Grilled shrimp are perfect for cookouts! Shrimp cook up in just about 5 minutes on the grill so they are great for parties or quick and simple weeknight meals! You will love this simple, healthy recipe that is gluten free, paleo, Whole30 and low carb friendly!
Think outside of burgers and hot dogs the next time you have a cookout. Grill some shrimp up to go alongside those grilled veggies and corn. Grilled shrimp makes a beautiful presentation, so they’re perfect for a fancier get together or just in time with the family. And since they grill up in about five minutes, they’re ready in no time! Shrimp are naturally low fat, high protein, so they are a perfect healthy option when eating at a cookout!
How to serve grilled shrimp
To make presentation and grilling easier, I like to put the peeled shrimp on wooden skewers that have been soaked in water. This way you don’t have to chase the shrimp around on the grill and they are easy to flip!
You can serve grilled shrimp with a simple dipping sauce instead of trying to put a sauce over the shrimp while on the grill. You can serve the shrimp on the skewers or quickly take the shrimp off the skewers and serve them in a serving bowl or as part of a meal.
Tips on how to grill shrimp
- My first tips would be to ask your butcher at the seafood counter to peel and de-vein the shrimp. Oh make sure their head’s are removed. Bleh I had to learn that one the hard way.
- The second tip would be to soak your wooden skewers in water for about an hour or two before you use them. The shrimp are only on the grill for about five minutes so this is less of an issue then if you’re cooking veggie, beef or chicken kabobs, but it still best practice to soak your skewers so they don’t catch fire on the grill.
- My next tip is to stay close to those little shrimp. They cook up quick and when they are overdone, they are overdone. So be prepared have a clean plate, clean tongs and eliminate distractions for five minutes.
How to choose shrimp for grilling
When choosing shrimp at the store, and make sure that you purchase wild caught and not farm raised shrimp. Also size of the shrimp matter. You don’t want to buy salad shrimp for grilling, you want at least a medium or large shrimp. Shrimp are often measured by how many shrimp per pound. You want at 41-60 or less per pound.
Wild caught shrimp can be a bit more expensive, but you can often find it on sale. When you do find wild caught shrimp on sale, buy two or three extra pounds that are frozen, take them home and store them in the freezer. Don’t let them defrost though, you can’t refreeze shrimp once they defrost.
Shrimp defrost very quickly, so you can pull the shrimp out of the freezer the morning of a cookout and you will have defrosted, ready to cook shrimp by the afternoon. Just store them in the fridge to defrost. If you are really short on time, you can defrost them in the sink with cold water. This takes about 30 minutes or so.
Other ways you can use grilled shrimp
Think outside the box when you think about what to do with your shrimp, have you ever tried it on a flatbread pizza? What about in tacos or on top of pesto zoodles? Grilled shrimp are also a great appetizer since it cooks up so quickly. I always make more than I think I’ll need, and honestly, I rarely have leftovers, it’s really a popular dish!
I served my shrimp with the spinach basil pesto for dipping. This pesto has more veggies than usual pesto and goes perfect with the shrimp, adding a few squeezes of lemon over the shrimp once they are done cooking. Another great option would be chimichurri sauce!
Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and de-veined
- 2 tsp. dried basil
- 1/2 - 1 tsp. salt
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1-2 tbs. olive oil
- 1-2 lemons cut into wedges
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Cover and shake or stir until shrimp are covered evently.
- Use wooden skewers that have been soaked in water for 1-2 hours. Place 5-6 shrimp per skewer.
- Once all skewers are done place shrimp on grill that has been preheated on medium.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and place on clean platter for serving.
- Serve shrimp with lemons and dipping sauce of choice
susan
August 9, 2019 at 11:19 amlove the recipe easy to understand very helpful
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai
July 20, 2015 at 7:51 pmShrimp is something I’ve always wanted to throw on the barbie, but have always been to chicken to do it. Your recipe sounds wonderful… I’m feeling brave! 🙂 Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
July 17, 2015 at 10:32 amShrimp are one of my most favourite foods. They don’t say “throw another shrimp on the barbie” for nothing!!! Grilled shrimps are a summer staple down here.
Can’t wait to try this with the basil 🙂
Have a great weekend x
p.s popping over from Weekend Potluck
Sam
July 19, 2015 at 9:58 pmOh I love that saying!! Shrimp on the BBQ is the perfect weekend for me! Thanks so much for hosting!
Audrey
July 16, 2015 at 12:29 pm1 pound is 10 servings? In my case it would be a serving for 1! these look fantastic.
Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays link up. Hope to see you back next week.
Sam
July 19, 2015 at 10:01 pmI should have clarified that it made 10 skewers not servings!! I’m in the same boat, once I start with the shrimp it’s over 🙂
Sherry
June 12, 2015 at 8:51 pmThese look so good. Double yum! Pinned and stumbled. Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at Funtastic Friday. Hope you join us again this week.
Elaine Matthews
June 10, 2015 at 2:46 pmI love shrimp!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Hope to see you again tomorrow!! Pinned!
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom
June 9, 2015 at 1:19 amI LOVE shrimp and these are all such great tips! Thanks so much for sharing this post at Share The Wealth Sunday!
xoxo
Lisa
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
June 7, 2015 at 2:40 pmOoh! Shrimp are so yummy and such a crowd pleaser, too!
GiGi Eats
June 6, 2015 at 11:48 pmI haven’t had shrimp in EONS – It’s TIMEEEEE TO RUMBLE!
Johnna
June 6, 2015 at 11:18 amI’m making a note of both your spinach basil pesto and chimichurri recipes. Perfect for so many things hot off the grill! Thank you.
Charlene @ That Girl Cooks Healthy
June 6, 2015 at 2:19 amThis looks amazing, no fuss and so easy to put together.
Janice @ Fitness Cheerleader
June 5, 2015 at 9:49 pmI am so totally craving shrimp now, yum! Thanks for sharing!
Valerie
June 5, 2015 at 8:48 pmShrimp is a great option for a picnic or cookout, something I’ve never really considered before. The next time we have a picnic I will for sure consider shrimp as an option.
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
June 5, 2015 at 3:22 pmMy favorite way to enjoy shrimp is grilled on a skewer with veggies. So good!
lindsay Cotter
June 5, 2015 at 2:29 pmi’ve got udis pizza crust i can use for flat bread pizza you suggested. so trying this! YUM
rachel
June 5, 2015 at 10:46 amLooks good. I think my hubby and boys would like this. (I don’t eat seafood) 😉
Christine Martin
June 4, 2015 at 10:16 pmMy kids would go NUTS for this! They are shrimp-a-holics! No joke! And now that summer is here, I absolutely love grilling as many meals as I can! Thanks for sharing this! Will be making soon! xox Christine
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 10:24 pmChristine, hopefully that means they leave you some shrimp to eat too 🙂
Jess @hellotofit
June 4, 2015 at 8:58 pmDeveining shrimp is strangely therapeutic for me, although stinky and gross. Is that weird? I guess because it’s a mindless exercise, haha. This looks great, Sam!! Love the pesto.
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 10:24 pmLoL not weird, just different 🙂 I know what you mean though. I’ll often buy shrimp that need to be peeled and deveined and you are right, it’s a good mindless task! Thanks for the love 🙂
toni
June 5, 2015 at 10:08 amlooks delicious, I love shrimp. I will definitely give this a try!!!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running
June 4, 2015 at 7:38 pmThis look tasty…if only I could stand the taste of shrimp!
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 10:22 pmKathryn, Dave is the same way, so I have to say I understand! Thank you for the kind words though 🙂
Kayla
June 4, 2015 at 6:43 pmLOVE ME SOME SHRIMP! Definitely my favorite thing to eat, ever. Such a great post! Can’t wait to try this on the grill, and I’ll have to check out some chimichurri sauce for sure! xoxox, Kayla
Artney @ My Pretty Brown
June 4, 2015 at 4:15 pmI love grilled shrimp! That spinach-basil pesto sounds yummy! I’m making note to put this on our must-grill list this weekend!
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:18 pmWoot woot!! So glad you love it 🙂 Enjoy the cookout!
Mar @ Mar on the Run
June 4, 2015 at 3:20 pmI am a big shrimp lover!! growing up it was the only seafood I would even contemplate eating. I love it with garlic and pasta.
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:20 pmMar my mouth is watering – garlic and shrimp pasta – that sounds like heaven!
Meg @ Green With Decor
June 4, 2015 at 2:27 pmYum! What a perfect treat for summer!
Carmy
June 4, 2015 at 2:14 pmIs it bad that I’m totally thinking about trying this but with the shell still on? Totally lazy on my behalf haha
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:22 pmCarmy – haha that’s why I have the butcher remove the shells – I’m way to lazy to do it myself 🙂
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes
June 4, 2015 at 2:10 pmGrilled shrimp is definitely one of my favorite summer meals! This looks awesome, especially with that pesto!
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:24 pmThanks Sue!! Mine too
Ivanna
June 4, 2015 at 12:30 pmI love shrimp this looks great!
Stefanie (@LexieLooDylan2)
June 4, 2015 at 12:10 pmYum! My husband would love this. Thanks for sharing!
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:24 pmWoohoo!! Hope you both can enjoy it!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus
June 4, 2015 at 11:49 amooo yum!! I’ll definitely have to try this next time I’m up at the lake with a grill.
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:25 pmMan the lake and grilled shrimip – sounds like a weekend in paradise to me 🙂
Susie @ SuzLyfe
June 4, 2015 at 7:05 amShrimp has always been one of my favorite things. You know that kid who at a bajillion cocktail shrimp at parties? That was me!
Sam
June 4, 2015 at 6:27 pmBahahah I can totally see you eating all the shrimp 🙂 When you know what you like, you just know it!