Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Barbecue shrimp is one of those simple and yet perfectly summer recipes. Perfect as a side dish to a masterfully grilled steak or tacos, or as a stand-alone alongside a grilled salad, this grilled shrimp skewers recipe is an essential summer dish. And one we can’t get enough of.

Shrimp are one of those little bites that I absolutely love to devour. But, didn’t really cook a lot until last summer, when I decided I was going to master shrimp (and when Grilling Grandma enlightened me to the simple joy of a grilled shrimp wedge salad). Before then, it was a cocktail or bust.

Now, it’s grilled with layers of flavors all the way. Once I got over my fear of the shrimp drying out, sticking, and overcooking on the grill, I’ve become a master of popping shrimp on the grill a few times a month as a low-calorie satiating dinner plan. Or even fast recipes in the cast iron skillet like our shrimp saganki.

What you need for Barbecue Shrimp

This recipe, unlike the New Orleans BBQ Shrimp (where the sauce isn’t an actual barbecue sauce), uses barbecue sauce and grills the shrimp for a true bbq experience. It’s actually barbecued shrimp. And you won’t believe how easy it is. 

All you need is:

• jumbo shrimp (I prefer Alaskan or Gulf pink shrimp)
• taco seasoning
• GirlCarnivore Over Easy spice blend
• barbecue sauce (to keep it keto-friendly, I opted for Head Country Sugar-Free Bar-b-que Sauce)
• limes
• some fun herby garnishes to keep the flavors bright and fresh. 

I paired these with quick chimichurri recipe and fresh citrus for plating and a simple slaw. Elotes and Maque Choux are also great pairings.

How to Grill Shrimp

Because shrimp is such a mild protein they pick up the flavors of the marinade quickly. A 10 to 20-minute marinade gets the job done and makes this meal one of our favorite quick grilled shrimp recipes. 

Marinate Shrimp

1. If frozen, allow your shrimp to thaw overnight in the fridge.
2. When you’re ready to prep the shrimp, remove them from the bag and pat them dry with a paper towel.
3. Carefully peel the shrimp. To do this, simply pinch the legs and rotate the shrimp, the skins should peel off easily. We do recommend leaving the tail on for grilling, though.
4. In a small bowl, combine the spices, then sprinkle them over the shrimp.
5. Pour the shrimp into a large resoluble bag and add the barbecue sauce to the bag. Alternatively, use our grilled shrimp marinade for a cilantro lime flavor combo!
6. Seal the bag, removing as much as you can and massage the shrimp to make sure they are all coated and marinate the shrimp for a quick 10 minutes.

Put The Shrimp Skewers on Grill

1. Preheat the grill for a two-zone fire, and skewer the shrimp onto bamboo skewers or metal grilling skewers. If using bamboo skewers, make sure to soak them for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning.
2. Once the grill is preheated, place the shrimp on the hot side of the grill.
3. Grill the shrimp for 5 to 7 minutes, basting with additional bbq sauce as you flip the shrimp. Use caution and watch for flare ups.
4. When the shrimp are cooked, pink and opaque (and reach an internal temp of 145 degrees f with a digital meat thermometer), carefully transfer them from the grill to a platter and brush immediately with the chimichurri.

Expert Tips

• Shrimp cook incredibly quickly, taking only about 5 to 7 minutes on the grill. However, the trick to not losing the shrimp to the flames is to use either a grill basket with small holes for the shrimp to not fall through or to use skewers to make sure you can easily maneuver the shrimp over the grilling grates.

• The other trick is making sure the grill has preheated long enough and has well-cleaned grates to prevent the peeled shrimp from sticking to the grate and ripping when you move the skewers. 

GirlCarnivore Pro Tip: Use a hot grill with well-cleaned and well-oiled grilling grates to prevent any unnecessary sticking for this grilled shrimp recipe. 

• Leaving the shell on allows for a more robust shrimp flavor and helps keep moisture in. However, for this recipe, the shrimp are peeled ahead of time, which helps the marinade to permeate deeper into the shrimp and make for easier eating when the shrimp are served. 

Shrimp Skewers recipe in the Oven

No grill, no problem.

You can make this recipe in an oven by marinating and skewering the shrimp as the recipe calls for. Just line the shrimp on a baking sheet lined with foil and place in an oven preheated to 375 degrees for 7 to 12 minutes, flipping once halfway through cook time.  

How to Serve Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Pile the grilled shrimp skewers onto a serving platter and brush with extra chimichurri if desired so everyone can grab a skewer.

Or you can carefully remove the shrimp from the skewers and place them on a tray for people to snack on.
To garnish, hit the shrimp with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, minced cilantro and a sprinkle of cotija cheese for unexpected color and flavor.

More Easy Shrimp recipes

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Cajun Grilled Shrimp Tacos

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New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

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Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp

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Shrimp Saganaki with crispy Fried Halloumi

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