How To Grill Shrimp On Charcoal Grill

Should You Peel Shrimp Before Grilling

You can grill shrimp both with the shell on or ones that have been peeled. Some sources will swear by shrimp in the shell, because it leaves it incredibly moist. But peeled shrimp are just as good. We like to use tail on shrimp because they look the most appetizing. Just make sure not to cook it too long! Cooking even a minute too long can make shrimp tough and dry.

Can I Make This In A Skillet

Yes! If you donât have a grill, or are just wanting to cook inside, you can cook the shrimp on a skillet. There is no need to skewer them at this point if you donât want to. Just grill them in a skillet after marinating. You will lose the smokey flavor though, which honestly..is SO worth the effort.

How Do You Grill Shrimp

The best way to grill shrimp are to marinate them in olive oil, herbs, garlic and lemon, then skewer and cook. Shrimp are best grilled on skewers if you try to grill them without a skewer, you run the risk of these little guys falling through the grates of the grill when you go to turn them.

This shrimp marinade starts with olive oil and lemon juice. I add an additional layer of flavor with plenty of dried herbs , along with fresh minced garlic. I like simplicity here, but if you want to jazz up your marinade even more, you can add lemon zest, a splash of white white, soy sauce, or a squeeze of honey.

Also Check: Pork Tenderloin Grill Temperature

For Truly Juicy Shrimp Choose The Biggest Size And Grill Them Fast

When it comes to grilling shrimp, bigger is better: Large or jumbo shrimp stay juicy on the grill small shrimp can dry out too quickly or fall through the grate. When you shop for shrimp, youll notice theyre labeled two ways: by sizesuch as jumbo, large, medium, smalland by count , such as 1015, 1530, and 3041. Since neither counts nor size labels are consistent from one store to the next, buy shrimp by weight. Youll need 1/2 pound of shrimp per person for a main-course serving. Choose the biggest shrimp you can afford, regardless of how its labeled.

Oil the shrimp first and grill directly over a medium-hot fire. The grilland the gratesmust be hot before you start cooking. So give your gas grill plenty of time to heat up or wait until your charcoal is covered with a white-hot ash before you start. While youre waiting, coat the shrimp with olive or vegetable oil, which helps seal in juices and keeps the shrimp from sticking to the grill.

Can You Grill Shrimp Ahead Of Time

Its best to cook these grilled shrimp as soon as you are ready to serve them, after all, cooking shrimp on the grill is quick & easy. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container and they will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can serve them cold over salad or very gently reheat them in the oven.

You May Like: Macaroni Grill Grand Rapids

Preparation Before You Start Grilling

Take note that shrimp is usually sold for every pound. You need to be aware of how much shrimp you are going to serve per guest so you can decide how many pounds you are going to get. You can opt to skewer shrimp when they still have their shells on or you may also opt to skewer them with their shells off. The decision will be up to you.

A lot of people who love shrimp say that it will be weird to cook shrimp without their heads and their shells. Expect that shrimp with their heads still intact will normally taste better as compared to those that are cooked without their heads. Take note though that there are some people who dislike having to remove the shell and the head of the shrimp once they already have it on their plates.

Grilled Shrimp Recipes: Four Delectable Marinades

In this section we will showcase four exciting grilled shrimp recipes that will make your BBQ the talk of the town. With these recipes, you wont even need sauce for your shrimp anymore.

Before diving into these recipes remember these tips to make shrimp the easiest part of your next barbecue:

• Shrimp – like most seafood – should only be marinated for 30 minutes

• Remember to peel shrimp before marinating to ensure intense flavor

• If your skewers are thin, consider using 2 to keep your shrimp from flopping around

You May Like: Best Way To Clean Cast Iron Grill Pan

Selecting And Cleaning Shrimp

For Chef Guas, selecting the best shrimp is all about your senses. Always trust your nose and your touch, says Chef Guas. If the shrimp are a bit slimy or they smell like they have been sitting out of refrigeration for a bit then do not buy them. For head-on shrimp, Chef Guas pays special attention if the heads are separated this can often be a sign that the shrimp isnt fresh. However, shell-on shrimp does have its benefits the shells can be used for stock and sauces.

To defrost frozen shrimp, Chef Guas advice is to place the frozen shrimp in a container and refrigerate overnight. Generally, 5 lbs of shrimp will take a day and a half to defrost fully. If in a hurry, Chef Guas likes to place his shrimp in a metal or plastic container in an empty sink and run cold water directly over the top until the shrimp has broken free from the ice.

Blackened Shrimp On The Grill

Posted by Jeff & Heather

Shrimp.

You love em or you hate em. I swear I have never met anyone who was on the fence about shrimp.

But really I do not think I have met anyone who didnt like them really. They rock.

You can do SO MUCH with them.

I love tempura shrimp. Shrimp cocktail. Butterflied and stuffed. I could go on and on but lets get to what this recipe is about.

Blackened Shrimp on the Grill.

Now I wont lie. We used a charcoal grill with natural briquettes. We DO use the gas grill on occasion. Like when we do not want to wait for the coals to start because we want that BURGER NOW! And you know by now we also cook over camp fires and in smokers and via microscope and a beam of hot sun light. But these shrimp taste best on the good ole charcoal grill.

We all have our favorite way to grill. It is a great debate! Gas or Charcoal. What is yours? Head over to the #GASC facebook page now and cast your vote for a chance to win a gift card!

And while you wait for the results of the contest, whip up some of these Blackened Shrimp on the Grill.

Ingredients

Recommended Reading: Natural Gas Regulator For Weber Grill

How To Cook Shrimp Kabobs: Two Ways

I love making these shrimp kebabs all year-round! Although, when the weather is nice, I will often opt for my outdoor grill. Once the shrimp has marinated, thread them on skewers. From there, you can grill them one of two ways:

• Outdoor Gas Grill. Heat the grill to high, then lower the heat until it reaches somewhere between 275 and 325 degrees F. Carefully and lightly oil the grates, then arrange the shrimp skewers on the grates. Close the lid and cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes, then turn them over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes with the lid closed. In my experience, this method produces super juicy grilled shrimp!
• Indoor Griddle or Cast Iron Skillet. Heat a dry griddle over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the shrimp skewers and cook on one side about 3 or 4 minutes. Turn shrimp over and cook another 2 to 3 minutes.

Why This Recipe Works

Great grilled shrimptender, moist, and flavorfulare hard to come by. Usually, theyre overcooked and rubbery, giving the jaws a workout, thanks to their quick cooking time and the high temperature of the grill. Grilling shrimp in their sh… Read More

• 2 chocolate bar biscuit croissant topping
• 1 jelly cotton candy
• 2 caramels tart gummi bears
• 6 butterscotch caramel lollipops
• ¼ cup sugar

Read Also: Is Veggie Grill All Vegan

Should Grilled Shrimp Be On Skewers

You can if youd like! You can thread your shrimp onto skewers before you grill it, which in theory makes it easier to turn. But Alex and I also find that it tends to spin on skewers, making it harder to manage on the grill. It also takes some time to thread it onto skewers, and wooden skewers need to be soaked first so they dont burn.

If youd like a shrimp skewers recipe, head to our Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe for more info. But we prefer skipping the skewers, since its quicker and easier!

Grilling Shrimp Without Skewers

The first way that you can cook your shrimp on the grill is to simply put them on the grill individually. This is best achieved on grills that have upper racks. These are for foods that cook quickly or that you dont want to char.

Make sure to use a cooking spray to prevent them from sticking to the grates and you should be able to provide ample heat without charring them or turning them rubbery.

Even better, there are some grills that have flat-top components to them for smaller foods that can fall through the grating. These are particularly great for adding seasoning to your food as you cook.

This is still a somewhat delicate process and it can be easy to overcook the shrimp. It is important to work within specific temperature ranges to ensure even cooking of the shrimp throughout the process.

But if youre looking for a more effective way of cooking shrimp on the grill, there is another way: use foil.

Also Check: Char Broil Grill Cleaning

Grilling Shrimp With Foil

Foil can be a great way to provide a complete, even cook to your shrimp without fear of charring or blackening them . Start out by setting your grill in the 350- to 450-degree Fahrenheit range.

Most grills should have temperature gauges somewhere on the exterior there are even some that have knobs with the temperature marks on them.

If you are using a charcoal grill for this, pile up your charcoal in the shape of a pyramid at the bottom of the grill. Follow that up with a splash of lighter fluid and light the coals up.

Let them die down and then give it about 10 minutes or so to ensure that your coals are all at the proper temperature for your shrimp to cook. If your charcoal grill has an automatic starter, you can press the start button right after you have loaded up the grill with charcoal.

Next, place your shrimp in a large piece of foil. Make sure that it is just large enough to accommodate the amount of shrimp that you plan on cooking. Do any marinating or seasoning prior to adding them into the foil, though you can also accommodate the shrimp with things such as sausage, corn, and garlic to form a truly flavorful packet.

If you plan to cook a good amount of shrimp, creating multiple packets may be the best idea to provide a more even cooking experience.

With your packets properly sealed, place them on the grill for about 10 or 15 minutes. If you have added other ingredients into your packet, skew closer to the 15-minute mark.

How To Prep Shrimp For The Grill

Once youve got thawed shrimp you need to remove the shell tail and all and skewer it. There are couple of methods for peeling and deveining, but I find a pair of sharp kitchen shears the best tool for the job. If you run the blade through the top of the shell you can open up the shell and remove most of the vein at once.

Read more: How To Peel & Devein Shrimp

Also Check: How To Clean Traeger Grill

Getting Shrimp Ready For The Grill

Thaw shrimp just before cooking. Its best to buy shrimp frozen, since their texture deteriorates quite quickly once thawed. The best way to do this is to put them in a colander and run cold water over them until thawed.

Devein or notits up to you. A lot of shrimp is sold already deveined, either deliberately or because the vein often comes out naturally when the heads are removed. The vein wont hurt you, but its sometimes unsightly and a bit gritty. If you want to devein your shrimp, try my easy method below.

Make your own easy-peel shrimp. If the shrimp havent already been slit down the back for faster peeling, you can do it yourself after theyre thawed. Hold a shrimp between your thumb and forefinger at the top of the shrimp and use kitchen shears to snip down the spine, stopping at the tail. At this point, you can easily remove the vein by picking it up in the middle and pulling it out with the tip of the shears or a paring knife.

Private Notes

Incredible Grilled Shrimp Recipe

Is there really anything better than big, juicy grilled shrimp thats bursting with lemon, garlic, and herby flavors?

We love making this grilled shrimp all summer long. Its such an easy and quick protein to whip up. And serving them as grilled shrimp skewers is so fun for entertaining.

In this post, well teach you how to how to grill shrimp like a pro, which includes an epic shrimp marinade that you need to keep in the back of your pocket!

Read Also: Should The Grill Be Open Or Closed

How Long Does Shrimp Take To Grill

Since theyre relatively small, shrimp cook really quickly no matter the cooking method. On a grill, it shouldnt take more than five minutes totalabout 2 minutes per side. Keep in mind that to avoid over- or under-cooking the shrimp, you should stick to high heat. This will give them a juicy, tender texture without any chewiness.

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!

Outdoor Cooking Pros

Recommended Reading: How To Clean Grease Off Grill

Which Shrimp Should I Use

Medium/Large/Extra Large shrimp will be easier to skewer. I do not recommend using small shrimp for this recipe.

To make this recipe go quicker use shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined.

Tails can be left on or taken off according to your preference. Tails were left on for the images just for presentation purposes. I personally tend to remove the tails prior to cooking so that itâs easier to eat.

Other recipes you may enjoy:

How To Thaw Frozen Shrimp

How to thaw frozen shrimp? There are a few different options depending on when you start! Heres what to do:

• Night before: If you think ahead, simply place the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
• Day of: Place the frozen shrimp into a large bowl with very cold water. Stir the bowl every 5 minutes to break up clumps of shrimp that freeze together. The shrimp should be defrosted in about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp.

Also Check: Grill Time For Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Other Key Tips For Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Recipe Success:

• Be sure to use thin cut bacon
• Keep the bacon wrapped flat and tight around the shrimp the better the wrap, the better it will form a bacon jacket
• If choosing to buy shell-on shrimp, I recommend this Gerber scalpel knife for deveining.
• You should definitely pick up some of my Hardcore Carnivore Red for the seasoning. The all-natural color and flavors are perfect for this recipe.
• I recommend using 16/20 size shrimp or larger.

Keep scrolling for the recipe, but if you prefer it in video format, I gotcha covered:

Tips To Make The Best Grilled Shrimp:

• Do not overcook: Shrimp are fully cooked when they turn a pink color and look opaque and white on the inside. Pull them off the grill as soon as they are done.
• Rinse: Clean your shrimp before cooking them. Rinse in cold water to remove any debris, pieces of shell, etc.
• Cook from frozen: Save yourself time and cook your shrimp directly from frozen. No need to thaw first.
• Pre-cooked shrimp: You can grill pre-cooked shrimp. Essentially you will just be heating them on the grill so it will take less than cook time. You just want to leave them long enough to warm them.

You May Like: What Is The Best Pit Boss Pellet Grill

What Kind Of Shrimp Do I Need For Grilled Shrimp

When youre shopping for fresh shrimp at the grocery store, look for peeled and deveined shrimp. The deveining and peeling process is tedious, so this will save you time and frustration.

Can you use frozen shrimp? YES! But make sure its completely thawed before you make this recipe.

Can you use cooked shrimp? You can use precooked shrimp, but we dont recommend it. If you do, just give them a quick sear on the grill to heat them up.

Can you cook marinated shrimp on the stovetop instead? Yes! Feel free to pan-fry your shrimp over medium/high heat for 2-3 minutes per side.