Grilled Honey Chili Lime Shrimp Skewers

Name: Grilled Honey Chili Lime Shrimp Skewers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 18 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon honey; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon grated lime zest; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 pound raw jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined)

Honey chili lime shrimp is infused in a smoky and zesty marinade and charred lightly on the grill to produce the tastiest shrimp skewers ever! Pair it with a cool and refreshing salad or serve along with rice or on tacos for a healthy weeknight meal. Ready in around 30 minutes, you can’t go wrong with this quick, easy and flavourful grilled shrimp recipe! {gluten-free, low carb, paleo & keto-friendly}

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Grilled Shrimp Recipe – So Simple and Delicious!

You know those recipes that just scream summer cookout? Well these grilled chili lime shrimp skewers are one of those recipes.

The shrimp is smoky, zesty and has just the right amount of spice to compliment those cool and refreshing side salads on a hot summer night.

The smell alone of these shrimp skewers cooking on the barbecue will have your mouth watering, but then when you taste the crispy charred succulent shrimp infused in that chili lime shrimp marinade, you’ll definitely be wanting to make this recipe on repeat.

The best part is, it takes less than 10 minutes to cook up this shrimp so it makes for a quick and flavour-packed meal!

For more easy and delicious shrimp recipes, be sure to try this Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta and these Spicy Shrimp Tacos!

Grilled shrimp skewers on a platter with lime.

Why We Love These Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

Minimal prep work required: One of the best things about shrimp is that you don’t have to chop it up or do much to prepare it. Simply defrost it, infuse it in the marinade and grill it up. Perfect for easy weeknight meals!

Perfect for marinating: Due to its size and texture, shrimp is ideal for marinating because all of those flavours can seep into the crevices for the ultimate flavour-packed meal!

High in protein: One serving of this shrimp recipe has about 24 grams of protein, which makes for a filling and satisfying meal.

Low in calories: Each shrimp only has about 14 calories, making it a light and waist-friendly option.

Ingredients Notes

Ingredients required for the chili lime shrimp recipe.

Lime: Lime juice and zest are used to infuse zesty flavour into the marinade. Use fresh lime juice for best results.
Oil: I typically use extra virgin live oil for this recipe, but you can also sub in another oil such as canola or avocado oil if preferred.
Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to the shrimp. You can also sub in another
Garlic: Infuses extra flavour into the marinade. Use freshly minced garlic for the best results.
Seasoning: Chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt and pepper are used for the grilled shrimp rub.
Shrimp: I typically use raw jumbo shrimp that’s been peeled and deveined.

Step By Step Instructions

How to Make Chili Lime Shrimp Marinade

In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the simple marinade.

Place the shrimp in a large ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over top of the shrimp and toss until well coated.

Place in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes to marinate.

Raw shrimp marinating in chili lime shrimp marinadea in ziploc bag.

How to Cook Shrimp on the Grill

Place the marinated shrimp on skewers. I used about 7-8 shrimp per skewer.

Alternatively, you can use a grill basket to cook the shrimp if you don’t have time to put the shrimp on skewers.

Preheat the grill to medium-high high. Cook the shrimp skewers for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Pro Tip: The key to cooking shrimp on the barbecue is to get that grill nice and hot and cook it fast. The shrimp cooks quickly so keep an eye on it!

Large shrimp is best: For best results, use raw peeled and deveined jumbo or black tiger shrimp since since smaller shrimp are harder to skewer.

For the tails: You can leave the tails on your shrimp, or remove them. The tails make for a nicer presentation but it’s a little more work to remove them right before eating.

Marinate shrimp: Let the shrimp sit in the marinade for at least 20-30 minutes to allow all of those flavours to infuse into the shrimp.

Use metal skewers: I find the metal skewers are better for cooking shrimp on the grill. If you opt for wooden ones, make sure that you soak them in water so they don’t catch on fire.

Evenly distribute the shrimp: Place about seven shrimp on each skewer. If there are too many shrimp, they won’t cook evenly on the barbecue.

Don’t overcook the shrimp: If cooked for too long, the shrimp will turn out tough and rubbery. Cook until pink and lightly charred on the outside and white and opaque on the inside.

Storage and Reheating Guidelines

To make ahead: If you want to do some meal prep, the chili lime marinade can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days before you plan to use it.

Storing leftovers: These shrimp skewers taste best when consumed fresh off the grill. That being said, if you need to store any leftovers, you can store the shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat: Place the cooked shrimp in a large skillet with a little olive oil and warm them up until they are hot to the touch. Be careful not to overcook them.

Close up of grilled shrimp skewers on a platter.

Recipe FAQ

Can you use frozen shrimp?

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp, just be sure to thaw the prawns and pat them dry with some paper towel before adding them to the marinade.

How long should you marinate shrimp?

Depending on your marinade, you can typically marinade shrimp for at least 20 minutes or up to 8 hours. If your marinade contains an acid (such as lemon or lime juice), marinate the shrimp for no more than 2 hours, as the acid in the juice can break down the delicate shrimp meat and make it mushy.

This chili lime marinade does contain the acidic lime juice, so I recommend marinating it for at least 20 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours.

How do you know when the shrimp is cooked?

The shrimp is cooked when it’s pink on the outside and white and opaque on the inside. It will also feel slightly firm.
Be careful not to overcook the shrimp since it will be tough and rubbery to chew.

What type of shrimp should you use?

For best results, I would recommend using raw jumbo or black tiger shrimp that’s been peeled and deveined for this recipe. The shrimp does shrink a bit once cooked so I always find that a larger shrimp tends to taste better when grilled and has a nicer overall presentation.

Is this chili lime shrimp recipe spicy?

I wouldn’t describe this shrimp as overly spicy, although it does have a slight kick to it. It has more of a smoky flavour due to the chili powder and paprika.

Can you bake this shrimp instead of grilling it?

Yes, if you prefer to bake the shrimp, you can certainly do so. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Once the shrimp are done marinating, pour the shrimp mixture into a baking dish. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, being careful not to over cook them.

Grilled Shrimp Meal Ideas

If you’re wondering how to make this grilled shrimp into a complete meal, there are lots of options to switch it up. Here are some ideas!

Serve it:

With brown rice
Cauliflower rice
In warm tortillas as tacos
Mixed with noodles or in a pasta salad
As a bowl (on quinoa or rice)
As an appetizer with additional lime wedges
In wonton cups
On lettuce wraps
With tortilla chips and guacamole
On top of a salad

What to Serve with Chili Lime Shrimp

These grilled shrimp kabobs pair really nicely with a cool and refreshing summer salad, but you can also serve it with other side dishes like grilled veggies, fruit salsa, or all by themselves with a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle of cilantro!

Try it out with the following sides:

Grilled chili lime shrimp skewer on a plate with corn salad.

Recipe Variations:

To make it more spicy: Add a bit of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the rub. Adapt spice level according to taste preferences.
To make it sweeter: Add an extra tablespoon of honey.
Add some fruit: For a sweeter twist, try adding some chunks of pineapple to the grilled shrimp skewers.
Add some vegetables: As a more savoury option, add some peppers and onions to the shrimp kabobs.

More delicious seafood recipes!

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