Description
A quick, budget-friendly, and kid-approved dinner featuring jumbo shrimp grilled with a rich smoky garlic butter sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal active prep time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds jumbo or large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12–16 bamboo skewers
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Optional: Red onion chunks and bell pepper strips for skewering
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp under cold water if necessary, then pat them completely dry with paper towels.
- Soak bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Thread shrimp onto skewers, leaving the tails on for presentation. If adding vegetables, alternate shrimp with onion and pepper, leaving space between pieces.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat or microwave for 30-45 seconds. Stir in minced garlic, smoked paprika, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (approx. 400°F). Clean grates and rub with a cut lemon half to prevent sticking. Lightly oil the grates with vegetable oil.
- Place skewers on the grill. Do not touch for 2 minutes to allow searing. Flip and brush generously with garlic butter.
- Cook for another 2-3 minutes, brushing again halfway through, until shrimp are pink, opaque, and curled into a ‘C’ shape.
- Remove from grill, apply a final brush of butter, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Notes
Ensure shrimp are completely dry before grilling to prevent steaming. Do not overcook shrimp as they become rubbery; they are done when opaque and pink. Soaking bamboo skewers is crucial to prevent them from catching fire. For a vegetarian version, substitute shrimp with portobello mushrooms or zucchini.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 skewers per servin
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 24
Keywords: grilled shrimp, shrimp skewers, smoky garlic butter, easy dinner, family meal, labor day recipes, quick seafood, gluten-free