Grilled Garlic Shrimp Skewers

These easy grilled shrimp skewers are basted with savory garlic butter. They’re shrimp on a stick, the perfect appetizer or cocktail food!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated September 29, 2023
Elise Bauer

Anyone up for shrimp on a stick? Grilled, slathered with garlic butter, and sprinkled with chives, these big beautiful shrimp are perfect party food for a backyard cookout.

How To Grill Shrimp Skewers

Here's a tip when grilling shrimp. First make sure you soak your wood or bamboo skewers (I recommend bamboo, they hold up better to heat) in water for at least half an hour. Then set up your grill so you have one side that is hot, and another cool.

Put the shrimp over the hot side, and the exposed skewers over the cool side. That way the shrimp cook quickly and the skewers don't burn.

Grilled Garlic Shrimp Skewers
Elise Bauer

Serving Shrimp Skewers

Once you take the shrimp off the grill, immediately brush them with garlic butter, while the shrimp are still hot. The shrimp will absorb the garlic butter flavors better that way.

I do recommend you make more of these than you'll think you need. Because even though 1 pound of shrimp should serve four, you'll want to eat them all yourself. They're sort of irresistible that way.

Grilled Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Elise Bauer

Other Ways To Cook Shrimp Skewers

No grill, or too cold out to bother? You can still make these shrimp skewers.

  • Broiler: Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and arrange your assembled shrimp skewers on the sheet. Broil about 5 inches away from the heat for about 2 minutes on each side or until they're cooked through.
  • Grill pan: Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the skewers, in batches if necessary, for about 2 minutes on each side or until they're cooked through.

What To Make with Shrimp Skewers

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Grilled Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4 servings

If you have the time, we highly recommend brining the shrimp to help them hold onto their moisture and remain plump and juicy. To make the brine, just whisk together 1/4 cup of Diamond Crystal kosher salt (3 tablespoons if you're using Morton's), 1/4 cup of sugar, and 4 cups of water in a bowl until the salt and sugar dissolve. Add 1 cup of ice and the shrimp, and let it sit for 30 minutes (no longer or the shrimp will get too salty). If you brine the shrimp, skip seasoning them with salt as directed in Step 2.

We recommend leaving the tails on the shrimp for a nice presentation.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (16 to 20 count) large shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • Extra virgin olive oil

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon minced chives, for garnish

Method

  1. Prepare the grill:

    Prepare your grill for direct high heat, with one side of the grill as a cool side with no coals or flame.

    Grill with hot coals to show how to grill shrimp.
    Ciara Kehoe
  2. Thread the shrimp on skewers:

    While the grill is heating, thread the pre-soaked skewers through the shrimp. Start at the tail and push the skewers through the middle and end of the shrimp. Brush shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

    A person putting shrimp on a stick and setting on a bakings sheet.
    Ciara Kehoe
    Brushing shrimp skewers with oil and setting on a baking sheet.
    Ciara Kehoe
  3. Melt the butter with garlic:

    Place butter and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in microwave until the butter has melted and is hot. (If you don't have a microwave you can also just melt the butter with the garlic in a small saucepan on the stovetop.)

  4. Grill the shrimp:

    Arrange skewers on grill so that the shrimp are over the coals or flame and the exposed bamboo skewer ends are over the cool side of the grill. Grill for about 2 minutes on each side.

    Overhead view of grilled shrimp skewers.
    Ciara Kehoe
  5. Serve, basted with garlic butter:

    As soon as the shrimp are done, remove from grill and place in a serving dish. Baste generously with melted garlic butter. Sprinkle with chives to serve!

    Serve immediately.

    Overhead view of grilled garlic shrimp on a baking sheet.
    Ciara Kehoe
    Overhead view of grilled garlic shrimp on a platter.
    Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
175 Calories
11g Fat
2g Carbs
16g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 175
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 166mg 55%
Sodium 722mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 68mg 5%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 140mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.