Easy grilled shrimp kabobs, tossed up in a Mediterranean marinade with garlic and fresh herbs, then quickly grilled for the perfect dinner or appetizer to feed a small crowd.
Be sure to check out my tips and video for how to grill shrimp perfectly every time! No outdoor grill? You can cook these shrimp skewers using an indoor griddle or skillet.
As a girl who grew up on the Mediterranean, I’m a big fan of seafood and really enjoy cooking all sorts of it. For the most part, unless it’s paella, I can put together a simple fish dinner like baked cod or fish en papillote in just over 20 minutes.
And I would say the same of shrimp, which I conveniently keep in the freezer for a quick weeknight shrimp pasta or barbecue like today’s shrimp kabobs!
These kabobs can double up as an appetizer for a big party or dinner next to your favorite side or salad. And if the weather puts a damper on your plans, you can totally grill them indoors!
Tips for best grilled shrimp
A few simple tips make all the difference in achieving flavor packed and perfectly grilled shrimp.
- Start with large shrimp. I usually go with 20/25 shrimp per pound (larger if I can find them). They’re meatier and easier to work. Buy easy-to-peel shrimp and peel them yourself, they’re cheaper this way and they taste better.
- Marinate the shrimp for just a few minutes in a tasty olive-oil based marinade (ideally 30 minutes in the fridge, but even just 10 minutes will help). This is a great way to infuse the shrimp with flavor and keeps them nice and juicy when grilling (more on the shrimp kabob marinade later)
- Use Skewers. I’ve been known to grill shrimp in a skillet without skewers; usually I will only do this in a skillet or griddle. But how do you keep shrimp from falling into the grill or from accidently overcooking? Skewers are your ticket! Threading the shrimp into skewers also makes them so much easier to flip over (I use a pair of tongs to hold and turn over my shrimp). If using bamboo skewers, be sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes to an hour before using.
- Do not overcook the shrimp. Even the largest of shrimp will grill quickly (anywhere from 5 to 7 minutes).
Grilled shrimp marinade
When it comes to what goes in the marinade for your shrimp kabobs, avoid using citrus as the acid will change the texture of the shrimp. I hold off on adding lemon juice until the shrimp is cooked.
I like to use an olive oil-based marinade (Private Reserve Greek EVOO is great for this) with fresh garlic, lemon zest (not lemon juice) and a few spices and herbs–fresh parsley, dry oregano, paprika, coriander, and a pinch of red pepper flakes (you can change the spices up to your liking).
The olive oil in the marinade will help in three ways:
- It will help distribute the flavors from spices and dry herbs evenly all over the shrimp
- The fat from the olive oil will also protect the fresh garlic from burning and really enhance its flavor
- And, particularly if you’re using an outdoor grill, it provides a nice protective coating for the shrimp, keeping them plump and juicy as they develop a little char on the 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.
How do I know my shrimp kebabs are ready?
I shared this before with my Greek shrimp recipe, but it applies no matter how you cook your shrimp.
Shrimp is cooked when it’s turned from grey and flabby to opaque pink with a bright red tail. And as far as texture, cooked shrimp should be slightly firm in texture with enough crunch with your bite (look for enough resistance to the teeth, but should give way to a gentle bite.)
For more great information about working with shrimp be sure to check out our Guide to Buying and Cooking Shrimp.
Serve it with
You can easily serve these shrimp kabobs as your main dish, on their own, or with a side of Garlic Aioli for dipping. These side dish recipes also go perfectly with shrimp:
- Skordalia (Greek garlic and potato dip); plain couscous; or lemon rice
- Grilled Vegetables; Greek baked fries; baked zucchini; or fried eggplant
- A simple like white bean salad; balela salad; Mediterranean tomato salad; or Greek salad
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Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp Kabobs Recipe
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 1/3 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup packed chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the Shrimp
- 2 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Reserve 2 tbsp of the marinade in a separate bowl for later.
- Pat the shrimp dry and season with kosher salt. Place the shrimp in a large bowl and pour the marinade all over. Toss to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes (do not go longer).
- Thread the shrimp on skewers, about 4 large shrimp per skewer. (If using bamboo skewers they need to be soaked in water for at least 30 minutes first).
- To grill on an outdoor gas grill. Preheat a gas grill to high. Then, reduce heat to low (temperature should be somewhere between 275 to 325ºF). Carefully grease the cooking grates. Once the grill reaches the recommended temperature, add the shrimp skewers and close the lid. Cook shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until no longer translucent.
- To grill on an indoor griddle or cast iron grill. 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.
- Transfer the grilled shrimp skewers to platter and spoon the remaining marinade your reserved earlier over the grilled shrimp skewers. Add a splash of lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Leftovers: To store leftover grilled shrimp, remove it from the skewers. Store in a tight-lid glass container in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold as an appetizer or over a salad.
- Visit Our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils and spices used in this recipe.
Nutrition
*This post originally appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2016 and has been recently updated with information and new media for readers’ benefit.
This was amazing. The best shrimp I have had in a while. Thank you so much!
Tasty meal, but do you realise U.S, Liberia and Myanmar are the only countries in the world that do not use metric. Most frustrating.
Can you tell me what size shrimp used in these photos, ie. count per lb. Thank you.
Hi, Den. We used Large 16-20 per lb. shrimp here, but you could go bigger if you’d like!
This recipe looks wonderful. Do you think it would go well with chicken kabobs for the non-shrimp eaters?
Absolutely! We also have a separate chicken kabob recipe that’s also amazing!
Simply amazing recipe, the flavor was just delicious.
It was my first time grilling shrimp.
thanks Suzy!
It was easy to make and it was delicious.
Thanks, Len!
I made this on the grill and it’s very good.
Is is possible to baked in the oven? Would it be good that way?
Hi, Jean! I’m Summer and I work here at The Mediterranean Dish. I am so glad you like this recipe. We haven’t tried this specific recipe in the oven, but we do shrimp recipes for both the stovetop and the oven. You might like this Sheet Pan Baked Shrimp and Veggies Recipe or this Shrimp Saganaki made with tomatoes and feta. Happy Cooking!
Delicious on the first try! Thanks for sharing this.
Question for future attempts – can I screwed the shrimp after marinading them for 20-30 minutes and then store in the fridge to cook a bit later?
Hi, Masha. We really don’t recommend marinating or storing the shrimp in the marinade for longer than 30 minutes. That acidity in the lemons can actually start to cook them and change their texture.
I made this yesterday! Very easy and delicious!
Made this for lunch along with the baked zucchini . Would make again. It is a sin if you don’t make the Garlic Aioli with this dish. It really adds awesome to it.
Yes! This would be great with the garlic aioli!!
Hi – do you use dried herbs in this recipe or fresh? Thank you
Hello! We used dried here… except for the parsley. Enjoy!
Easy and delicious recipe, the lemon zest is a game changer with flavor. I did squeeze half a lemon into the recipe because why not! Thank you!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I’ve made this several time but tonight was the first time I grilled the shrimp with K.C. Strip Steak and WOW. A side salad to go with it and it was heavenly. Ate half the Shrimp and Steak so I have lunch for tomorrow. Yummy. Love your recipes!!!!
so delicious! The marinate was also great on my vegetables for the kabobs. I will be making this recipe again and again. Served this time over cauliflower rice.
This recipe was so quick and easy, except we bought tail on shrimp so that took some time. They were absolutely delicious, and we’ll be making these on a regular basis.
Wow, you know shrimp. The EVOO makes it so rich, and prevents overcooking, the herbs are great, and not adding citrus to marinade preserves the texture. They are even great the day after. Eaten with your aoli, it is the perfect grilled shrimp. Thank you.