Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp

It’s time to fire up that grill! These Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp are quick, easy, and the most delicious summer cookout recipe! The grilled shrimp marinade is full of flavorful ingredients like smoked paprika, chili powder, fresh minced garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper, olive oil, and honey (or pure maple syrup). These grilled shrimp are the perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and citrus that creates a zesty and mouth-watering flavor combination!

Jump to:

• Chili Lime Shrimp: your new favorite shrimp recipe!
• Alternate Cooking Methods for Marinaded Shrimp
• The Marinade for the Chili Lime Shrimp
• How to Cook Chili Lime Shrimp on the Grill:
• How to Knw When Shrimp Are Cooked (But Not Overcooked)
• These Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp are so versatile and can be served so many ways.
• Some Great Benefits of Shrimp:
• Buying the Best Shrimp
• More Amazing, Easy Shrimp Recipes!
• Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp Recipe

I hope you're enjoying some nice sunny weather where you live! I know it’s technically still spring but it sure feels like summer. Of course, I live in Florida so every day feels like summer here.

Well, except for the last several weeks. I think it’s rained all day every day for the last three weeks straight. Ok, so I might be exaggerating - there may have been 3 days that it only rained half of the day. Lol

But regardless, when it's summer anywhere it's time for picnics, BBQs, beach days… basically lots of grillin’ and chillin’!!  You gotta’ love grilling season – amiright?

Chili Lime Shrimp: your new favorite shrimp recipe!

I’m not sure why food cooked on the grill always tastes so much better, but it sure does. There’s just something about those grill marks that makes everything soo good! Like for example these Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp! Ahhh-mazing!

Plus, they’re so easy – just marinade for 15-20 minutes and grill for 2-3 minutes a side. Whip up some Jalapeño Corn Salad or Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Grapes and boom – dinner is served.  So effortless and just so tasty! I think you’re gonna love them!

Annd if you’re one of those people who doesn’t really share my affinity for grilling, don't have one, or maybe it’s been raining for the last three weeks  - never fear you can always sauté these shrimp in a skillet on the stovetop or cook in the air fryer.

Alternate Cooking Methods for Marinaded Shrimp

Stovetop Skillet Shrimp

• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium-high.
• Add the marinaded shrimp in a single layer and cook 2-3 minutes a side.
• Remove them when they are pink and opace and curled in a "C" shape.

Air Fryer Shrimp

• Preheat the air fryer to 400*F.
• Place the marinaded shrimp in a single layer.
• Cook 6-8 minutes.
• The Shrimp are cooked when the are pink opaque and curled into a "C" shape.

You've gotta love options, my friend! In my opinion, this is one of the best-grilled shrimp recipes. 

I’m pretty sure it has to do with this delectable shrimp marinade. 

The Marinade for the Chili Lime Shrimp

The marinade is made up of smoked paprika, chili powder, fresh minced garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper, olive oil, and honey (or pure maple syrup). The balance of smoky, sweet and citrus creates the perfect marinade for these grilled shrimp.

Just fold in the shrimp and let marinade for 5-20 minutes in the sauce and they will be ready for the grill.

Now it's time to skewer the marinated shrimp.

Use either metal skewers or wooden skewers that have been soaked in water. (That prevents them burner while grilling.) Then pierce through the thick end of the shrimp and then again through the area right before the tail shell. This will keep them secure while grilling.

How to Cook Chili Lime Shrimp on the Grill:

• For this recipe, I used medium-size 26/30 shrimp (which means at this size there are 26-30 shrimp in a pound.) So, to ensure they didn’t fall through the grill grates I skewered them on metal skewers.  You can also use wooden skewers, just be sure to soak them in water for a few hours before using them so they don’t catch on fire.
• You could also use a grill basket instead of skewering… this is a good option when you’re in a hurry and want to cut down on prep time.
• Shrimp should be grilled hot and fast. Make sure your grill comes up to high and then grill the shrimp 2-3 minutes a side. The shrimp are cooked when they turn an opaque pinkish color on both sides.

Once they’re grilled it’s time to serve them up.

How to Knw When Shrimp Are Cooked (But Not Overcooked)

• Shrimp turn pink and opaque when they're cooked.
• Their internal temp reaches 120-125* for the best texture.
• They curn into a loose "C" shape when perfectly cooked.
• Alternatively, at tight "O" shape = overcooked. 🙁
• Overcooked shrimp are rubbery and dry.
• Undercooked shrimp are translucent, jelly like and unsafe to eat.

These Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp are so versatile and can be served so many ways.

• Over a salad
• With other grilled veggies
• With rice and beans
• On a bun for a shrimp po’boy
• Wrapped in a tortilla for some easy shrimp tacos or a shrimp burrito
• Or just squeeze a little lime juice on them and eat them straight up – my personal favorite!

However you decide to serve these Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp – one thing is for sure, they will ALL be devoured. I think you’re gonna love this quick, easy, and delicious recipe - perfect for summah-time living!

Some Great Benefits of Shrimp:

• They take on the flavor of spices and marinades really quickly.
• They cook really fast – so they make a great easy weeknight dinner.
• They are affordable - especially if you get them with the tail and shell on.
• Shrimp is a great source of protein – literally 90% of the calories in shrimp come from protein.
• They are also really low in calories – only 84 calories in a 3-ounce serving.
• They are full of 20 different vitamins and minerals - a good source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Shrimp are filling but low-calorie - this makes them great for weight management.

Buying the Best Shrimp

Always buy wild-caught shrimp when possible they will have better flavor and their more sustainable. If buying farm-raised shrimp get them from the U.S., Canada or countries with strict farming laws where antibiotic use in shrimp and shellfish is illegal.

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If you've got some chicken-lovers at the table who may not be interested in the shrimp, throw together this low carb Instant Pot Mexican Chicken as a second protein! 

More Amazing, Easy Shrimp Recipes!

• Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Appetizer
• Buffalo Shrimp Dip
• Cilantro Lime Grilled Shrimp
• Greek Shrimp Pasta With Feta
• Easy Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Shrimp
• Sweet and Sour Shrimp