The reviews for this grilled shrimp recipe speak for themselves; this recipe is so delicious!

Juicy shrimp are tossed in a simple marinade, grilled until tender, and drizzled with garlic butter for serving.

plated Garlic Grilled Shrimp

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This Is The Best Grilled Shrimp Because…

  • It’s so delicious – everyone raves about it!
  • The marinade uses ingredients you likely have on hand and lets the flavor of the shrimp shine.
  • The shrimp comes out so tender and cooks in less than 10 minutes!
shrimp in a bowl to make Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Ingredients for Grilled Shrimp

Shrimp: This recipe works well with either large or medium shrimp. I prefer larger shrimp for skewering. To save time, purchase peeled and deveined shrimp; I like the tails on. Thaw and drain frozen shrimp before using.

Oil: The base of the shrimp marinade is olive oil, however, any neutral oil will work.

Garlic: These shrimp have a double dose of garlic – fresh is best if possible!

Seasoning: Herbs, a bit of lemon juice, and tomato paste add flavor the the marinade.

Butter: Use salted butter if possible or add a pinch of salt if your butter is unsalted.

I use parsley but if you have other fresh herbs like basil or cilantro, they also taste great in the garlic butter.

brushing marinade over Garlic Grilled Shrimp

How to Grill Garlic Grilled Shrimp

  1. Combine everything in a bowl, toss to coat, and marinate per the recipe below.
  2. Thread the shrimp on skewers.
  3. Preheat the grill to medium and grill shrimp skewers for about 3 minutes per side.
  4. Drizzle with garlic butter and serve.

Quick Tip

If using wooden skewers, I recommend soaking them to prevent them from catching fire on the grill. Place them in a shallow pan (I use a 9×13 dish) and soak them while the shrimp marinates.

If you frequently make skewers, I recommend investing in stainless steel skewers. While I love the dollar store for many items, I find that the cheaper skewers rust.

Garlic Grilled Shrimp skewers on a baking sheet

Serving Suggestions

  • Skewers: Serve these skewers over rice (or Roasted Potatoes)with a side of grilled vegetables.
  • Tacos: Use shrimp without tails and make them into shrimp tacos with your fave toppings.
  • Salad: Serve these skewers over a fresh salad – or even better yet Caesar salad!

More Fave Five-Star Shrimp Recipes

Did you enjoy this Garlic Grilled Shrimp Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
Garlic Grilled Shrimp in a bowl with parsley
5 from 452 votes

Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Servings 8 skewers
Garlic grilled shrimp is made with a tangy marinade and brushed with garlic butter.
Servings 8 skewers
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes
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Ingredients  

  • 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined, or medium shrimp

Marinade

  • cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or ¾ teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Garlic Butter

  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ¼ cup salted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
  • lemon wedges for serving, optional

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine butter, garlic, and parsley. Set aside.
  • In a glass bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, parsley, tomato paste, basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add the shrimp and marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 1 hour.
  • Preheat the grill to medium heat (375°F).
  • Thread the shrimp onto skewers and grill for 2-3 minutes per side or just until the shrimp are opaque. Remove from skewers and place in a serving bowl.
  • If needed, warm the garlic butter in the microwave for a few seconds to melt. Drizzle the garlic butter over the shrimp and serve warm with lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

  • Don’t marinade the shrimp longer than 60 minutes. Over-marinating can make the shrimp mushy.
  • Don’t overcook the shrimp – cook just cook until opaque.
  • If you don’t have skewers, you can cook shrimp on a grill mat or in a grill pan.
  • Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
5 from 452 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 190 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
close up of plated easy Garlic Grilled Shrimp with a title
bowl of Garlic Grilled Shrimp with writing
Garlic Grilled Shrimp on a skewer and close up with a title
tangy Garlic Grilled Shrimp with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
See more posts by Holly

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5 from 452 votes (323 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. My wife said this was the best shrimp i have ever made! Awesome on the pit. Served it with with grilled tuna steaks and fresh green beans!

  2. I made this last night and it was delicious! I didn’t make the garlic butter but it didn’t need it.
    I don’t have a grill so I made it stovetop just cooking the shrimp a few minutes on each side in a hot pan.
    Thanks for the great marinade…5 stars

    1. Using crushed tomatoes won’t get the same concentrated flavor as the tomato paste would add, and may change the overall acidity, so I’d say omit it. Other readers have omitted the tomato paste and loved it!

  3. Hey ~ I am making this tonight but don’t have a grill. How would I cook it on the stove-top?
    Thanks!

  4. 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.5 stars

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

    1. 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!

  7. Just wondering in your nutritional information for your garlic grilled shrimp i never noticed for how many shrimp this entails.

    1. It is for ¼ pound of shrimp. The number of shrimp will vary based on the size you have. Enjoy Janet!

  8. 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!5 stars

  9. 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.5 stars

  10. 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.5 stars

  11. 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.5 stars

  12. 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!5 stars

  13. 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.4 stars