This super easy grilled shrimp with garlic butter recipe is a family favorite and a winner for busy weekdays!
Grilled Shrimp Recipe
Let’s face it: some evenings, putting a dinner on the table that satisfies everyone seems impossible. But these simple grilled shrimp skewers with garlic butter? It’s my secret weapon! This recipe is a lifesaver for any night of the week and is so versatile there’s no need to make a marinade. You can even cook them in a skillet or air fryer (instructions included)! Serve it with grilled steak for easy surf and turf. Make it for a summer meal and serve the shrimp with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, grilled corn on the cob, macaroni salad, or Greek orzo salad. And for more of my favorite grilled shrimp skewer recipes, try my Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Skewers and BBQ Shrimp.
This grilled shrimp recipe is my summer must-have
Some nights, serving a dinner that everyone likes can be a challenge. But these healthy grilled shrimp with garlic butter are a guaranteed crowd pleaser with Tommy and Madison and perfect for busy weeknights! I also love it for all these reasons:
- High protein content: A serving of shrimp contains 34.5 grams of protein.
- Quick and easy: These garlic shrimp skewers have a short list of ingredients and cook in just 5 minutes.
- Great for Dietary Restrictions: Shrimp is low carb, gluten free, and weight watcher friendly. It can also be prepared without dairy products.
Grilled Shrimp Ingredients
This simple grilled shrimp recipe requires mostly kitchen staples. Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Shrimp: I buy jumbo shrimp peeled and tailed off to save time.
- Salt and pepper to season the prawns
- Butter: Use salted butter for the best flavor. If necessary you can replace the dairy-free butter.
- Garlic: Grate a clove of garlic with a microplane or garlic press.
- Sweet paprika adds a subtle, smoky sweetness to the garlic butter.
- Seals: Garnish the grilled garlic shrimp with chopped fresh herbs such as fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
How to Grill Shrimp
You can make these shrimp skewers earlier in the day, so when dinner time rolls around, you can have your meal on the table in under 15 minutes. See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Dip the skewers for 30 minutes in water to ensure they do not burn.
- Prepare the grill: Heat grill over medium heat until. Then clean with a barbecue brush. To oil the grates, pour avocado oil onto a wad of paper towels and rub onto the grates.
- Make the garlic butter: Melt the butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the paprika and remove from the heat.
- Skewer the shrimp: Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Then thread them onto the skewers.
- Grilled Shrimps until the bottom turns pink. Turn and continue cooking until the prawns are opaque.
- How to serve: Transfer to a plate and brush butter over shrimp skewers. Garnish with parsley and squeeze with lemon juice.
Helpful Tips for Perfect Grilled Shrimp
Preparing the shrimp:
- Start with fresh or properly thawed produce: Fresh shrimp are ideal, but frozen ones are fine too. If using frozen, thaw completely in the refrigerator either under cold running water or in the refrigerator overnight. Dry the prawns before seasoning them: humidity is the enemy of good searing.
- Size matters: Giant or colossal shrimp are easier to handle on the grill and are less likely to overcook.
- Shell or no shell? I prefer shrimp without the shell. They are easier to eat and less messy.
- Save time: Buying shrimp already cleaned and peeled will save you a lot of time.
- Dip the skewers: If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
Kitchen:
- High heat, short time: Shrimp cooks quickly! Use medium-high heat on the grill and, for large shrimp, cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Don’t overcrowd the grill, or the temperature will drop and the shrimp will steam instead of searing.
- Pay attention to the “C”: As the shrimp cooks, they will go from translucent to opaque and curl into a C shape. Once it forms a full circle, it will be overcooked and rubbery.
- Clean the grill grates: A clean grill prevents shrimp from sticking. Preheat the grill, clean the grates and brush them with oil before adding the shrimp.
What is the best grill to buy
I have a gas grill in my outdoor kitchen, but I also have a charcoal grill. If you love the smoky flavor of a charcoal grill, I recommend mine Kamado Joe Classic Joe II! You can get it from Amazon AND Home depot. It’s the best charcoal grill I’ve ever used and works great with all my favorite tools.
Variations:
- Spice it up: Make a dry rub for the shrimp and season with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper for a little heat.
- Seasoning: Add Old Bay seasoning or dried herbs such as oregano or thyme to the garlic butter sauce.
- Sassy Goodness: Instead of garlic butter, try them with pesto, like my Pesto Shrimp Skewers, or go Korean with my Gochujang Glaze. My grilled cilantro lime shrimp are also delicious.
- No grill? No problem! Skip the skewers and fried water shrimp at 400°F for 5 to 6 minutes, shaking basket halfway through. Or cook them on the stove over a hot flame cast iron pan OR grill for 2 or 3 minutes on each side.
What to serve with grilled shrimp
Below are some of my favorite grilled shrimp side dishes.
- Side salads: try tortellini salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, Greek orzo salad, Italian pasta salad, or grilled corn salad.
- For low-carb side dish options, try this tomato salad, grilled asparagus, creamy cucumber salad, coleslaw, coleslaw or this arugula salad.
- You can also serve them with other side dishes, try it with barley, potatoes, rice or pasta.
- Shrimp Tacos: Serve them with tortillas and a cabbage slaw.
Warehousing
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 days. Leftover shrimp can be eaten cold or reheated in the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shrimp
I like to use both. I use oil to grease the grill and garlic butter to flavor the grilled shrimp at the end.
Placing shrimp on skewers is the best way to grill them since the skewers make them easier to maneuver. However, I know that stringing them onto bamboo sticks can be an extra step that you may not have time for. So if you prefer to saute them, use a grill basket to keep the shrimp from falling through the grates.
Grilling shrimp is super quick. They usually come together in less than 5 minutes, making this shrimp recipe excellent for when you don’t have a lot of time to cook.
More grilled shrimp recipes you’ll love
Product: 4 portions
Portion: 2 skewers
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If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes.
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Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
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Heat grill over medium heat until hot, then clean and oil grates.
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Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook over low heat until fragrant but not browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the paprika and remove from the heat.
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Thread shrimp onto skewers and place on prepared grill and cook until shrimp are pink on bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes; turn and continue cooking until shrimp are opaque and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and brush butter over shrimp skewers.
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Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Last step:
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- I hate making skewers? Sauté them and use a grill basket so the shrimp don’t fall through the grates. Heat it up, drizzle it with oil then add the prawns and cook them for 2 or 3 minutes on each side.
- Pan: You can do this on a hot pan sprayed with oil over medium-high heat, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Air Fryer: Check out my air fryer shrimp recipe. Air fry at 400F for 5-6 minutes, shaking basket halfway through.
Serve: 2 skewers, Calories: 202 kcal, Carbohydrates: 3 G, Protein: 34.5 G, Fat: 6.5 G, Saturated fat: 4 G, Cholesterol: 289 mg, Sodium: 249 mg, Fiber: 1.5 G, Sugar: 0.5 G
