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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.

Grilled shrimp

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! There are just a few tips to know. 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 right to the recipe):

  1. Preheat a grill to medium high heat.
  2. Thaw the shrimp (if frozen).
  3. Place the shrimp in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
  4. Grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until bright pink and cooked through.
  5. Remove from the grill and spritz with fresh lemon juice.

Another idea: Brush with our Homemade Teriyaki Sauce before throwing it on the grill, then brush on a fresh coat right before serving.

How to grill shrimp

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.

Should grilled shrimp be on skewers?

You can if you’d like! You can thread your shrimp onto skewers before you grill it, which in theory makes it easier to turn. We find that shrimp tends to spin on metal skewers, making it harder to manage on the grill. It also takes some time to thread it onto skewers, if you’re using wooden skewers they need to be soaked first so they don’t burn.

Head to this Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe if you want to use skewers. But skipping them makes it quicker and easier!

How long to grill shrimp

How long to grill shrimp

The cook time for this recipe is extremely quick. It takes just 3 to 5 minutes to grill shrimp, using medium-high direct heat (375 to 400 degrees). 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 turned out wonderfully.

How to thaw frozen shrimp

How to thaw frozen shrimp? There are a two different options depending on when you start:

  • Night before: If you think ahead, simply 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 be defrosted in about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp.
Grilled shrimp

Can you marinate grilled shrimp?

Yes! Grilled shrimp is tender and flavorful when soaked in a marinade first. Head to our Perfect Shrimp Marinade and allow it to marinate for 1 hour before grilling with these instructions.

Variations

Want to try a few different seasoning blends for grilled shrimp? Here are some additional options:

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:

Grilled shrimp

More ways to cook shrimp!

Shrimp is a great healthy meal choice if you eat seafood. Here are some of our favorite healthy shrimp recipes:

This grilled shrimp recipe is…

Gluten-free, dairy-free and pescatarian.

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Grilled shrimp

Perfect Grilled Shrimp


  • Author: Sonja
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

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


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, tail on and deveined (we used 2630 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

  1. Thaw the shrimp. Then pat the shrimp dry. 
  2. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees).
  3. Place the shrimp in a bowl and add the olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Mix with your hands to combine.
  4. Place directly on a grill and grill 1 to 2 minutes per side until bright pink and cooked through.
  5. Remove from the grill and squeeze on fresh lemon juice from several wedges of the lemon, to taste.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Grilled shrimp, How to grill shrimp, How long to grill shrimp, How to cook shrimp on the grill

Last updated: April 2020

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

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11 Comments

  1. This was excellent! I left the shells on just to see how they would cook. Delicious!

  2. 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.