How to Grill Shrimp (5-Step Guide Perfect for Beginners and I-Want-to-Get-It-Right-the-First-Time Folks) [2022]
Shrimp is DELICIOUS. Especially GRILLED shrimp!
Maybe you've heard of grilled shrimp, maybe you haven't. But either way, you're here because you want to LEARN how to do it!
Well, no worries! In this article from our grilling experts, you will learn how to grill shrimp like Aaron Franklin.
What You Will Need for Grilled Shrimp
Before you begin to grill shrimp, you will need a few essentials.
A Grill
You will need a grill to get started.
If you don't have an outdoor grill, a grill pan should do just fine.
Skewers
Whether you get metal skewers or wooden skewers is completely up to you.
Ingredients
Grilling shrimp is not as easy as putting plain shrimp on a grill. You will need different ingredients to give it flavor.
Jumbo Shrimp
Deveined and peeled shrimp is preferred. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp. We prefer it fresh because it tastes slightly better.
Salt and Pepper
You need to add salt and pepper to taste. This helps to bring the flavor to life.
You can even use cayenne pepper for some extra spice.
Red Wine Vinegar
This adds a tangy taste and tenderizes.
Garlic Cloves
It adds richness to the flavor.
Alternatively, you can use garlic powder.
Lemon Juice
The acidity in lemon juice breaks shrimp down and makes it MORE TENDER. It also makes for a great tangy marinade.
Soy Sauce
You can choose any soy sauce you like.
Olive Oil
Olive oil helps the grilling.
Italian Seasoning
You can get the store-bought ones or make your own!
Step by Step Guide: The Pro Grill Way
Now that you have everything you need, here is a step-by-step on how to get perfectly grilled shrimp!
This is assuming you want to grill raw shrimp. But no worries if you just want to heat up cooked shrimp on the grill. Just skip ahead to step 3!
Step 1: Prep your Shrimp
Firstly, you want your grilled shrimp peeled and deveined. Okay, so it's not a MUST to peel your shrimp, but it definitely helps with marinating if you take out the shells.
The shells help to add more flavor, but leaving them on means the marinade doesn't get on the shrimp that much.
Also, remember to clean your shrimp before cooking it. Rinse it in cold water to get rid of any debris!
Step 2: Season and Marinate the Shrimp
You want your shrimp to be well marinated and seasoned. It just tastes better marinated.
Season with salt and pepper before marinating it. You can also add garlic powder and onion powder to give it some extra flavor.
Then you can use your own grilled shrimp recipe to marinate the shrimp.
Here's a simple grilled shrimp marinade you can use. Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, soy sauce.
Marinate in a large bowl and let it sit for at least an hour. We like to let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, to really let the flavors sink in.
Step 3: Put the Shrimp on Skewers
It'll be a lot easier to grill your shrimp without it falling through the grill grates.
In order to help with the small size of the shrimp, you can thread shrimp onto skewers.
You can use metal skewers or wooden skewers, depending on your preference. Thread the shrimp on in a way that is uniform so they don't fall off.
Step 4: Cook the Shrimp
Here's where it becomes grilled shrimp. Preheat grill to medium-high heat and place your skewered shrimp on the grill.
Grill on each side for about two minutes.
Be careful NOT to overcook the shrimp, because it can get a rubbery texture.
Step 5: Enjoy Your Grilled Shrimp!
Once you're done, the best part is getting to enjoy it (friends and family optional).
You can serve it with lemon wedges to give it some tanginess. Who doesn't love seeing lemon slices with their food?
More Ways Shrimp can be Cooked: Popular Shrimp Recipes
Surprise, surprise! There are many different ways you can get great cooked shrimp. Here are some.
Stovetop
You can cook shrimp on your stovetop! Popular recipes include garlic butter [1] and honey garlic. You can also find any shrimp recipe you want anywhere online or in various cookbooks!
Baked
Baking is a DELISHABLY TASTY way to cook shrimp. Popular recipes include cheesy baked, and even pizza!
Broiled
Broiling is another way.
After preheating the broiler, you can place them on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray and broil it for 2-3 minutes on each side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Usual Cook Time for Shrimp?
Shrimps cook very quickly. The cooking time is typically about 2 to 3 minutes per side on the grill.
They'll turn pink and opaque.
Watch your shrimp closely so they don't overcook!
How Do You Grill Shrimp Without Drying It Out?
To make your shrimp JUICY, you need to know what you're doing. Here are 2 things to do to make sure your shrimp comes out perfect.
- Grill the shrimp directly over the heat.
- WHILE GRILLING, brush them with marinade or sauce to keep them from drying out.
Do note though, that if you're grilling with the shells on, the marinade won't really stay on the shrimp that much.
Time to Make Grilled Shrimp!
We don't know why, but grilled shrimp always tastes way better than stovetop shrimp. Maybe it's the grill marks.
Now that you're properly equipped with the knowledge to make DELICIOUS grilled shrimp, it's time to go on and do it!
Remember, practice makes perfect. Don't stress too much if you can't get it perfect the first time. You'll get there!
Just remember to have fun!
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