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Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes

Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Published: Jun 15, 2019 · Modified: Jul 16, 2021 by Colleen 45 Comments

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Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp are one of my favourite grilling recipes. Shrimp grill up quickly and the grill imparts a smoky flavour that's perfect for shrimp.

Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Is it a Prawn or a Shrimp?

The words "prawn" and "shrimp" are used interchangeably, and many people think that a shrimp is simply a small prawn. However, shrimp and prawns are actually entirely different animals

But, because they are so similar in both appearance, flavour, and texture, you can use either in a recipe calling for the other.

The skewers on a black plate with lemon wedges.

Choosing Your Shrimp

There are dozens of different varieties of both shrimp and prawns, and you can buy them fresh or frozen. You can also buy them with heads on or off, or peeled or not.

I'm taking advantage of the wild-caught spot prawn season here where I live, but any large or jumbo shrimp or prawn will work for the barbecue. However, there are two factors to keep in mind when shopping for shrimp:

Freshness

Of course, food safety dictates that you should buy the freshest shrimp possible. But taste and texture are also compromised if the shrimp is not fresh.

Shrimp are highly perishable, so if buying fresh shrimp, take a sniff. There should be no real odour, just a slightly briny sea smell. If the shrimp smells like ammonia, don't buy it.

Fresh shrimp should always be stored on ice, and should never be limp or slimy.

Frozen shrimp are often a better choice for freshness, particularly if the shrimp have to travel a long way from the ocean. Frozen shrimp are usually deep-frozen at sea as soon as they are caught.

Sustainable Shrimp

Protecting our oceans, so that we can continue to enjoy what it produces, is vitally important. And, many commercial fishing methods can be damaging to marine life and our oceans themselves. Many species of marine life throughout the world are endangered.

Look for the Ocean Wise label, or the Marine Stewardship Council label to be sure that your shrimp have been sustainably harvested. (And, please have a look at those websites to learn more about what we can all do for the health of our oceans.

A close up of a pan of cooked shrimp on a table, with lemon wedges

Grilling Shrimp

Unless your shrimp are huge, you will need skewers to grill them. Wooden skewers work well and are easy to thread the shrimp on.

Soak your wooden skewers for half an hour before they go on the grill with the shrimp. This will reduce the chance of them catching fire.

As I mentioned, shrimp cook very quickly, so you will want to have everything you need at the ready. Grill shrimp over direct high heat for just three minutes per side.

Shrimp are cooked when the exterior is pink, and the flesh is white, but not too white. If the flesh is bright white, the shrimp is overcooked and rubbery.

Marinating Shrimp for the Grill

This recipe for lemon garlic grilled shrimp is very simple, and unlike marinating meat or chicken, very quick. The marinade is intended just to soak in the flavours, which happens quickly for delicate shrimp. So 5 minutes for marinating the shrimp is all that is required.

Cooked Shrimp in a cast iron pan.

What to Serve with Grilled Shrimp

You can serve these delicious shrimp as appetizers, and I have included a cocktail sauce recipe for dipping. You can also serve these skewers as a meal alongside summer salads like  Cucumber Melon Salad, Fennel Cabbage Slaw, or Grilled Corn & Black Bean Salad -Summer Bean Salad. They're perfect for tacos, too!

Lemon and garlic are a classic flavour combo for shrimp. You can also try an equally delicious southwest combo of chilli & lime Grilled Shrimp Salad.

A fork dipping a shrimp in cocktail sauce.

Grilled Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Lemony, garlicky, slightly spicy shrimp take just minutes to grill and make a delicious appetizer or entree.
5 from 21 votes
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Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 167kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Equipment

  • Barbecue
  • Wooden Skewers

Ingredients

Cocktail Sauce

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon prepared horseradish
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon hot sauce to taste

Shrimp

  • 20 Shrimp large, peeled
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
  • 2 lemons
  • 2 garlic clove minced
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • 2 tablespoon parsley fresh

Instructions

Cocktail Sauce

  • In a small bowl, whisk together all cocktail sauce ingredients
  • Refrigerate until ready to use

Shrimp

  • Soak 4 wooden skewers in water.
  • Preheat grill on high, and spray with cooking oil
  • Blot shrimp dry with paper towel
  • In a medium bowl whisk together oil, juice and zest of one of the lemons, garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, and celery salt.
  • Add shrimp and toss to coat. Allow to marinate 5 minutes
  • Thread shrimp on skewers, 5 per skewer.
  • Grill shrimp over direct high heat, about 6 minutes, turning halfway through. Shrimp should be pink, and the flesh opaque.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.

Notes

When threading shrimp, space them tightly together. This will mean less surface area so the shrimp will stay juicy and tender.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 933mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1015IU | Vitamin C: 39.3mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!

Shrimp in a pan on a table with lemon and sauce

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jagruti Dhanecha

    July 09, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Lemon and garlic, love both flavours in my cooking and these grilled shrimps perfect for seafood lovers. Lovely pictures.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 09, 2019 at 7:18 pm

      Thanks so much Jagruti. I hope you give these a try!

      Reply
  2. Terri

    July 08, 2019 at 11:02 am

    I am shrimp crazy and don't eat nearly enough of them. Perhaps it's because I'm land-locked? This looks like such a delicious way to cook them!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 09, 2019 at 7:17 pm

      Terri, if you're shrimp crazy, eat more of them, landlocked or not. 🙂 Frozen is a great alternative.

      Reply
  3. Jo

    July 08, 2019 at 1:41 am

    Chili-lime-garlic is the best spice rub for grilling. What a fantastic looking grilled shrimp. Perfect summer recipe.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 08, 2019 at 8:44 am

      Thanks, Jo. I hope you give it a try!

      Reply
  4. Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life

    July 07, 2019 at 10:34 pm

    This looks delicious! Unfortunately I can't eat shrimp but I'm sure my husband would appreciate this recipe.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 08, 2019 at 8:43 am

      So sorry that you can't eat shrimp, Claire! I hope your husband enjoys, though!

      Reply
  5. Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli

    July 07, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    mmmm, Colleen, we would love these lemon garlic shrimp at least once a week 🙂 ! Delicious flavors, plus Loreto loves to use the barbecue! Thank you for the info on buying sustainable fish, really appreciated!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 07, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      Hi Nicoletta! The barbecue gets a real workout here during the summer, as well. Enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Sharon

    July 06, 2019 at 11:56 am

    My hubby loves shrimp! This is going on the menu for this week. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 06, 2019 at 4:47 pm

      Sharon, if your hubby loves shrimp he'll be really happy! Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Danielle

    July 05, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    I have to agree - grilled shrimp tastes incredibly. I mean there is nothing else that can beat that flavor. Really excited to try your recipe now!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 05, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      Hi Danielle. I hope you make these soon, so you can enjoy! Cheers.

      Reply
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309 shares