
With juicy jumbo shrimp and a homemade honey lemon marinade featuring my Lemon Pepper Rub, you can make these grilled shrimp kabobs right in your own backyard. They’re perfect as-is for game-day gatherings, or for killer seafood tacos, salads, and more.
Honey Lemon Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
Fire up your grill and get ready to make these Honey Lemon Grilled Shrimp Kabobs right in your own backyard. Juicy jumbo shrimp soak up a bright and tangy honey lemon marinade boosted by my Lemon Pepper Rub before everything gets flame-kissed on the grill. This is a quick and easy recipe you can make in under 2 hours (including marinating time), and it’s a surefire, shareable hit for hungry crowds on game day or at family dinner. Serve them as-is, or in any way you enjoy grilled shrimp, and get ready to feel like a Backyard BBQ Hero.
Ingredients for Shrimp Kabobs
One of my favorite parts about this kabob recipe is that it’s so simple. I’ll help you pick out the perfect shrimp for your kabobs, and show you how to make an amazing marinade with just 6 common ingredients and a little Hey Grill Hey love.
The Best Shrimp for Kabobs
Kabobs are meant to be a shareable finger food, so when I’m putting shrimp on the skewer, I always go with 21-25 jumbo shrimp. This gives everyone a meaty bite with every shrimp. You can use any shrimp you’ve got on hand as long as they thread onto the skewers. Just keep in mind smaller shrimp will go quick and take up less space, so plan on using more. If you’re unfamiliar with what the numbers on the packages of shrimp mean, it’s based on how many shrimp you get per pound. Here’s a quick guide so you know what to buy:
- 51/60 small shrimp: up to 60 shrimp
- 41/50 medium shrimp: up to 50 shrimp
- 31-35 large shrimp: up to 40 shrimp
- 21-25 jumbo shrimp: up to 30 shrimp
- 16-20 extra large shrimp: up to 20 shrimp
- U-15 colossal: up to 15 shrimp
Honey Lemon Marinade
Now that you know what shrimp you want, let’s talk about how to give them some serious flavor. Here’s what you’ll want on hand so you can whip up this sweet and tangy marinade:
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Lemon Pepper Rub
- ¼ cup fresh Italian flat leaf parsley (minced)
If you don’t have any of my Lemon Pepper Rub on hand, you can grab some in my store, or make your own following this recipe.
How Long to Marinate Shrimp
I love marinating shrimp because you don’t need a lot of time to infuse it with layers of flavor. Once you’ve made your marinade in a large bowl or gallon-size zip-top bag and coated all your shrimp, you only need to give the whole thing about an hour in the fridge. You can go up to 4 hours if you’ve got the time. Avoid going on longer than that, though, as the marinade can start to “cook” your shrimp after too long. Stick to the 1 to 4 hour range for the best flavor and texture.
The Best Skewers for Shrimp
There’s really no wrong answer when it comes to what type of skewers to use for shrimp kabobs. I personally prefer using bamboo skewers when making shrimp because metal skewers conduct heat and can cause the shrimp to cook too quickly. Either type will work. Just keep a close eye on temperature when using metal skewers. If you use bamboo like me, make sure to soak your skewers in water for 30 minutes before threading your shrimp.
How to Make Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
Alright, now that you’ve got the ingredients down, let’s go over the easy steps to making these delicious shrimp kabobs right in your own backyard:
- Marinate the shrimp. Combine the lemon zest and juice, garlic, olive oil, honey, Lemon Pepper Rub, and parsley in a medium bowl or gallon-size zip-top bag, then add the shrimp. Gently toss or massage the shrimp until every piece is evenly coated in marinade, then it’s time for the shrimp to hit the fridge for 1 to 4 hours.
- Preheat the grill. Set your grill to medium-high heat, about 400-450 degrees F. Before the grill gets hot, clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking. If you’re using wooden skewers, make sure you get them soaking in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Thread the kabobs. Remove the shrimp from the marinade, shaking off any excess, then thread evenly onto the skewers.
- Grill the kabobs. Place the kabobs on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook for 6-8 minutes. Make sure to rotate the skewers every 1-2 minutes. This ensures your shrimp cook through evenly, and that you get those lovely char marks on both sides.
- Rest and serve. Remove the kabobs from the grill and let them rest for 3-5 minutes before serving hot. These kabobs make an awesome, shareable snack as-is, or make a killer filling or topping for tacos, salads, and a whole lot more.
How Long to Grill Shrimp
Shrimp don’t take long to cook, especially with your grill at over 400 degrees F. Just 3 to 4 minutes per side is all it takes to give your shrimp some nice char marks and reach the internal temperature for your desired doneness. Because shrimp is already safe to eat, I recommend cooking to around 135 degrees for medium doneness. This helps you avoid rubbery shrimp so every bite is tender and juicy.
More Killer Kabob Recipes
If you ask me, the best part about mastering the art of the kabob is it gives you the ability to make a variety of proteins at the same time. The people you love get to choose from a meaty menu, and you get to feel like a Backyard BBQ Hero. Here are some of my most popular kabob recipes so you can load up the grill for the next tailgate:
Simple Grilled Shrimp Kabob Recipe
Stick this one on the menu at your next gathering, then come back and share your success story with me. Leave 5-star rating along with a comment telling me how your kabobs turned out.
If you snap some mouthwatering photos of your shrimp, make sure to share them with me on Instagram and Facebook by tagging @heygrillhey. I love seeing your sizzling dishes and cheering you on as you become a Backyard BBQ Hero!
Honey Lemon Shrimp Marinade
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Marinate the shrimp. Combine the lemon zest and juice, garlic, olive oil, honey, Lemon Pepper Rub, and parsley in a medium bowl or gallon-size zip-top bag, then add then shrimp. Gently toss or massage the shrimp until every piece is evenly coated in marinade. Cover or seal, then place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours.
2 pounds 21-25 jumbo shrimp, ½ cup olive oil, 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Lemon Pepper Rub, ¼ cup Italian flat leaf parsley, 2 cloves garlic, 1 lemon
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Preheat the grill. Set your grill to medium-high heat, about 400-450 degrees F. Clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading.
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Thread the kabobs. Remove the shrimp from the marinade, shaking off any excess, then thread onto the skewers.
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Grill the kabobs. Place the kabobs on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook for 6-8 minutes. Turn the skewers every 1-2 minutes to ensure even cooking on both sides. Cook to your desired doneness (125 degrees F for medium-rare, 135 degrees F for medium).
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Rest and serve. Remove the kabobs from the grill and let them rest for 3-5 minutes before serving hot as-is, or on tacos, salads, and more.
Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 858mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 492IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.