Seafood
Grilled Garlic Herb Shrimp Skewers
★★★★½ (4.7)
Smoky, charred shrimp skewers marinated in garlic, lemon, and herbs, ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for a quick backyard dinner over rice or salad.
- Smoky char and bright citrus flavor in under 40 minutes total
- Simple marinade with pantry staples, no fancy ingredients
- Clean visual and cut-test for perfectly cooked shrimp
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes so they do not burn on the grill.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour the marinade over the shrimp and toss to coat evenly.
- Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes; do not marinate longer than 30 minutes, since the lemon juice can start to 'cook' the shrimp and make it mushy.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, about 400F, and lightly oil the grates.
- Thread the shrimp onto the soaked skewers, piercing through both the thick and tail end of each shrimp so they lie flat and cook evenly.
- Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side, until light grill marks appear and the edges start to turn pink.
- Flip the skewers and grill for another 2 to 3 minutes on the second side, until the shrimp are opaque throughout and curled into a loose C shape.
- Check one shrimp by cutting it in half at the thickest point; it should be white and opaque with no gray translucent center.
- Remove the skewers from the grill immediately once cooked, since shrimp continue cooking briefly from residual heat.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot over rice, in a salad, or with extra lemon wedges.
Never marinate shrimp in citrus juice for more than 30 minutes, since the acid will start to break down the protein like ceviche and make the texture mushy.
Thread shrimp through both ends so they stay flat on the grill; a single skewer point lets them spin and cook unevenly.
Nutrition (per serving)
260Calories
32gProtein
12gFat
3gCarbs
0gFiber
480mgSodium
Nutrition information is estimated and provided for convenience only.
