Easy Grilled Shrimp Skewers

This Easy Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe will show you how to grill and BBQ shrimp and vegetables using the best dry rub marinade.

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Making marinated shrimp kabobs on the grill is so easy! They are ready in no time, making them the perfect weeknight dinner, especially during the summer months.

What Type of BBQ Sauce to Use

I’m using BBQ sauces from Primal Kitchen. What I love about their products is they are sugar-free, dairy-free, and Whole 30 approved. Most store-bought sauces are sweetened and loaded with sugar. It’s nice to have an unsweetened version!

For this recipe, I wanted a variety of options, so I used the Hawaiian and Mango Jalapeno flavors. Each flavor has the hint of smoky flavor I need for BBQ!

The sauces are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Whole30 Approved®, Certified Paleo and Keto Certified, and made with no high fructose corn syrup.

What Type of Shrimp to Use

Shrimp can be found at the grocery store in a few different ways. There is raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc.

I never use pre-cooked shrimp. There is an obvious difference in taste due to the lack of quality. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp. Raw shrimp only takes minutes to make, just buy it raw.

Always look for deveined, that’s my preference. The black vein that runs along the back of the shrimp is the digestive intestinal tract. Is this shrimp poop, yes.

You can buy it with the vein and remove it using a sharp paring knife to make a slit along the back and lift out the vein with the tip of the knife.

Buy large shrimp. Baby shrimp are meant to go in things like soups.

Can You Use Frozen Shrimp? How to Thaw

You won’t be able to thread the shrimp while frozen. You should thaw it first. You can thaw frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes.

Do You Keep the Tails on the Shrimp?

This is completely up to you and is a matter of preference. Often the tails are left on for presentation purposes only. The shrimp simply looks nicer and will have a nice curve to it when the tails are left on.

Leaving the tail on is often inconvenient when it comes to devouring the meal! It’s your call.

How to Season the Shrimp

I love to use my Homemade BBQ Rub for the BBQ Flavor. You will need:

• Brown Sweetener or Brown Sugar
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Salt
• Pepper

What Type of Skewers to Use

I love to use metal skewers because they are reusable and you don’t need to soak them ahead of time. You can also use wooden or bamboo skewers. These will need to be soaked in warm water for 20 minutes before you use them.

Dry wood is flammable and prone to fire. Wet wood has a lower chance of catching fire. You can read more about How to Soak Wooden Skewers here.

How to Thread the Skewers

I like for the shrimp tails to face the same direction on each skewer, simply for presentation. Thread the shrimp onto the skewer focusing on the thickest part of the shrimp. This will ensure the shrimp stays on the skewer.

You will also use this method for the vegetables. Slice your veggies thick enough so that they will stay on the skewers. For the onion, slice the onion in half, and then take half of the onion and slice it into quarters (4 pieces). This will create the perfect size for grilling.

Grill Temperature

Getting to know your grill is important. Most modern and newer grills will display the temperature. For this dish, 350 degrees and medium heat is optimal.

If you don’t have a temperature dial you can do a hand test to see if the grill has reached medium-high. You can read more about How to Check the Temperature of Your Grill here.

How to Grill Shrimp Skewers

Detailed serving sizes and full instructions are included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. Coat the grill grates with oil.
2. Preheat grill to medium heat and 350 degrees.
3. Drizzle the shrimp and vegetables in olive oil and season.
4. Thread the shrimp and vegetables onto the skewers.
5. Grill.

How Long to Cook it/How to Tell When it’s Done

Raw and frozen shrimp are a translucent gray. When it’s cooked, it should be an opaque white with some pink and bright red accents. This is the best indicator of whether or not shrimp is fully cooked.

When shrimp cooks, the muscle contracts, so the shrimp shrinks and curls. I find that it’s perfectly cooked when it has a C shape. I remove the shrimp from heat immediately when it reaches this shape. Often, if it reaches an O shape, and completely curls in, it will taste overcooked.

How to Keep Shrimp From Sticking to the Grill

You will need to use oil to prevent sticking. Coat the grill grates in olive oil and coat both the shrimp and vegetables in oil, too.

How to Reheat

I like to use the air fryer, 350 degrees for a few minutes until warm. You can use the microwave. I’m typically not a fan of the texture it gives off.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze the cooked shrimp for up to 3 months.

Pair This Shrimp With These Side Dishes

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Southern Baked Beans
Southern Coleslaw
Southern Potato Salad
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Easy Spaghetti Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
How to Grill Chicken Wings

More Shrimp Recipes

Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Seafood Stuffed Shells
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Shrimp and Crab Quiche
Shrimp Egg Rolls
Seafood and Shrimp Chili
Buffalo Shrimp Recipe
Jerk Shrimp Recipe
Shrimp Parmesan (Parmigiana)