How to Grill Juicy Tender Shrimp

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!

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe 
• Ingredients for shrimp kabobs
• How to grill shrimp
• Equipment
• FAQ's
• Top Tip
• Deb's tips
• Tips for purchasing fresh shrimp
• Variations
• Related recipes
• Serving suggestions
• How to Grill Shrimp Skewers

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 our 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. You can use a gas or charcoal grill - your choice!

Ingredients for shrimp kabobs

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

How to grill shrimp

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

Grilling the shrimp kabobs recipe takes only 2-3 minutes per side, depending on the size of the shrimp!

1. Preheat the grill.
2. Peel and devein shrimp.
3. Rinse the raw shrimp in cold water, pat dry with paper towels and thread shrimp onto skewers.
4. Brush the shrimp with olive oil.
5. Season shrimp.
6. Shrimp cook quickly and will only need to 2-3 minutes total, turning once during grilling.
7. Serve with a fresh lemon wedge on the side, finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Equipment

• Bamboo skewers are inexpensive and a great option. Just be sure to soak them before use.
• Flat reusable metal skewers are a terrific choice. Because they are flat, the meat doesn't twirl or fall through the cooking grates and they are easier to flip!
• Grill baskets are great because they are terrific for seafood or vegetables! When you use a grill pan the shrimp won't fall through the grill grates.

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

FAQ's

Deb's tips

• Thaw the shrimp. Peel and devein the shrimp before grilling.
• Shrimp size matters. Buy the largest shrimp that meets your budget. The little ones cook quickly and are easy to overcook. No one likes rubbery shrimp!
• 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. There's nothing wrong with frozen shrimp!
• 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!

Whether you use a gas grill or a charcoal, 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 fresh shrimp on the day you're going to use it.
• Seafood should smell like the ocean - not fishy or spoiled.
• 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!).
• This plum bbq sauce is perfect with shrimp as well.
• Serve with garlic butter for dipping.
• A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a pop of heat.

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!
• This Teriyaki Chicken Bowl Recipe is the best, most tender chicken marinade in a delicious easy-to-make sauce. Or if you'd prefer ribs, learn how to grill ribs here!
• Beef Shish Kabobs Recipe - these are the BEST beef kabobs.
• 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!

Serving suggestions

Here are some of my favorite sides the enjoy with this meal.

• Make a batch of Shrimp Cocktail Sauce. It makes a terrific dipper!
• 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!

What do you think? Fire up that grill and make some kabobs. Leave me a comment below and let me know how they turned out!