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How to Grill Shrimp

Grilled shrimp is an excellent appetizer or added dish for special occasions and outdoor parties alike. It cooks quickly, takes a variety of flavor combinations well, and is easy to find in most grocery stores. Whether you’re new to grilling shrimp, looking for a quick refresher, or want some recipe inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

Do You Season or Marinate Shrimp Before Grilling It?

You can and should marinate or season your shrimp before grilling it. Marinades generally take a little longer. You should marinate shrimp for no less than 30 minutes, but you can quickly toss shrimp in seasoning just before grilling.

If you opt for a marinade, you can generally let your shrimp sit, refrigerated, for up to eight hours. There’s an exception, however, if you use citrus in the marinade. Because its acidic properties break down proteins, shrimp can get soggy and mushy if it’s marinated in citrus juice for more than two hours.

How Long Does Shrimp Take to Grill?

At 350 degrees Fahrenheit, shrimp take 5 to 7 minutes total grilling time. That means about 2 to 3 minutes per side. You’ll be able to tell when your shrimp are done cooking because they will turn opaque and pink.

Do You Leave the Shell on When Grilling Shrimp?

You can grill shrimp with or without the shells. Some folks prefer to leave the shell on during grilling because it keeps the shrimp tender when cooked over high heat. If you decide to remove the shell before grilling, keep a close eye on your shrimp so they don’t overcook.

How Do You Grill Shrimp Without Drying It Out?

If you’re worried about drying out your shrimp on the grill, we recommend marinating your shrimp and then grilling them with their shells. We also suggest grilling your shrimp at a more modest temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 3 minutes per side rather than flash-grilling over higher heat. When you flash-grill shrimp over high heat, more liquid evaporates which could cause dry shrimp.

Can You Grill Frozen Shrimp?

You should thaw frozen shrimp before cooking it. If you don’t thaw frozen shrimp, the seasoning is unlikely to stick to the shrimp during the cooking process. Also, your shrimp won’t cook evenly and may be unsafe to serve. If you try to cook frozen shrimp, the outside can look done while the insides remain raw.

To thaw frozen shrimp, put them in a sealed plastic bag and submerge them until they’re fully thawed. It only takes 10 to 20 minutes to thaw frozen shrimp. After the shrimp have fully thawed, remove excess water by patting them with paper towels. Once your shrimp are thawed and the excess water is removed, you’re ready to season and grill.

What to Eat With Grilled Shrimp

Unlike a steak or fish fillet, shrimp is a team player that adds flavor to other dishes. We love shrimp served with cocktail sauce, on a skewer, or in fettuccine alfredo. These common dishes are also good ways to use shrimp.

Tacos
Pasta
Fried rice
Grain salad
Bean salad
Sandwiches
Pad Thai

How to Make Grilled Shrimp Cocktail

For a tasty new take on the classic shrimp cocktail, try this recipe with homemade cocktail sauce.

https://www.traeger.com/recipes/grilled-shrimp-cocktail

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients

2 pounds shrimp with tails, deveined
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon lemon juice
To taste kosher salt
To taste freshly ground black pepper
Hot sauce
Italian parsley, chopped
Before you start cooking or seasoning, make sure your shrimp is prepared. If they haven’t been deveined, now is the time to do so. With a small knife, cut a line lengthwise down the shrimp’s belly. Remove the large vein going through the shrimp -- it’s actually an intestine and you don’t want to eat the contents.
Preheat your Traeger to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the lid closed.
While the grill is preheating, combining the shrimp with the oil and Old Bay Seasoning in a large bowl. Alternatively, you can simply season with salt and pepper in the oil. Toss shrimp until well covered.
Grill the shrimp on a baking sheet for 5 to 7 minutes, turning halfway through. Cook until the shrimp are opaque and pink, then remove from the grill.
For the cocktail sauce, combine the ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. If you’d like an extra kick, add your hot sauce of choice.

Serve your shrimp alongside the cocktail sauce in a small bowl and garnish with parsley.

Grilled Shrimp Recipes

After you’ve mastered the basics of a shrimp cocktail, you may want to experiment with other flavors and recipes. Here are a few of our top grilled shrimp recipes to get you started.