Description

This recipe for Best Marinated Grilled Shrimp delivers flavorful, juicy, and perfectly grilled shrimp that are easy to prepare and ideal for summer cookouts or quick weeknight dinners. Marinated in a zesty blend of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, and oregano, these shrimp are grilled to perfection, resulting in a tender texture with smoky grill marks and bright citrus notes. Serve them as a main dish, appetizer, or add them to salads and tacos for a delicious seafood boost.

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp Marinade

1 1/2 pounds large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For Grilling and Serving

Wooden skewers (optional, for grilling)
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Lemon wedges, for serving

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Instructions

Prepare the shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on for a decorative touch. Pat the shrimp dry thoroughly with paper towels to help the marinade adhere better.
Make the marinade: In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Marinate the shrimp: Add the shrimp to the marinade and toss gently to coat all pieces evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow the flavors to penetrate.
Prepare the grill and skewers: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 10-15 minutes beforehand to prevent them from burning during grilling.
Skewer and grill shrimp: Thread the marinated shrimp onto the skewers, leaving a little space between each. Place on the preheated grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until the shrimp turn opaque, firm, and have visible grill marks.
Serve: Remove the shrimp from the grill immediately. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and squeeze lemon wedges over the top for extra brightness.
Enjoy: Serve these flavorful grilled shrimp as a main dish, as an appetizer, or use them as a tasty protein topping for salads and tacos.

Notes

Do not overcook the shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; shrimp are done when they turn opaque and slightly firm.
If you don’t have a grill, a grill pan on the stovetop can be used as an alternative cooking surface.
For added smoky flavor, consider adding a touch of smoked paprika to the marinade.
Soaking wooden skewers is essential to prevent burning; if using metal skewers, this step is not necessary.
The marinade can be prepared a day ahead and stored in the fridge; just add the shrimp before marinating.
This recipe can easily be doubled for larger gatherings.