These grilled shrimp skewers are quickly marinated in a simple, zesty lemon-garlic marinade, then grilled for maximum flavor.
I’m always looking for quick and easy dinner recipes to add to my repertoire. And in the summertime, I’m all about grilling. That’s why these garlic-grilled shrimp skewers are a new weeknight dinner favorite. Similar in flavor to my shrimp scampi, these shrimp are marinated in a zesty lemon garlic marinade punctuated with dried oregano and red pepper flakes. This recipe is healthy, flavorful, and fast. The shrimp marinate quickly and grill fast (unlike other proteins). If using metal skewers, you can just throw them right on the grill (no need to soak). Serve these shrimp over my pesto pasta, lemon fettuccine, or easy lemon rice. It also goes with a whole lot more, like grilled vegetable skewers, or over my Greek or Caesar salad.
In This Post
What’s in These Grilled Shrimp Skewers
You only need 6 ingredients (not including olive oil, salt, and pepper) to make these easy grilled shrimp skewers. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- Dried oregano
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- 16/20 large, shelled, and deveined shrimp (keep the tails on)
- Fresh parsley
How to Make These Grilled Shrimp Skewers
These grilled shrimp skewers come together quickly and easily—you just want to allow for 20 minutes of marinating time and 30 minutes of soaking (if you aren’t using metal skewers).
Make the garlicky marinade. Whisk the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Add the shelled and deveined shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
TIP: Instead of a bowl, marinate the shrimp in a resealable plastic bag. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes. Or have metal skewers ready.
Get Skewered
Prep the grill. Preheat the grill for cooking on high heat with the lid closed. Once hot, brush the grates clean.
Thread your shrimp on the skewers. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and thread 5 shrimp per skewer.
TIP: Skewer through the shrimp twice, at the base of the tail to the top of the body, forming a backward letter C. This way they’re more sturdy when flipped during cooking. Discard extra marinade.
Toss the Shrimp on the Barbie
Grill the shrimp over high heat with the lid closed. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side, flip, then grill for another 2-3 minutes on the other, or until the shrimp are opaque and firm to the touch. Remove from the grill and drizzle with more olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and top with fresh parsley before serving
How Long Does it Take to Grill Shrimp?
These shrimp cook quickly on the grill, only taking about 5 minutes or so. Keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook.
Do You Flip Shrimp on the Grill?
Yes. As soon as the shrimp turn pink on one side, flip them so they can cook evenly on the other.
What to Serve with Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Easy Lemon Rice
- No-Mayo Potato Salad
- Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
- Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta
- Lemon Fettuccine Alfredo
- Grilled Corn Salad with Tomato and Avocado
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment.
Delicious Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic pressed, grated, or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice from ½ lemon
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pound 16/20 large shrimp shelled and deveined with tails on
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Whisk the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Add the shelled and deveined shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes. You can also do this step in a resealable plastic bag instead of a bowl. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes. Or have metal skewers ready.
- Preheat the grill for cooking on high heat with the lid closed. Once hot, brush the grates clean.
- Remove the shrimp from the marinade and thread 5 shrimp per skewer. TIP: Skewer through the shrimp twice, at the base of the tail to the top of the body, forming a backward letter C. This way they’re more sturdy when flipped during cooking. Discard extra marinade.
- Grill the shrimp over high heat with the lid closed for 3-4 minutes on the first side, flip, then grill for another 2-3 minutes on the other, or until the shrimp are opaque and firm to the touch. Remove from the grill and drizzle with more olive oil and a squeeze of lemon before serving.
More Shrimp Recipes to Try
- Easy Shrimp Cocktail
- Grilled Shrimp Vietnamese Spring Rolls
- Crispy Baked Garlic Shrimp
- Grilled Romaine Salad with Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp
- Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp
- Grilled Shrimp with Sweet or Spicy Mustard Dipping Sauce
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest for more FoodieCrush inspiration.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There may be affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.
