easy Strawberry Shortcake would be perfect for dessert!
Related recipes
- Shrimp Scampi Linguine Recipe - only minutes to make, this easy recipe is delicious!
- No breading or deep frying! Take a short cut and make Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp using frozen shrimp!
- Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl - loaded with rice, mango and a spicy sauce, it's so easy to make!
- Grilled Shrimp Nicoise Salad Recipe - this is a salad that is a meal - delicious!
- So flavorful and easy to make, this is a quick Spicy Thai Noodle Soup with Shrimp, just like your favorite restaurant.
- Another super easy, family favorite is this Grilled Shrimp Tacos Recipe - a delicious dinner ready in just 15 minutes? Oh yes!
How to Grill Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb. shrimp
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp grill seasoning
- non-stick coating for grill
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to 350 degrees.
- Rinse the shrimp, pat dry and thread onto bamboo skewers.
- Prepare the shrimp skewers by brushing lightly with olive oil.
- Sprinkle the shrimp with seasoning.
- Grilled the skewers 5-7 minutes total, turning once during grilling.
- Serve with wedges of fresh lemon on the side, finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
Cooked shrimp will curl into a C shape.
Amy Nash
I happened to have this Lake Shore seasoning mix as well! It's so good but I hadn't tried it on shrimp yet. But man oh man it was delicious! Thanks for the helpful tips about grilling shrimp! It's so easy!
Bowl Me Over
Isn't it just the BEST! I love it too, I'm so glad you're enjoying it Amy!
michele
Shrimp is one of our go to grilling recipes! This sounds so flavorful and I look forward to trying it!
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, I know you'll love it Michele!
Michaela Kenkel
I love shrimp just about any way --but grilled is by far my FAVORITE!! Love when it gets that little bit of char on them!! So yummy!!
Bowl Me Over
Definitely - easy and good!! Enjoy Michaela!!
Sandra Shaffer
Now I'm going to have to pay close attention to see if my grocery store carries skewered shrimp! Love this for a quick mid-week meal. We grill a lot during the summer months.
Bowl Me Over
Good luck, I hope they carry them Sandra!!
Jennifer A Stewart
I'm with you and buying the ones already on the skewer! I am forever losing my package of skewers at home and by the time I get them, the shrimp, and all the time it takes to assemble them, I am on the losing end of that!
Bowl Me Over
Exactly, right? Getting dinner on the table can be daunting enough and at a buck a piece, these are just perfect!
Angela
So simple! What a great weeknight dish! I think I’ll serve them over some lemon couscous ?
Bowl Me Over
THAT sounds delicious - great combination Angela!
Julie
We love shrimp especially grilled. All of that spice flavor would make them delicious as a meal or appetizer!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you Julie, I hope you give this recipe a try!
debi at Life Currents
I love grilled shrimp! Such an easy and delicious dinner. And these herbs look like a fabulous addition to the shrimp.
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much!!!
Angela Paris
You seriously know your way around a grill! These look incredible and I'm not really big on seafood usually 🙂
Pinning!
Bowl Me Over
Yay!! That makes my day, I hope you really enjoy this recipe!