Garlic Shrimp Skewers (Printable)

Zesty garlic and herb marinated shrimp grilled on skewers, perfect for a quick Mediterranean meal.

# What You Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off as preferred)

→ Marinade

02 - 3 tbsp olive oil
03 - 4 large garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 tsp lemon zest
06 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ To Finish

11 - Lemon wedges, for serving
12 - Extra chopped parsley, for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper.
02 - Add shrimp to the marinade and toss until fully coated. Let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.
03 - Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature.
04 - Thread 4 to 5 marinated shrimp onto each skewer.
05 - Grill skewers for 2 to 3 minutes per side until shrimp are opaque and lightly charred.
06 - Remove from grill, garnish with extra parsley, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in under 25 minutes from start to finish, yet tastes like you've been cooking all afternoon
  • The marinade is so simple and forgiving, even if you're just starting to cook, you'll nail it
  • Shrimp cooks so fast that the marinade flavors stay bright and fresh instead of fading into the background
02 -
  • Shrimp cooks so quickly that the line between perfectly tender and rubbery is thinner than you'd expect—remove them the moment they turn opaque, not a second later
  • If you skip the marinade rest time, you'll miss half the flavor development; those 10-15 minutes aren't optional, they're essential
  • The lemon zest is the ingredient that separates good garlic shrimp from extraordinary garlic shrimp—don't leave it out thinking the juice is enough
03 -
  • If using wooden skewers, soaking them for at least 20 minutes prevents burning and ensures they last through the cooking time; I once forgot this and spent the meal worried about flaming skewers instead of enjoying my food
  • Add cherry tomatoes or bell pepper pieces between shrimp for color and flavor, but add them after marinating so they don't absorb all the moisture

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