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Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp served on a white plate with fresh salad and lemon slices.
Reda

Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp

Bright, garlicky shrimp with a fresh herb crust that cooks in minutes over hot coals or a screaming hot grill pan.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 245

Ingredients
  

For the Shrimp
  • 1.5 lbs large shrimp peeled and deveined, tails on
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 lemon zest and juice
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh oregano chopped, or 1 tsp dried
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 0.75 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • Outdoor grill or grill pan
  • Microplane or fine grater
  • Large Bowl
  • Tongs

Method
 

Prep
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. The mixture should look loose and fragrant.
  2. Add shrimp to the bowl and toss until evenly coated. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes while you preheat the grill. Do not marinate longer than 30 minutes or the acid will start to cook the shrimp.
Cook
  1. Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high, about 400-450 degrees F. You should be able to hold your hand 5 inches above the grates for only 3-4 seconds.
  2. Shake excess marinade off the shrimp and thread onto skewers if using, or arrange directly on the grates. Grill 2-3 minutes per side until pink, opaque, and lightly charred at the edges. The shrimp will curl into a loose C shape when done; a tight O means overcooked.
Serve
  1. Transfer to a platter immediately, drizzle with any reserved marinade that did not touch raw shrimp, and serve with lemon wedges. These cool fast, so get them to the table right away.

Notes

Buy shrimp labeled 16-20 count for the best balance of size and quick cooking. If using frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge or in cold water for 20 minutes, then pat extremely dry before marinating or they will steam instead of char. No grill? A ripping hot cast iron skillet works beautifully - just cook in batches so you don't crowd the pan.