by Holly
Garlic Grilled Shrimp is a perfect summer staple on the grill; especially on skewers! Just a simple soak in this tangy marinade and it stands alone as a kabob or delicious tucked into a zesty shrimp taco!
This is one of those ‘go-to recipes’ that make summertime livin’ so easy! Serve as a main dish or even as a snack for guests to eat alongside mojitos on the deck!
Grilled Shrimp Marinade
A marinade is meant to tenderize meat and infuse it with flavorful herbs and spices. This shrimp marinade is infused with garlic, lemon, and other fresh herbs and spice to create a deliciously tangy flavor!
Because shrimp is so tender, marinating and cooking takes mere minutes compared to other proteins so it’s important not to over-marinate or overcook!
How to Grill Garlic Grilled Shrimp
If preparing the marinade ahead of time, don’t toss in the shrimp until 20 minutes before ready to cook to ensure they are not over-marinated (making them mushy)!
- Combine everything in a bowl and marinate 20 minutes.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Thread the shrimp on the skewers and grill 2 to 3 minutes each side. Remove from skewers and place in a serving bowl.
Drizzle with garlic butter and a squirt of juice from a fresh lemon wedge!
Should I Soak the Skewers?
If the skewers you are using are made from wood then you’ll want to soak them so they don’t catch fire from the grill (or oven, or broiler) before the meat is finished cooking.
It doesn’t take long to soak a skewer. Fully immersing wooden skewers (of any length) while the shrimp marinates will do the trick!
Don’t Grill Your Shrimp Too Long
Shrimp is a popular protein all year because not only does it have a mild flavor that fits into many different cuisines (Italian, Thai, Japanese, American), but it takes mere minutes to cook! Just until the meat is no longer translucent and barely firm to the bite is as far as you need to go.
Overcooking shrimp will result in a rubbery result (insert tears of sadness here)! Be sure to remove shrimp from whatever heat source you’re cooking on just as soon as it is pink!
What to Serve With Shrimp
Garlic grilled shrimp pairs perfectly in a taco with shredded lettuce, and a tangy pico de gallo. Try grilled shrimp over a bed of lettuce with sliced red onions and a tangy vinaigrette for a delicious salad!
Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love
- Bang Bang Shrimp – crispy shrimp with a creamy, spicy sauce!
- Pineapple Teriyaki Shrimp Foil Packets – light & fresh
- Shrimp Stir Fry – ready in under 30 mins!
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil – fun flavorful summer meal!
- Shrimp and Grits – classic Southern combo (personal favorite)
Garlic Grilled Shrimp
Prep Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 skewers
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
Marinade
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Garlic Butter
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
- lemon wedges for serving optional
Instructions
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Allow shrimp to marinate at least 20 minutes.
- Preheat grill to medium heat.
- Thread shrimp on skewers and grill 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from skewers and place in a serving bowl.
- Drizzle with garlic butter and serve warm with lemon wedges if desired.
Nutrition Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
I was a little skeptical of the great ratings…the ingredients didn’t seem all that interesting, other than the tomato paste, which I’d never used in a marinade before.
But wow…it turned out to be one of the best shrimp dishes I’ve ever made. Served them over grits, and it was fantastic.
That is so wonderful to hear Matt! I am glad this recipe was a hit for you.
Has anyone tried making them with the shell on? I’m thinking of serving them as an appetizer and just having everyone peel them themselves.
This looks great and I’m going to try it tonight. However, you contradict yourself in this post. At one point you write: “If preparing the marinade ahead of time, don’t toss in the shrimp until 20 minutes before ready to cook to ensure they are not over-marinated (making them mushy)!” Then later on you write: “Allow shrimp to marinate at least 20 minutes.” Please let us know what you really advocate.
20 minutes is the magic number! Enjoy the shrimp Buddy.
Excellent. But always struggle to decide what size shrimp – any recommendations?
For most recipes, I use medium sized shrimp, which is about 41-50 shrimp per pound (so about 10-12 per serving (2 skewers). Most shrimp will indicate the size. That said, these would be impressive with large shrimp too! Large shrimp will have between 31-35 per pound, about 8-9 shrimp per serving. Enjoy Erica!
Very good! Does not need the dipping sauce! Thank you for this recipe.
You’re welcome Dorothy!
Just wondering in your nutritional information for your garlic grilled shrimp i never noticed for how many shrimp this entails.
It is for ¼ pound of shrimp. The number of shrimp will vary based on the size you have. Enjoy Janet!
Cooked this recipe for a family gathering and it was delicious! Flavors are spot on.
This was my first time grilling shrimp. It was easy to make the marinade and the shrimp cooked quickly on the grill. So delicious. Thank you!
You’re welcome Barbara! I’m SO happy to hear it went so well for you!
Would you double all ingredients including oil and butter if making 2 pounds of shrimp?
I would double all ingredients. Enjoy Sonja!
Excellent and quick shrimp recipe. I also added some lemon zest to the marinade to add a little more lemon flavor. Served with cornbread and salad.
This recipe is excellent ! The shrimp came out tender and delicious. I served the shrimp with jasmine rice and a green salad. I skipped the garlic butter, actually, I forgot. The whole family said” these are great, save the recipe” I’ve tried a few other marinades for grilled shrimp, this is the best. Thanks so much.
You’re welcome Patricia!
Had to give this a review. This recipe is so darn delicious! I will be using this marinade from now on for my grilled shrimp. Thank you for the amazing dinner tonight.
You’re welcome, Christina! I’m so happy to hear that you love the shrimp so much!
Love at first bite. Great recipe. Only substituted dried basil for fresh because I didn’t have it. Look forward to making this again in the summer when I have my basil and cherry sweet tomatoes fresh from the garden!
I substituted Sesame oil in place of the olive oil and added some Red pepper flakes as well in the marinade…Gave it a nice Far Eastern flavor.