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A simple grilled shrimp recipe is the perfect easy and healthy dinner for warm weather months! With just 10 minutes of prep and 5 minutes on the grill, this fresh grilled shrimp marinade comes together quickly and makes family meals delicious and nutritious.
Table of Contents
How to Make Marinated Grilled Shrimp | 1-Minute Video
This is our family’s very favorite grilled shrimp recipe — even the kids love it! With just a short soak, the marinade infuses the shrimp with the fresh flavors of lime, garlic, herbs, and a touch of sweet honey. Serve the grilled shrimp skewers with a side of rice, a crusty loaf of bread, or a Caesar salad for a light, satisfying dinner.
Since the shrimp is already so tender, it only needs about 20 minutes in the marinade, making this an ideal supper for busy evenings. Just don’t leave the shrimp in the marinade for too long, or you’ll end up with mushy seafood.
Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need to make the easy grilled shrimp. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Shrimp: peeled and deveined. I like jumbo or extra-large shrimp, but any size will work. I typically use frozen shrimp that I thaw in the refrigerator overnight before marinating.
- Lime juice: a fresh burst of acidic tang that helps tenderize the shrimp and add tons of flavor to the marinade.
- Garlic: for even more flavor.
- Olive oil: the base of the marinade.
- Fresh parsley: for a bright, colorful touch.
- Worcestershire sauce: adds a bit of savory, umami flavor to the marinade.
- Honey: for a touch of sweetness, which also helps to achieve a nice char on the shrimp.
- Salt and Pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the dish.
Grilled Shrimp Marinade
To make the grilled shrimp marinade, just combine all of the marinade ingredients in a jar with a lid. Seal, and then shake, shake, shake to mix everything together. So simple!
How to Grill Shrimp
This recipe comes together quickly and easily, so keep a close eye on the shrimp to make sure that they don’t overcook.
- Place the shrimp in a large Ziploc bag or bowl.
- Pour the marinade over the shrimp and toss to coat. Seal or cover, place in the refrigerator, and marinate for at least 20 minutes (but not more than 2-3 hours).
- Remove shrimp from the bag or bowl and discard the marinade.
- Thread the shrimp onto skewers.
- Grill the shrimp on a grill pan, gas grill, or charcoal grill over high heat for a total of 4-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. You’ll know the shrimp are done when they turn pink.
- Remove the shrimp from the skewers and place on a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with fresh parsley and lime wedges, and enjoy!
What to Serve with Grilled Shrimp
This recipe pairs nicely with your favorite starch and vegetables. You can also use the marinated grilled shrimp to make shrimp tacos in flour tortillas. Here are a few easy side dishes that will go well with the shrimp:
- Couscous Salad
- Caesar Salad, Wedge Salad, or a simple green salad dressed with Buttermilk Dressing or Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
- Pesto Pasta or a Classic Pasta Salad
- Crusty French Baguette, a loaf of No-Knead Bread, Focaccia, or Dinner Rolls
- Grits
- Easy Mushroom Risotto
- Buttermilk Biscuits, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, or Easy Drop Biscuits
- Green Beans
- Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
- Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
- Baked Potato Wedges or Potato Salad
- Southern Macaroni Salad
- Roasted Asparagus or Garlic Roasted Broccoli
- Summer Corn Salad, Southern Succotash, or fresh corn on the cob
- Skillet Cornbread, Honey Cornbread or Corn Muffins
Preparation and Storage Tips
Marinate the shrimp in the fridge for at least 15-20 minutes, but not more than about 2-3 hours.
Leftover shrimp will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To extend the life of the shrimp, you can wrap it tightly and keep it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Is it better to grill shrimp with the shell on or off?
I always grill the shrimp with the shell off. This allows the marinade to directly flavor the shrimp, and it makes it easier to eat the shrimp once they’re cooked — no peeling at the table.
Can you grill cooked shrimp?
I don’t recommend grilling pre-cooked shrimp. This will likely overcook the shrimp, resulting in a rubbery or tough finished product.
Can you grill frozen shrimp?
I almost always use frozen shrimp for this recipe, but I always thaw the shrimp before marinating. Thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight, or for a quick-thaw method, place the frozen shrimp in a colander and run under cold water until thawed (this will only take a few minutes)!
Recipe Variations
- Cooking for just 1 or 2 people? Cut all of the ingredients in half and grill just one pound of shrimp. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.
- Swap out the lime juice and use freshly-squeezed lemon juice instead.
- For an even stronger lime flavor, grate some lime zest directly into the marinade. You can also add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice over the cooked shrimp, too.
- Add your favorite fresh herbs to the marinade. I’ve kept it simple with the fresh parsley, but other good options include rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro, or chives.
- Make it spicy by adding cayenne pepper to the marinade. Smoked paprika is also a nice addition!
- Cook the shrimp indoors by using a grill pan that’s preheated over high heat.
Tips for the Best Grilled Shrimp Recipe
- I recommend marinating the shrimp for at least 15-20 minutes, but not more than 2-3 hours. The acid (lime juice) in this marinade will cause the shrimp to become rubbery or mushy if they’re left in the marinade for too long.
- If using wooden skewers, it’s important to soak the skewers in water for a couple of hours before threading the shrimp. This will prevent the wood from burning on the grill.
- Shrimp cook very quickly, so keep a close eye on them and remove them from the grill as soon as they’re done. You know that they’re ready when they turn pink and opaque. Overdone shrimp will get tough, so they will likely only require about 3-5 minutes total over high heat.
- Season the shrimp with kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste after it comes off of the grill.
More Grilled Shrimp Recipes to Try
Honey Sesame Grilled Shrimp Skewers
56 minutes mins
Lemon Garlic Herb Grilled Shrimp Recipe
45 minutes mins
Grilled Honey Lime Shrimp
50 minutes mins
Marinated Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
FOR THE MARINADE:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of pepper
FOR SERVING:
- 2 lbs. raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp (I use extra large or jumbo shrimp)
- Optional garnish: fresh lime wedges and additional chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a jar with a lid, combine all of the marinade ingredients. Shake until completely combined.
- Place shrimp in a large zip-top bag or bowl. Pour the marinade in the bag with the shrimp. Seal the top of the bag and place shrimp in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 15-20 minutes (but not more than 2 or 3 hours).
- Remove shrimp from the bag and discard the marinade. Thread shrimp onto skewers and grill over high heat for 4-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you prefer, you can also broil the shrimp on a sheet pan in the oven for about 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Garnish with fresh lime wedges and additional chopped parsley.
Video
Notes
- I recommend marinating the shrimp for at least 15-20 minutes, but not more than 2-3 hours. The acid (lime juice) in this marinade will cause the shrimp to become rubbery or mushy if they’re left in the marinade for too long.
- If using wooden skewers, it’s important to soak the skewers in water for a couple of hours before threading the shrimp. This will prevent the wood from burning on the grill.
- Shrimp cook very quickly, so keep a close eye on them and remove them from the grill as soon as they’re done. You know that they’re ready when they turn pink and opaque. Overdone shrimp will get tough, so they will likely only require about 3-5 minutes total over high heat.
- Season the shrimp with kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste after it comes off of the grill.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in June, 2017. The photos were updated in April, 2021.
Shrimp is definitely a feel good food for me! It’s seafood, which I feel is naturally healthier, and SO delicious! I love grilling shrimp, especially in the summer, and this marinated version looks SO good, Blair! Pinning to try!
Thanks so much, Gayle! Shrimp is such a staple in our house at this time of year. So fast, easy, and healthy! Thanks for the pin!
I’ve heard one should use only the zest of citrus fruit and never the juice in marinades as after an hour or so the acid in the juice begins to degrade the meat of the shrimp.
I grill 2-3 times a week. These shrimp were a great addition to my repertoire. I held some marinade back in a ramekin (unblended with the shrimp) to use as a dipping sauce for those who want the bigger flavor. Also I highly recommend the lime wedges on the side (as you mention) because a spritz of extra lime juice on the finished shrimp really highlights the overall flavor. Great simple marinade, well laid out, with good attention to detail. Thank you!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I’m so glad that you enjoyed the shrimp!
Great recipe! I make shrimp at least once a week and am always coming up with different ways to cook it. I just posted a recipe on my blog for baked garlic shrimp that had this buttery breadcrumb topping on it. Oh My. I could have chowed down on the whole 2 lbs myself. LOL
Sounds delicious! I’ve got a similar baked, breaded garlic shrimp on my blog and it’s amazing! You can’t go wrong with that flavor combo! 🙂
Great recipe. We substitute lemon for lime simply because we always have lemons in the house..
My favorite summer food is boiled crabs with hard crusted bread.
Favorite cold weather foods are Portuguese roast and kale soup (not in one meal).
Thanks, Theresa! Yes — lemons are a great substitute! And you can’t go wrong with crabs and crusty bread at this time of year. So, so good! 🙂
This recipe is AWESOME!!! I decided to give it a try couple days ago. I used the largest shrimp I could find, replaced the tomato sauce with chili sauce, upped the cayenne pepper, marinated them for two hours and then grilled. People were raving about them.Thanks so much for this recipe!!!
Excellent! So glad that they were a hit! My 3-year-old son requested them again for dinner last night, so they’re definitely a favorite around here, too. Your changes sound delicious as well!
I didn’t see tomato sauce in the recipe. Where did that come from? I’ve got mine marinating right now, sans tomato sauce. Hope it comes out as well as reviewed. 🙂
Hi, Teresa! There’s definitely NO tomato sauce in the recipe. No idea where that comment came from! 🙂
looks wonderful however did not give any directions after marinade…..
You’re right, Sandy! I have no idea how the second half of the recipe got cut off! Adding it right now. 🙂
Can you make the marinade days before if it is kept refrigerated?
Absolutely, Jim! It’s like a vinaigrette salad dressing, so it will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week! Enjoy. 🙂
I found your site & this recipe via Skinny Taste. Even though it is October here in Ohio, the weather is still warm enough that this grilled shrimp recipe can be a last salute to summer. The accompanying photograph is lovely. I am looking forward to checking out more of your recipes!
Hi, Linda! I’m so glad that you found the blog! This grilled shrimp is one of our go-to family favorites (especially in the summer)! I hope that you love it too!
I read that some one changed the tomato sauce for chili sauce and added cayenne pepper but i don’t see anything in the recipe with these items.
I don’t know, Jessica — there’s definitely no tomato sauce in the recipe. 🙂
Looks really good… My fiance and I love Grilled shrimp and are always looking For new and different recipes… Trying this recipe next weekend… I will let you know what we thought about it…
Awesome, Angela! I hope that you enjoy it!
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Hi, Ann! Yes, you can definitely use frozen shrimp (that’s often what I do). Just thaw them before cooking. You can either thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight, or run them under cold water in a colander for about 5-7 minutes if you’re pressed for time!
Your marinated grilled shrimp recipe is stored in my memory bank. I have made this easy wholesome recipe many times and it is always a crowd pleaser. I give you Five Large Stars Thank you!
That’s wonderful, Albert! It’s definitely a staple in our summer meal rotation as well. So glad that you like it!
Made this a couple of months ago and thought it was OK, but then realized in my rush that I neglected to include the garlic and salt and pepper! Finally got around to making it again yesterday, following the ingredient list and only adding a little bit of red pepper flakes. Marinated for about 45 minutes. It was fantastic! Very easy and quick to put together–like most of your recipes. My husband cooked them on the grill top saute pan (the one with the holes in it). We used the lovely U15 easy peel fresh shrimp from Costco, which is a perfect size for this since they stay moist and very flavorful. Thanks for a keeper recipe!
Great recipe my family and guest Absolutely loved these marinated shrimp.
Wonderful! Thank you! 🙂
I love your approach to food. I feel that the restrictive fad diets of cutting entire food groups are myopic in the extreme. My mom also had the same approach to food – good wholesome food that made you happy for that particular occasion, season or reason. Will be trying this soon! And bookmarking your website to come back to!
Thank you, Steve! I hope that you love the shrimp! 🙂
Big hit with the fam and so easy to put together. Thank you for an awesome recipe!!
Thanks, Julie! I’m so happy to hear that!
It would be nice if there was some way to print the recipe.
Hey, Chuck! There’s a green button in the box at the very top of the post that says, “PRINT RECIPE.” You can also find a “PRINT” button in the recipe box (just below the photo). Hope that helps, and enjoy! 🙂
What would be the downfall to marinating the shrimp for say 10 hours as opposed to the max 2 or 3 you say?
Hey, Tyler! The acid in the marinade from the lime juice starts to break down the delicate shrimp meat and makes it mushy if it sits in the marinade too long. 🙂
This is a keeper excellent!!!!
This is a keeper excellent!!!!
Thank you, Bob!!!
We tried it with the shrimp twice in one week and it was delicious! Have you tried this marinade on another seafood?
So glad you’ve enjoyed it, Olivia! I haven’t tried the marinade with any other seafood, but I’m sure it would be great. Scallops would be delicious, and fish would work well, too — just be sure that you don’t marinate for too long or the acid in the lime juice will make the fish mushy. 🙂
This recipe is delicious as well as quick and easy to prepare. Everyone loved it. Will do again. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Denise!!!
Looks delicious!! Can these be made/any tips for using an indoor grill (like a George Forman grill?) thanks!
Hi, Marisa! I’m not as familiar with a George Foreman grill, but I regularly make these on a cast iron indoor grill pan, which is probably very similar to the Foreman. It works great! The same instructions apply on the indoor pan — high heat for 4-6 minutes. Enjoy!
Spectacular! I made this for an afternoon wedding reception and the crowd went wild. I did add a bit of ginger just to zip it up a bit. This is definitely going into my crowd pleaser files.
That’s wonderful, Lorinda! Thank you for taking the time to leave a note. 🙂
Woooow…..It’s the only thing that taste good! And so easy to do…
I think I will look for these and try your recipe this weekend. Thank you for sharing!
Dang Thai from Embeya !
Made this last night with rice pilaf. Easy to make and delicious.
Thanks, Lee! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
I really love these shrimps. I can’t wait to make this one for my family to try.
Tried it, wasn’t a fan. Marinade gave the shrimp a more accentuated fishy taste, i’m guessing because of the lime juice.
Out of this world delicious! One of the best marinades I’ve ever tried. Just the right bit of everything!
Thank you, Pam! So glad that you loved it!
OMG is this fantastic! I am a 5th generation Floridian and I know good seafood when I taste it. Fabulous, love the sweetness of the honey and the savory of the worcestershire sauce with the zing of limes. Total keeper.
Yay! Thank you, Cass!
You ought to take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the internet. I most certainly will highly recommend this web site!
My family has been in Key West and Miami since the early 1800’s. I consider myself a seafood connoisseur. This is one of the best shrimp recipes I’ve ever ever ever had. Everytime I make it. it fills the neighborhood with delicious mouth watering fragrance. As a personal preference, I use key lime juice instead of everyday limes. Other than that, I think it’s perfect. I sure wish my mom were still here to enjoy it.
Thank you for your blog and all your recipes.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Cassandra. That’s a huge compliment! I actually used key lime juice the last time we made this too, because I had some leftover from a pie recipe. Such a treat!
Absolutely loved the marinade. The shrimp had a great flavor. I’m thinking that this marinade would make a great seasoning for other food. Like salmon for starters
Thanks, Annette! Yes, I totally agree!
Wow, this marinade is fantastic! I was too lazy to put the shrimp on skewers so I was going to follow the option to broil the shrimp in the oven, but I really wanted the smoky/grilled flavor. So I used a large vegetable grilling basket and put them on my grill (med-high heat) for 8 minutes, stirring them halfway through. They were phenomenal! I am definitely adding this to my permanent repertoire of dishes!!
Sounds perfect, Chris! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back here and leave a note. 🙂
I love my shrimp marinated. It gives it a different texture that just feels right. And then I add the lime after it’s cooked. Tastes so good.
Thanks, Caroline!
Excellent recipe! The whole family really liked the flavor of the shrimp. I will definitely make this again.
Wonderful! Thanks, Lynne!
Made it tonight as an appetizer. Was praised and friends want me to make it again. A great hit.
Perfect! Thanks, Rich!