Buttery Grilled Shrimp

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Aug. 22, 2023
This grilled shrimp recipe is easy and delicious! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pounds uncooked shrimp (16-20 per pound), peeled and deveined

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients; set aside 1/4 cup. Thread shrimp onto 8 metal or soaked wooden skewers.
  2. Grill shrimp, covered, over medium heat 3-5 minutes on each side or until shrimp turn pink, basting occasionally with butter mixture. Remove from grill; brush with reserved butter mixture.
Grilled Shrimp Tips

Can you use frozen shrimp?

There are many types of shrimp you can use for this recipe. If you opt for frozen raw shrimp, be sure to defrost, peel and devein before using. Here's a good primer on how to clean shrimp.

Should you marinate shrimp before grilling?

Unlike meats which can marinate for hours, shrimp and other seafood should only marinate for 15 to 30 minutes. Letting it sit any longer, especially when the marinade has an acidic ingredient like lemon juice, will cause the shrimp's flesh to become soft.

Do you need to soak wooden skewers when making grilled shrimp?

When it comes to making skewers, kabobs or any food on a stick, you'll always want to soak wooden skewers. By soaking them in water for about an hour, they will have less of a chance of catching on fire.

How can you tell when shrimp is done cooking?

When learning how to cook shrimp, there are a few tell-tale signs to pay attention to. First, look at the color. Perfectly cooked shrimp should have an opaque pinky hue. You can also look at the shape. You know your shrimp are cooked if they curl into a nice C shape. Overcooked shrimp curl tightly into an O shape.

How do you avoid rubbery shrimp?

You can avoid rubbery shrimp by not overcooking them. Cook them over high heat and remove them from the heat source as soon as the flesh is uniformly pink.

What can you serve with grilled shrimp?

One of the best things about grilled shrimp is they cook very quickly. Why not serve 30-minute side dishes that are equally fast to prepare? You really can’t go wrong with picking sides, as the flavor of shrimp goes so well with just about every vegetable.

How long will grilled shrimp last?

Once shrimp come off the grill, whatever is left over should be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Stored this way, you can add them cold directly to your favorite salad. If you want them hot, cook them only for a few seconds in a medium-hot skillet.

—James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor, and Julie Schnittka, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 skewer: 201 calories, 13g fat (8g saturated fat), 168mg cholesterol, 295mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 19g protein.