Fast, juicy, slightly smoky, and dripping in a creamy spicy bang bang sauce. These grilled shrimp skewers are the kind of recipe that steals the show every time. They are effortless to prepare, and it's the kind of dish that feels luxurious without all the fuss. Serve these as a main dish, an appetizer, or as an add-on to salads or rice bowls.
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For entertaining, these skewers fit right in alongside delicious bites like these Hawaiian sliders, honey garlic salmon bites, and mac and cheese squares. They're also a perfect addition to pasta dishes, try them with pesto chicken bake, creamy gouda mac and cheese, and a quick rośe penne or avocado carbonara for an easy meal. Or, a more classic pairing is serving the grilled shrimp skewers with a salad like this grinder salad, strawberry chicken salad or kale caesar salad.
Why This Recipe Works
- It is a quick and easy protein that whips up in under 30 minutes with minimal ingredients, and the grill does most of the work!
- Grilled bang bang shrimp skewers can be served as an appetizer, main, a topper for pastas or salads, or as a side to any of your favorite dishes.
- Use a barbecue or an indoor grill pan to make these shrimp skewers.
- Turn them into grilled shrimp kebabs by adding fresh pineapple, cubed bell peppers and sliced onions.
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Raw Shrimp (16/20 size) - The larger the shrimp, the better for shrimp skewers. We found the 16/20 size to be perfect. If using larger, adjust the cooking time. The internal temperature of cooked shrimp is 145°F. Do not use pre-cooked shrimp because they will overcook and become chewy and rubbery.
- Avocado Oil - Any higher smoke point oil can be used, the oil is added so the shrimp don't stick to the grill.
- Bang Bang Sauce - This is an optional topping, but highly recommended to make these shrimp skewers have a big, bold flavor.
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe & Sauce Variations
- Dipping Sauce - Leave out the Bang Bang sauce and serve with a dipping sauce like roasted garlic aioli, Big Mac sauce, or sriracha aioli.
- Turn It Into A Bowl - These shrimp skewers are also perfect for building bowls. Serve them over Chipotle-style bowls or salmon bowls, or create your own with a base of warm brown rice, roasted vegetables like crispy broccoli or kalettes, and finish with a grilled shrimp skewer and a generous drizzle of bang bang sauce for a bold, satisfying dish.
Turn these shrimp skewers into any flavor to suit any meal. Instead of Bang Bang sauce, try:
- Honey Garlic Sauce - A personal favorite. Honey garlic sauce brushed on grilled shrimp is a 10/10!
- Teriyaki Sauce - Whip up a simple teriyaki sauce recipe and serve these skewers with a stir-fry.
- Buffalo Sauce - For some heat, brush the grilled shrimp skewers with creamy buffalo sauce.
- Garlic Butter - Make the garlic butter from my garlic butter shrimp recipe and brush it over the grilled shrimp for a classic and amazing flavor.
- Garlic Parmesan Sauce - Use this rich and buttery easy garlic parmesan sauce as a topping for insane flavor.
If you love delicious shrimp recipes, you have to try my crispy bang bang shrimp, coconut-coated shrimp, and my savory garlic shrimp fettuccine alfredo.
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How To Make Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Step 1
Soak the skewers in a large dish filled with cool water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This prevents the wooden skewers from catching fire on the grill.
Step 2
While the skewers soak, marinate the shrimp. Stir the marinade ingredients together, toss with the shrimp, cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes. This is a good time to prepare the bang bang sauce, too.
Step 3
After the skewers have soaked and the shrimp have marinated, skewer the shrimp, 5 per skewer.
Step 4
On a preheated, hot grill, grill the shrimp skewers for 6-8 minutes, flipping once in between. Fully cooked shrimp should have an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
Step 5
Remove from the grill and immediately brush liberally with bang bang sauce. Serve right away.
Step 6
We love serving these grilled shrimp alongside this harvest salad recipe, this honey dijon baked salmon or adding them to sushi bowls. They also make a delicious upgrade to classic shrimp tacos, bringing a more elevated, restaurant-style twist.
Tips For Perfect Results Every Time
- Make sure the shrimp are fully cooked (internal temperature of 145°F), but try your best not to overcook them. Shrimp cook fast, and overcooking them results in a chewy, rubbery texture.
- Use large shrimp for juicy results. The minimum size of shrimp I would recommend using for this recipe is 16/20 size. If you are using larger, adjust the cooking time as needed. Larger shrimp are harder to overcook, too.
- Soaking the wooden skewers is essential. Soaking them allows the wood to absorb liquid so they don't burn as easily. Another option is using stainless steel skewers.
How To Store Leftovers
Grilled shrimp skewers are best made and served fresh. However, fully cooked, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat gently in a frying pan or oven over low heat to avoid overcooking and rubbery shrimp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just thaw completely, and pat dry before adding the marinade so they grill properly.
Avocado oil is added to the marinade to help the shrimp not stick to the grill. For an extra layer of protection, you can oil the grill grates directly, too.
It's creamy, slightly sweet and has a mild, spicy kick. It's the kind of sauce that you'll want to dip everything on your plate in, and then lick the spoon afterwards.
Yes! A grill pan or even baking them in the oven works well! For baking tips, see my garlic butter baked shrimp recipe.
Usually 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the size of the shrimp and the temperature of the grill.
More Main Dish Recipes To Add Shrimp Skewers To
Looking for more main dish recipes to serve with these shrimp skewers? Try these:
If you made these Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Bang Bang Sauce or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating, a 💬 comment and share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Bang Bang Sauce
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Barbecue or Grill Pan
- Wooden or Stainless Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 lb Raw Shrimp 16/20 size
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
- 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Bang Bang Sauce Recipe optional, for topping
Instructions
- Fill a large dish with cool water and soak 4-5 wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes before grilling. While the skewers are soaking, this is the perfect time to marinate the shrimp and prepare the sauce.
Shrimp Marinade
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, add the raw shrimp, avocado oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Toss to coat, cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes.
- Prepare the bang bang sauce by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and stirring. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Grilling The Shrimp
- Preheat the barbecue on high and thread the shrimp onto the skewers, 5 per skewer if you are using 16/20 size shrimp. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are opaque and lightly charred. Remove from the grill and brush the sauce liberally over the grilled shrimp. Serve immediately.
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Notes
- Raw Shrimp: Larger shrimp are better for grilling because they are harder to overcook. I recommend using 16/20 size shrimp minimum for this recipe. Do not use pre-cooked shrimp.
- Avocado Oil: Any high smoke point oil can be used.
- Sauce Variations: Bang Bang sauce, honey garlic sauce, teriyaki sauce, creamy buffalo sauce or garlic butter can be used as toppings.
- Fully cooked shrimp has an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Soaking the skewers prevents the wood from catching fire on the barbecue. Alternatively, you can use stainless steel skewers instead.
- Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a frying pan or in the oven to avoid overcooking the shrimp.
- If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are fully defrosted and patted dry before adding the marinade.
- To make these grilled shrimp skewers without a barbecue, use a grill pan or a heavy cast-iron pan on the stove.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
Jessica says
These grilled shrimp skewers are magical! They are perfect for summer, and are pure deliciousness. We hope that you love this recipe as much as we do!