Healthy Grilled Shrimp
These healthy grilled shrimp skewers make an ideal summer dish. They cook up quickly on the grill and are made with simple, flavorful ingredients. The combination of juicy shrimp and zesty lime delivers fresh flavor in every bite.
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As spring departs and summer time rolls in, I get so excited to fire up the grill and get some of our favorite summer recipes going. These easy grilled shrimp skewers are loved by all. My 4 year old ate an entire skewer and then asked for seconds!
Healthy grilled shrimp uses simple, clean ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge or pantry. This includes olive oil, minced garlic, lime juice, and parsley.
You will need shrimp skewers for this recipe. These can be bamboo skewers or reusable stainless steel ones.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Raw jumbo shrimp (you will find them in the freezer section): You can pick tail on or off. I typically pick tail on and then remove them myself prior to grilling.
- Olive oil: Used to keep the shrimp juicy and from drying out. You can also use melted Butter, ghee, or avocado oil.
- Minced garlic: Or a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt.
- Lime juice: Adds great zesty flavor. You can also swap for lemon juice.
- Chopped parsley: You can swap for dried parsley. If so, decrease the amount to one and a half teaspoons. Dried Italian seasoning is another easy substitution.
Equipment needed
- Grill: Charcoal or gas will work!
- Bamboo Skewers: These are cheap, about 100 of them for $1. You can also purchase metal skewers that are reusable.
- Small bowl or another container to toss and coat the shrimp with olive oil and seasonings
How long to grill shrimp on each side
This recipe calls for jumbo shrimp and you will grill for 3-4 minutes on each side with the grill temperature at 400 degrees. If you are using a smaller size shrimp try just 2-3 minutes per side.
You will know when they are cooked as they turn from a grey translucent color to pinkish. They will also curl up tighter. Shrimp cooks fast, so they are easy to overcook
How to make grilled shrimp skewers
- First, get your bamboo skewers soaking in water. Per package instructions it says to soak bamboo skewers in water prior to use to prevent burning.
- Next, season the shrimp. Place olive oil, garlic, lime juice and parsley in a medium sized bowl with the thawed shrimp. Mix together!
- Thread shrimp on skewers.
3. Heat your grill to about 400 degrees
5. Grill on each side about 3-4 minutes. Tips to know when shrimp is cooked: They will turn from the grey translucent color to pinkish. They will also curl up tighter
Why you will love this recipe
Healthy: This recipe uses simple and clean ingredients to make delicious, flavorful shrimp.
Cooks quickly: The most time consuming part is placing the shrimp on skewers and even that takes less than 5 minutes. The actual cooking time is fast.
What shrimp to buy at the store?
If you have ever looked at the shrimp options in the freezer section at the store, it can be a bit overwhelming. There are multiple options including cooked/uncooked, or if the shrimp is tail on and deveined. Then you have to choose the size – small, medium, large, x-large and jumbo are all options I have seen.
I prefer to buy uncooked, jumbo shrimp with tail on/undeveined. Uncooked because I want to season it for great flavor. Jumbo shrimp because they are easier to manage and place on the skewer (I would not recommend small or medium for this recipe). I choose tail on and undeveined because they are cheaper this way and only takes about 1 minute to remove those parts. If this grosses you out, then it might be worth the money to pay for it already being removed.
FAQ
I personally don’t think there is a need to marinate them. I toss them in the seasonings and immediately grill.
Place the shrimp in a colander in the sink and then run cool (not hot!) water over them until they are thawed out. This takes only a few minute
Remove from the skewers and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
They will turn from the grey translucent color to pinkish. They will also curl up tighter. Shrimp cooks fast, so they are easy to overcook. Obviously make sure they are cooked, but don’t wait too long to pull from the grill!
What to serve it with
The shrimp can easily be the main dish and protein in your meal. It pairs well with rice or potatoes. Vegetable side dishes including these Italian Roasted Vegetables or Green Beans with Lemon would be tasty. would be delicious.
Healthy Grilled Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Frozen, raw jumbo shrimp (thawed out)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 medium sized lime)
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh parsley chopped (if swapping for dried parsley use 1 1/2 teaspoons)
Instructions
- Begin soaking your bamboo skewers in water, Per package instructions it says to soak bamboo skewers in water prior to use to prevent burning (about 30 minutes).
- Place olive oil, garlic, lime juice and parsley in a medium size bowl and mix together. Add in thawed shrimp and toss together until all the shrimp are well coated.
- Heat your grill to about 400 degrees.
- Thread the shrimp through the skewers.
- Grill the shrimp about 3-4 minutes per side. Tips to know when shrimp is cooked: They will turn from the grey translucent color to pinkish. They will also curl up tighter.
Awesome, but I cut recipe in half & still have leftovers. Can you freeze this?
Hi! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. You can freeze cooked shrimp in an airtight container. It will likely affect the texture and be a bit more mushy once thawed.
Shrimp is easy to love!
My whole family loves this recipe –
Including my kids!