• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kathleen's Cravings
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer and Snack Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Meatless Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • How To
  • Welcome!
    • Welcome!
    • Work With Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Fave Tools
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Summer Recipes
    • About
    • Work With Me
    • Fave Tools
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

    Published: Jun 10, 2021 · Modified: Apr 8, 2023 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Grilled Shrimp Kabobs are simple to make and perfect for an easy summer meal. The lemon marinade for grilled shrimp is so flavorful and fresh tasting.

    Grilled Shrimp Skewers on a platter

    I love how versatile grilled shrimp skewers are! Serve them alongside a big salad (a leafy green salad or try this Greek Chickpea Salad), some grilled veggies and potatoes, or even with a creamy pasta. The options are endless!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Step by step instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions:
    • Leftovers and Storage
    • Serving Ideas:
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Ingredients

    It only takes a few simple ingredients to make the flavorful lemon marinade for grilled shrimp. Here's what you need:

    • Raw, Shrimp - Buy shrimp that are peeled and deveined. You can leave the tail on or off. I recommend using larger shrimp like 16/20 ct/lb so that they are harder to overcook on the grill. Also try making this recipe for Blackstone Cajun Shrimp.
    • Fresh Lemons - for both the zest and juice.
    • Olive Oil - you can use a different oil of choice such as canola oil or avocado oil, but I like the flavor of olive oil.
    • Spices - Salt, Pepper, Paprika (gives the shrimp a beautiful color!), Dried Oregano, Garlic Powder
    • Chopped Parsley - optional, for serving
    • Lemon Slices - optional, for serving. I like to pop them on the grill to get a nice char.
    shrimp in lemon marinade in bowl

    Step by step instructions

    Even if you're not a grilling expert, you can totally make grilled shrimp skewers! See the instructions below:

    1. Marinate Shrimp - In a medium/large bowl, mix together the shrimp marinade ingredients. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss to combine. Allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes (perfect amount of time to preheat the grill) or up to one hour. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 10-30 minutes before threading with the shrimp.
    2. Preheat Grill - Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450-500 degrees F) for direct grilling (ie. the kabobs will go directly over the flame).
    3. Skewer Shrimp - While the grill preheats, skewer the shrimp on 3-4 skewers and place on a plate. The excess marinade needs to be discarded.
    4. Grill - Grease your grill grates, if desired, with vegetable oil on a paper towel using grilling tongs. Then add the marinated shrimp skewers to the grill. Close the grill and grill each side for 2-3 minutes (about 5 minutes total) until fully cooked. Shrimp are cooked when they are pink and opaque - be careful not to overcook. If you'd like, you can toss extra lemon slices on the grill for just a minute or two to get a nice char and serve with the shrimp.
    5. Serve - I love to give a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
    close up of grilled shrimp with lemons

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    How long does shrimp take to grill?

    Shrimp only takes about 5 minutes to cook on the grill! I love how quickly shrimp cook.

    Do you need to soak skewers before grilling?

    I like to use reusable, metal skewers for grilling but you can also use wooden skewers. Wooden skewers do need to be soaked in water before grilling. Soaking them first helps prevent them from burning over the grill. Soak them in warm water for 10 to 30 minutes before using.

    Do you peel shrimp before grilling?

    In this recipe, I like to peel the shrimp first. I do tend to leave the tails on for prettier presentation. Peeling also makes it easier for the lemon marinade to flavor the shrimp. However, you can grill shrimp before peeling as well.

    How do you know if shrimp is cooked?

    The best way to tell if shrimp is cooked is by the color. Cooked shrimp becomes opaque and pink and starts to curl. Be careful not to overcook shrimp - even just an extra minute of cooking can cause the shrimp to be tougher and chewy.

    raw shrimp skewers

    Leftovers and Storage

    Grilled shrimp is a great option for meal prep! See tips below for how to store:

    Leftovers and Storage: Leftover shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep fresh for up to 4 days. I like to eat the leftover shrimp cold on a salad, but you can reheat if you'd like. Be aware that reheating shrimp will make it slightly tougher.

    Serving Ideas:

    The serving ideas for grilled shrimp kabobs are endless! Here are a few of my favorites:

    • Pasta - Shrimp and pasta is one of my favorite matches! Try it with an Alfredo pasta or this One-Pot Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta.
    • On top of a Salad - Grilled shrimp is great on or alongside a big salad! I love pairing shrimp with a Caesar salad (from Little Sunny Kitchen) or a Greek Salad.
    • Grilled Veggies and Potatoes - If the grill is already fired up, you might as well grill some veggies and/or potatoes for a perfect pairing.
    grilled shrimp kabobs on plate

    Related Recipes

    Shrimp is such a versatile protein! I love how quickly frozen shrimp thaws (no worries about forgetting to take meat out of the freezer) and how quickly it cooks. See some other seafood recipe ideas below:

    • crispy air fryer salmon on a plate.
      Crispy Air Fryer Salmon
    • salmon pesto pasta with parmesan
      Salmon Pesto Pasta
    • one pot orzo with shrimp in a deep sauté pan
      One Pot Shrimp and Orzo with Tomatoes
    • bang bang salmon over rice with sesame seeds
      Bang Bang Salmon (+ Sauce recipe)

    Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.

    Print

    Recipe

    Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

    grilled shrimp kabobs
    Print Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    Grilled Shrimp Kabobs are simple to make and perfect for an easy summer meal. The lemon marinade for grilled shrimp is so flavorful and fresh tasting.

    • Author: Kathleen
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Category: Grilling, Mains
    • Method: Grilling
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    • 1lb 16/20 ct shrimp, peeled and deveined. Tails are optional
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • Chopped parsley, for serving
    • Lemon slices, for serving

    Instructions

    1. Marinate Shrimp - In a medium/large bowl, mix together the shrimp marinade ingredients (olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and spices). Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss to combine. Allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes (perfect amount of time to preheat the grill) or up to one hour. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 10-30 minutes before threading with the shrimp.
    2. Preheat Grill - Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450-500 degrees F) for direct grilling (ie. the shrimp will go directly over the flame).
    3. Skewer Shrimp - While the grill preheats, skewer the shrimp on 3-4 skewers and place on a plate. The excess marinade needs to be discarded.
    4. Grill - Grease your grill grates, if desired, with vegetable oil on a paper towel using grilling tongs. Then add the marinated shrimp skewers to the grill. Close the grill and grill each side for 2-3 minutes (about 5 minutes total) until fully cooked. Shrimp are cooked when they are pink and opaque - be careful not to overcook. If you'd like, you can toss extra lemon slices on the grill for just a minute or two to get a nice char and serve with the shrimp.
    5. Serve - I love to give a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

    Notes

    Leftover shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to eat the leftover shrimp cold on a salad, but you can reheat if you'd like. Be aware that reheating shrimp will make it slightly tougher.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ¼ of shrimp
    • Calories: 203
    • Sugar: 1.6 g
    • Sodium: 291 mg
    • Fat: 11.3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 4.9 g
    • Fiber: 0.5 g
    • Protein: 23.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 182.5 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @KathleensCravings on Instagram

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

    More Easy Seafood Recipes

    • honey sriracha salmon with rice in a bowl
      Honey Sriracha Salmon Bites
    • air fried scallops with lemon butter and parsley
      Air Fried Scallops with Lemon Butter
    • shrimp fajitas made in the oven on a plate
      Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
    • crab cakes on a plate with lemon and parsley
      Air Fryer Crab Cakes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Katie says

      March 30, 2023 at 9:29 pm

      The flavor of the marinade was amazing.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Kathleen and welcome! My favorite place to be has always been in the kitchen and I love creating recipes that are easy and approachable. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions!

    More about me →

    Single Serve Recipes

    • Single serve banana bread in a ramekin.
      Single Serve Banana Bread (1 Banana)
    • Single serve chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.
      Single Serve Chocolate Cupcake (Makes Two)
    • Single serve oatmeal chocolate chip cookie split in half.
      Single Serve Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie (Small Batch)
    • Single serve sugar cookie on a plate with sprinkles.
      Single Serve Sugar Cookie (Small Batch)

    Summer Recipes

    • Single serve blueberry crisp in a ramekin with an oat topping.
      Single Serve Blueberry Crisp (Air Fryer or Oven)
    • Scoops of mixed berry sorbet in a bowl with fresh berries.
      Ninja Creami Mixed Berry Sorbet
    • Blackstone Garlic Butter Steak Bites on a plate with parsley.
      Blackstone Steak Bites (Garlic Butter)
    • Flatbread pizzas on the Blackstone griddle.
      Blackstone Flatbread Pizza
    • stack of s'mores bars with mini marshmallows
      S'Mores Bars
    • Single serve cornbread on a plate cut in half.
      Single Serve Cornbread (Small Batch)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2025 KATHLEEN'S CRAVINGS ON THE SEASONED PRO THEME

     

    Loading Comments...