These Grilled Shrimp Skewers are perfect for summer. Packed with flavor and seasoned to perfection. They make a great side, appetizer, or main dish.
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Why this Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe is a Keeper
This recipe for marinated juicy shrimp is a great one for the grill. Use skewers to cook shrimp kabobs to perfection, and serve with your favorite sides.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for marinated shrimp skewers can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Family Friendly: These marinated shrimp kebobs make a great recipe for cookouts, barbecues, and get-togethers.
- Makes Great Leftovers: This marinated shrimp recipe goes great with everything. Serve the shrimp over pasta, rice, or in stews.
If you’re looking for more shrimp recipes, try these: Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boy, Shrimp Deviled Eggs, and Boom Boom Shrimp Tacos.
What Size Shrimp Should I Use for this Recipe?
Large shrimp or jumbo shrimp are recommended for making skewers, as using larger shrimp helps highlight their natural flavor. Small or medium shrimp are better if they’re being cooked alongside something else.
Ingredient Notes for Easy Grilled Shrimp Kebabs
- Shrimp: Make sure to use peeled and deveined shrimp. When fully cooked, the shrimp is opaque; avoid rubbery shrimp by making sure it doesn’t cook for too long. The number of shrimp you use will depend on the size you use. Thread them onto skewers to help the shrimp grill easily.
- Fresh Ginger: Fresh ginger will give the shrimp skewer marinade a sweet and slightly spicy taste.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Shrimp Kabobs
- Citrus: A squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice will add an extra tangy flavor to your grilled shrimp kabobs.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce: If you want a lower sodium content, low sodium soy sauce will work fine in this shrimp kabob recipe.
Special Equipment Needed for Mediterranean Shrimp Skewers on the Grill
- Grill: This recipe is perfect for outdoor grilling. Just put the shrimp on skewers, then place the skewers on the grill. It enhances the texture of the shrimp and gives it a smoky flavor.
- Metal Skewers: Use metal or wooden skewers. If using wooden skewers, be sure to soak your sewers first before you cook your shrimp.
Grilled Shrimp Kabobs Pro Tip
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Excess moisture on the surface can prevent them from searing properly and achieving that delicious grill mark.
How to Grill Shrimp on Skewers
These are the basic steps for how to skewer shrimp on the grill. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prep the Skewers
If using bamboo skewers, soak skewers in water for at least 20 minutes. This will prevent the skewers from burning on the grill. Then, heat vegetable oil in medium saucepan. Add onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 7 minutes.
2. Make Grilled Shrimp Marinade
Add garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool sauce completely and reserve half of the sauce for basting.
3. Marinate the Shrimp
Place shrimp in a resealable bag and pour remaining sauce over shrimp. Close bag and knead to ensure all shrimp is coated in sauce. Refrigerate for 1 hour to overnight to allow the shrimp to marinate. Remove shrimp from marinade; throw remaining marinade away.
4. Cook Shrimp
Thread the shrimp onto skewers, with about 5 shrimp per skewer. Spray grill lightly with cooking spray and preheat grill on medium high. Then, place the shrimp skewers on the grill.
Grill until well browned on one side, about 5 – 7 minutes per side, making sure not to overcook the shrimp. Turn and baste with sauce. Cook the shrimp for another 5 to 7 minutes and turn and baste again.
Continue grilling until well caramelized and the shrimp cooks through. After you’ve grilled the shrimp, remove from wooden or metal skewers and serve with reserved sauce.
Shrimp Kebabs Recipe FAQs
Shrimp expires quickly, so it’s best not to store it for too long. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about a day.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Yes; you can use frozen or fresh shrimp to make this recipe. Just make sure to thaw it first; add the shrimp to a large bowl and soak them in water.
Yes; you can use a grilling basket instead.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Grilled Shrimp Recipe
- Fresh Parsley: Top with your favorite fresh herbs, lemon juice, or lemon zest.
- Marinate Ahead of Time: To make this recipe quick and easy, marinate the shrimp overnight, then grill when you’re ready.
- Olive Oil: It’s possible to replace sesame oil with olive oil.
- Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak your skewers in water for at least 20 minutes. This will prevent the skewers from burning on the grill.
- Shrimp and Veggies: Use extra marinade to marinate vegetables, such as grilled asparagus, grilled zucchini, or red onion, to enjoy as a side. You can also try shrimp and sausage on the grill as well.
- Alternate cooking method tip: A grill pan also works ti make this dish in place of a grill if you need to cook indoors. You can also make baked shrimp skewers on a sheet pan in the oven.
What to Serve with Shrimp on the Grill
- Broccoli Almond Salad
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Sweet Grilled Corn Salad
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Grilled Shrimp Skewers
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Ginger, grated
- ¼ cup Onion, minced
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
- ¾ cup Ketchup
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
Instructions
- If using bamboo skewers, soak skewers in water for at least 20 minutes. This will prevent the skewers from burning on the grill.
- Heat vegetable oil in medium saucepan. Add onions and saute until soft and translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Add garlic and ginger and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 Minutes. Cool sauce completely.
- Reserve half of the sauce for basting.
- Place shrimp in a resealable bag and pour remaining sauce over shrimp.
- Close bag and knead to ensure all shrimp is coated in sauce. Refrigerate for 1 hour to overnight.
- Remove shrimp from marinade and throw marinade away.
- Thread onto the skewers.
- Spray grill lightly with cooking spray and preheat grill on medium high.
- Place shrimp on grill and grill until well browned on one side, about 5 – 7 minutes.
- Turn and baste with sauce.Grill another 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and baste again.
- Continue grilling until well caramelized and the shrimp is cooked through.
- Remove and serve with reserved sauce.
Christina’s Notes
- Fresh Parsley: Top with your favorite fresh herbs, lemon juice, or lemon zest.
- Marinate Ahead of Time: To make this recipe quick and easy, marinate the shrimp overnight, then grill when you’re ready.
- Olive Oil: It’s possible to replace the sesame oil with olive oil.
- Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak your skewers in water for at least 20 minutes. This will prevent the skewers from burning on the grill.
- Shrimp and Veggies: Use extra marinade to marinate vegetables, such as grilled asparagus, grilled zucchini, or red onion, to enjoy as a side. You can also try shrimp and sausage on the grill as well.
- Alternate cooking method tip: A grill pan is a great way to make this dish in place of a grill if you need to cook indoors. You can also make baked shrimp skewers on a sheet pan in the oven.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Very helpful for me, I love trying new recipes, and this one is definitely going on my list. Thanks for sharing! golf hit
That grill looks amazing and so does the shrimp!
I love when we grill it up, so many great ideas here.
Wow, these shrimp look ah-mazing! Wish I had them now!!
OH, my goodness, Christina! Your shrimp looks amazing! Pinning.
This looks delicious. I’m coming over for dinner!
My family loves shrimp. This recipe looks so good and it’s lunchtime. Definitely need to try this recipe.