BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Ready in just 20 minutes, these BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers (BBQ Prawns) are perfect for an impressive and quick weeknight meal with a glass of white wine and a side of Rocket Salad With Parmesan, Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Cucumber, or Greek Cucumber Salad.

They are the ultimate summer dish and delicious addition to your summer dinner table to wow your guests.

Jump to:

• Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns
• Why This Recipe Works?
• How to Clean and Prepare the Shrimp?
• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers
• Top Tips From the Chef
• Why Butterfly the Shrimp?
• What to Serve with BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers?
• Storage and Reheating
• Recipe FAQs
• Related Recipes
• BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Juicy and plump tiger prawns cooked on the BBQ and then coated in a garlicky lemon butter sauce.

The best way to enjoy this easy grilled shrimp recipe is with a bowl of salad and a piece of Bazlama (a type of Turkish flatbread) or French bread to mop up the delicious Mediterranean sauce.

Skewers (or Kabobs - Kebabs) are a great way to kick off the summer barbecue season and are also fun to prepare.

Try some of my most popular and delicious skewers like Lamb Shish Kebab and Adana Kebap.

Do you love shrimp as much as I do? Check my other quick and easy recipes Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta and Baked Prawns (Karides Guvec).

Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns

Although they both taste similar, they are scientifically two different species.

Prawns are larger than shrimps and they live in freshwater.

Shrimp generally live in salt water.

As per the taste, prawns are slightly sweeter than shrimps, and a bit more expensive to purchase.

Here in the UK, the word prawn is more common on menus than shrimp.

Shrimp in the UK is a very small crustacean with a brownish shell and is used to make potted shrimps.

If you are from Canada or U.S., you are more likely to call them shrimp.

Why This Recipe Works?

• These BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers - BBQ Prawns on skewers make for a wonderfully delicious summer dining experience.

• They’re easy to prepare and can be cooked either on the BBQ, grill or on the stovetop.

• This delicious bbq shrimp recipe is extremely easy, takes hardly any time at all to prepare, and cooks in minutes. A perfect weeknight meal for busy nights!

• You can serve these delicious shrimp kebabs as a main dish as well as a snack or an appetizer.

• BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers are packed with fresh Mediterranean flavors that the whole family will love.

How to Clean and Prepare the Shrimp?

Begin by removing the shrimp head. Hold the shrimp body in one hand and firmly grasp the head with your other hand.

Peel off the shell, followed by the remaining outer layer of the shrimp.

Gently pull off the legs from the underside of the shrimp.

Firmly hold the shrimp's body with one hand and the tail with the other, then remove the tail.

I prefer keeping the tail for this BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe; however, you can remove them for a clean eating approach.

To devein the shrimp, use a sharp small knife.

Create a small incision running down the length of the shrimp's back.

For visual guidance, watch the attached short video on the recipe card, demonstrating how to peel and devein raw shrimp.

Once you have your shrimp shelled and deveined, you can keep them in the freezer for up to three months to use later in delicious recipes such as Chorizo and Prawn Pasta or Creamy Shrimp Pasta.

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

• Shrimp - Fresh jumbo shrimp or raw tiger prawns are the best options for making Shrimp Kabobs as they're big, juicy and they taste amazing. Select large, raw head-on shrimp for grilling, as these will stand up to the heat and can be skewered and turned easily during cooking.

• Olive oil - I keep the marinade for grilling simple. A little bit of olive oil and salt pepper is all you need for flavor and moisture. You can substitute olive oil with avocado oil or vegetable oil. 

• Butter - Adds extra flavor to the grilled prawns, especially when infused with lots of garlic and chilies.

• Garlic - It is the main flavor note in this barbecue shrimp recipe. I use three or four cloves of fresh garlic and chop them finely before adding them to the butter.

• Lemon - It adds a fresh Mediterranean touch to shrimp. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. You can substitute it with lime. Add lemon zest to intensify the flavor.

• Parsley - I use finely chopped flat-leaf or curly parsley. Other herbs you can add are coriander, dill, chives, chervil, and basil.

• Seasoning - Simplicity is the key to this recipe, salt and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper are all you need! Add some red pepper flakes or chili powder to add some extra heat. You can also add creole seasoning or cajun seasoning to spice things up.

How to Make BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers

This BBQ Shrimp with garlic recipe is very easy to make.

However, if you want to learn how to grill them on a BBQ without overcooking, you need to follow a few simple steps:

Prepare and Marinate the Shrimp

Soak the bamboo skewers in water to prevent them from burning for at least half an hour before starting to grill.

Peel the fresh shrimp, leaving the tail intact, and then devein it.

Place it on a flat surface.

Run a very sharp small knife carefully across the shrimp so that the body is divided into two attached halves.

You want to cut to the back but not all the way through.

Repeat the same for the remaining shrimp.

In a medium-sized bowl combine olive oil, salt, and pepper, and mix well.

Add the shrimp to the bowl and let them marinate while preparing the garlicky butter sauce.

Prepare the Garlicky Butter Sauce

Place a medium-sized pan on low heat and add the butter.

Gently melt the butter and add chopped garlic, chilies, parsley, and salt.

Let them infuse gently on low heat while grilling the prawns.

Grill the Shrimp

Preheat the outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat, make sure it is clean and hot before starting to grill the shrimp skewers.

Thread shrimp onto skewers while the grill is heating.

I use 25 cm (10") bamboo skewers or wooden skewers and fit 2 shrimp each.

You can also use metal skewers that fit more depending on the size of your skewers.

Repeat the same with the remaining shrimp.

Alternatively, you can skip butterflying the shrimp to fit more into skewers.

However, it would take longer to cook them.

Add an extra minute on each side if you want to cook the shrimp whole.

Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook each side for a minute.

We want to cook the shrimp halfway as we are going to finish cooking them in garlicky butter for extra flavor!

Remove the shrimp from the skewers, toss them into garlicky butter, and cook for another minute, or until the shrimp is opaque and white/pink.

Sprinkle on the lemon juice and serve the sautéed shrimp immediately on pieces of bread with a side of salad.

Top Tips From the Chef

• Use fresh raw shell-on shrimp if possible for the best results. Frozen ones work too. Make sure to thaw them before using them and also consume them the same day.

• If using bamboo skewers, soak them for at least half an hour before threading the shrimp.

• Shrimp cook quickly, usually 2-3 minutes per side. Cooking time depends on the size of the shrimp. They turn pink and opaque when done. Don't be tempted to cook your prawns any longer than stated in the recipe. Overcooked shrimp can become tough and rubbery.

• Peeling shrimp before marinating is a great way to infuse them with flavor and keep them nice and juicy when grilling. However, you can leave the shell on before grilling and save time.

Why Butterfly the Shrimp?

Butterflying the prawns is more elegant when you are presenting them.

Also, cutting them in half helps them to infuse the flavor, and they cook much faster. 

You can leave them uncut and fit more into skewers if you don't want to butterfly the shrimp.

However, it would take longer to cook them.

Add an extra minute on each side if you want to cook the shrimp whole.

What to Serve with BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers?

My favorite way to eat this shrimp on the grill is to have them with some crusty bread and salad on the side.

Check out some of my recipes for fantastic side dish ideas:

Black Pepper Sourdough Focaccia, Turkish Bread - Ramazan Pidesi, Tawa Naan With Garlic, Piyaz (Turkish Bean Salad), Greek Pita Bread, Lebanese Fattoush Salad, Spicy Thai Mango Salad, Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad, and Warm Austrian Potato Salad.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigeration

If you have leftover cooked shrimp skewers, allow them to cool to room temperature.

Then, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.

Consume the leftovers within 2-3 days for the best quality.

Freezing

To freeze the cooked shrimp skewers, let them cool completely and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Freeze until they are firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or resealable freezer bag.

Label with the date and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

To reheat the refrigerated or frozen shrimp skewers, gently warm them on a grill, stovetop, or in the oven until they are heated through.

Be careful not to overcook them to prevent them from becoming tough and rubbery.

Recipe FAQs

Related Recipes

For more delicious seafood recipes why not try?:

Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making these garlicky Grilled Shrimp Skewers as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂

Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.