This BBQ Shrimp recipe is so easy to make, full of flavor, and a great weeknight dinner! It starts with a quick citrus and cajun marinade, then is pan fried to perfection and brushed with bbq sauce. Best thing..it's ready in less than 30 minutes.
Nothing screams Summer more than a big pan of fresh bbq shrimp! I love serving this shrimp with my coconut jasmine rice and mango pico de gallo for a tropical vibe.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- It's absolutely loaded with flavor from the cajun marinade to the bbq sauce and then top it off with cilantro, lime and jalapeño
- This shrimp is ready to eat in 30 minutes
- Shrimp is low in calories and high in omega 3's, which are great for heart health
For more quick and easy healthy recipes, check out my Cajun Salmon Bites, Sautéed Chicken Breast, Oven Italian Sausages and Asian Turkey Meatballs.
Ingredients:
Argentine Pink or Red Shrimp- A jumbo shrimp that has a fresh taste with a nice crunchy texture. They are wild, cold water shrimp that are caught in Southern Argentina and my personal favorite.
BBQ Sauce-You can use any of your favorite BBQ Sauces to brush onto the shrimp. These aren't completely smothered in sauce, but lightly coated. I used the Bone Suckin' Sauce- Sweet and Southern blend. Highly recommend!
Spices-Cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika and salt make a nice Cajun style blend that is really flavorful and just packs a bit of heat.
Cilantro, Lime and Jalapeño- Added at the end of cooking for some fresh herbs, citrus taste and a touch of heat. You can leave out any of these. I love the trio, like a lot a lot!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations:
If you can't find Argentina Pink or Red Shrimp, look for a larger shrimp (16/20 count per pound).
You can use any of your favorite bbq sauces for this recipe.
I do NOT recommend using bottled lime juice. The flavor will be much better with fresh lime juice.
Want less spice? Leave out the jalapeño and chili powder.
Love Shrimp? You have to try my Garlic Butter Shrimp and Thai Shrimp Tacos too!
How to Make this BBQ Shrimp Recipe:
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Here are the Step by Step Instructions for these BBQ Shrimp.
Step 1: If the shrimp you are using have shells on them, you will need to pull off the shells and legs, then devein the shrimp. To devein, lay the peeled shrimp onto its side on the cutting board and use a paring knife to cut down the back of the shrimp about ¼ inch deep. Pull out the gray strip filled with sand and repeat for all the shrimp.
Step 2: Rinse the shrimp in a colander to remove any excess shells or waste. Pat dry with a paper towel to dry.
Step 3: Into a large bowl, add in the shrimp, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Toss to combine and place in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes to marinate.
Step 4: Place a grill pan or large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add in the butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and melt. Place all the shrimp laying on their side on the pan. Cook for 3 minutes.
Step 5: Flip the shrimp over and cook the other side until fully cooked, 145 degrees internally and no longer translucent, about 3 more minutes. Reduce the heat to low and brush on bbq sauce over each shrimp.
Step 6: Toss in the cilantro and stir the shrimp with a wooden spoon to distribute all the sauce.
Step 7: Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Expert Tips:
Make sure to devein the shrimp before cooking and remove all shells.
It's important to mix in olive oil with the butter to increase the burning point of the butter. If you only use butter and it burns, it will produce a bitter taste on the exterior of the shrimp.
If you're using a grill pan, pick it up and turn it a bit to distribute the olive oil and melted butter before adding the shrimp.
Don't overcook the shrimp or they can become rubbery. Shrimp cook quickly, only about 3 minutes each side.
Looking for side dishes to pair with this Shrimp? Try my Coconut Lime Rice, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad and Blackstone Fried Rice.
Recipe FAQs:
Shrimp cook really quickly. Larger shrimp like this only cook for about three minutes on each side. The insides shouldn't be translucent or gray. You can also use an instant read thermometer and shrimp should be cooked to 145 degrees before consumed.
Absolutely! You can use skewers through the shrimp and add to the grill over medium heat with the same instructions. You won't need the butter, but I do recommend brushing the grates with olive oil before adding on the shrimp.
Storage:
Allow the shrimp to cool before storing in a sealed container in the fridge. Eat within 2 days.
More Seafood Recipes You'll Love:
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BBQ Shrimp Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 25-30 shrimp 1x
Description
This BBQ Shrimp recipe is so easy to make and full of flavor. It starts with argentine red shrimp, a quick citrus and cajun marinade, then is pan fried to perfection and brushed with bbq sauce. Best thing, it's ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ lb Argentine Pink or Red Shrimp, 16/20 ct per lb
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- juice from ½ a lime
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup bbq sauce, your favorite brand (I used Bone Suckin Sauce, Sweet Southern Flavor)
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
- Optional: Lime wedges and jalapeno slices for serving
Instructions
- If the shrimp you are using have shells on them, you will need to pull off the shells and legs, then devein the shrimp. To devein, lay the peeled shrimp onto its side on the cutting board and use a paring knife to cut down the back of the shrimp about ¼ inch deep. Pull out the gray strip filled with sand and repeat for all the shrimp.
- Rinse the shrimp in a colander to remove any excess shells or waste. Pat dry with a paper towel to dry.
- Into a large bowl, add in the shrimp, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Toss to combine and place in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Place a grill pan or large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add in the butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and melt. Place all the shrimp laying on their side on the pan. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Flip the shrimp over and cook the other side until fully cooked with an internal temperature of 145 degrees and no longer translucent, about 3 more minutes. Reduce the heat to low and brush on bbq sauce over each shrimp.
- Toss in the cilantro and stir the shrimp with a wooden spoon to distribute all the sauce.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to devein the shrimp before cooking and remove all shells.
- It's important to mix in olive oil with the butter to increase the burning point of the butter. If you only use butter and it burns, it will produce a bitter taste on the exterior of the shrimp.
- If you're using a grill pan, pick it up and turn it a bit to distribute the olive oil and melted butter before adding the shrimp.
- Don't overcook the shrimp or they can become rubbery. Shrimp cook quickly, only about 3 minutes each side.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: seafood
Keywords: BBQ Shrimp Recipe, BBQ Shrimp, Argentina Shrimp Recipe
Holly
This is sooooo good! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Tara Smithson
Thank you! I absolutely love these too!