Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Name: Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds extra large or jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined); 8 tablespoons butter (melted); zest and juice of 1 lemon ((about 2 tablespoons of juice and however much zest you can get from the lemon)); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning or herbs de provence (or 2 tablespoons fresh herbs finely chopped)

TiffanyUpdated Apr 18, 2025, Published Jun 22, 2016

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These easy lemon garlic grilled shrimp skewers are healthy, incredibly flavorful, and quick to make with just FIVE simple ingredients.

Want more healthy shrimp recipes? You’ve got it in my popular posts for Sheet Pan Chili Lime Shrimp Fajitas, Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp, and Baked Crispy Shrimp with Dynamite Shrimp Sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

So easy & quick — 20 minutes! That’s all you need to make this lemon garlic shrimp. When you’re in a pinch and not sure what to make for dinner, this is IT! It just doesn’t get any easier.

Easy to double (or triple!) — We’ve all been there with the unexpected dinner guests. The good news is you don’t have to worry about what to make. Just thaw some extra shrimp (see below for thawing tips) and double the ingredients.

The best butter sauce — The first time I made a butter sauce I died, went to heaven, and came back reincarnated as The Butter Sauce Queen. And then? Then I added shrimp to the butter sauce and I ate it every night for five straight nights in a row. No lie, you’ll make this butter sauce once, add the lemon shrimp, and never look back.

Works as a main dish or an appetizer — I sometimes make this lemon shrimp as an appetizer too. Put three or four shrimp on a skewer, baste in butter sauce, grill, then add the skewers to a plate before pouring over more lemon garlic shrimp sauce. YUM.

Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
Here’s How You Make It
FAQs
Expert Tips and Tricks
More Recipes Like This
Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Ingredients

Medium or large shrimp — Use either size shrimp here. I like to buy them peeled and deveined for convenience.
Butter — Butter is key! I use unsalted and add salt to taste but you can use salted butter too and see how you like it that way.
Juice of 1 lemon — One lemon juiced makes about 2 tablespoons of juice. I typically just juice a lemon without measuring but if you are using bottled lemon juice, be sure to measure out just 2 tablespoons.
Minced garlic — I typically use jarred garlic when I’m in a hurry but you can mince your own too. Adding garlic to the butter is just the thing that takes this lemon garlic shrimp to a 10.
Italian seasoning — Use pre-made Italian seasoning, herbs de provence, or create your own Italian seasoning with a little dried basil, thyme, oregano, and rosemary, crushed and mixed together before being measured out. Fresh herbs can also be used – I love to use fresh dill, parsley, cilantro, and oregano when I have them on hand.

Here’s How You Make It

steps 1-2 for grilled lemon garlic butter shrimp skewers.

steps 3-4 for grilled lemon garlic butter shrimp skewers.

First, oil and preheat the grill to medium-high. Oiling it helps to keep the shrimp (or whatever you’re grilling) from sticking.
Next, skewer the shrimp onto metal or wooden skewers (if using wooden, be sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes before to keep them from burning). (photo 1)
Stir together melted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic and herbs (fresh or dried). (photo 2)
Brush both sides of the skewered shrimp with butter sauce. Save remaining sauce for later. (photos 3-4)
Add the skewers to the grill and allow them to cook for 4-6 minutes on each side, or until they are pink and starting to brown just slightly around the edges. (photos 5-6)
Drizzle the remaining lemon butter mixture over the shrimp and serve immediately.

steps 5-6 for grilled lemon garlic butter shrimp skewers.

spoon drizzling melted butter onto grilled shrimp.

FAQs

What is the Best Way to Thaw Frozen Shrimp?

I like to either leave the frozen shrimp in the fridge overnight or for about 6-8 hours before I’m ready to use it.
If you’re making this dish last minute, then a quick way to thaw the frozen shrimp is to put the bag of shrimp into a bowl of cold water for 45 minutes. Don’t have 45 minutes? Dump the shrimp out in a colander and run cold water over them till they thaw. Be careful, this makes the shrimp extra wet. Pat them dry with paper towels before skewering and adding lemon butter sauce and spices for best results.
Do not thaw shrimp in warm or hot water as this will cause your shrimp to start cooking.

What Does Lemon Juice Do to Shrimp?

I love lemon on this lemon shrimp because it gives it a wonderfully lemony, acidic flavor. It also acts as a shrimp tenderizer so be careful if you’re marinating shrimp in any kind of acid like vinegar or lemon juice, as your shrimp will actually cook in an acidic marinade if left in too long.

Is It Better to Saute Shrimp in Butter or Oil?

Either butter or oil works! I like butter for its flavor but oil will also work great on the grill and help the spices to stick to the shrimp. If you like, you could always use oil for the grilling portion of this lemon shrimp recipe, then add the butter sauce at the end.

Expert Tips and Tricks

If you don’t want to have so much butter with your lemon garlic shrimp so that you can have a healthy shrimp recipe, don’t use all the butter sauce. It’s truly as easy as that.
I love to serve this grilled shrimp over linguine or rice. If you want to skip the carbs, it’s also amazing over roasted vegetables with a side salad.
Serve as shrimp tacos!

lemon garlic butter shrimp on wooden skewers on serving platter.

More Recipes Like This

Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!

grilled lemon shrimp with garlic sauce on skewers.

5 from 8 votes