Grilling shrimp is a quick and easy way to add delicious flavor to this versatile seafood. The high heat of the grill sears the outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy. But what if you want that charred, smoky flavor without firing up the backyard grill? No problem – you can get the same great results grilling shrimp in your oven.
Grilling shrimp in the oven is a convenient and foolproof cooking method, whether you’re making a weeknight dinner or feeding a crowd. With just a few simple steps, you can achieve shrimp that is wonderfully caramelized on the outside and moist on the inside. Let’s look at everything you need to know for how to grill shrimp in the oven.
Why Grill Shrimp in the Oven
There are several advantages to grilling shrimp in the oven rather than outdoors on the barbecue:
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It’s fast and easy No need to heat up the grill outside – just preheat your oven and you’re ready to go. Oven grilling shrimp takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish
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You have more control The oven provides a consistent even heat rather than flames that can cause flare-ups on a grill. This means it’s easier to avoid over or undercooking.
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It works year-round: Grilling shrimp in the oven means you can enjoy the flavor anytime, regardless of weather or season. No more waiting for summer!
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Less mess: Grilling indoors contains any mess to your sheet pan versus grill grates you have to clean afterward.
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More options: The oven opens up more possibilities for how to flavor your shrimp with quick marinades, spice rubs or flavorful sauces and compound butters.
How to Choose Shrimp for Oven Grilling
You can oven grill any size shrimp, but for the best texture and flavor, choose:
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Raw, shell-on shrimp The shells help keep the shrimp moist during cooking and add flavor Peel after grilling.
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Medium to jumbo size: Larger shrimp hold up better on the high oven heat. Use 16/20 or larger size per pound.
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Frozen or thawed: No need to thaw frozen shrimp – the oven will thaw and cook them at the same time.
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Previously peeled or deveined optional: Removing these prior to cooking saves time later.
No matter what type you use, always pat shrimp dry before cooking to prevent steaming instead of searing.
Simple Oven Grilling Method
Grilling shrimp in the oven is so easy, with foolproof results every time. Here’s a simple method:
Ingredients:
- Shrimp, peeled and deveined if desired, patted dry
- Oil for brushing (olive, avocado, etc)
- Salt and pepper or seafood seasoning
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
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Toss shrimp with just enough oil to lightly coat. Season with salt and pepper or a seafood seasoning blend.
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Arrange shrimp in a single layer on the baking sheet without overcrowding.
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Roast for 5-6 minutes without flipping, until shrimp are opaque and cooked through.
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Serve shrimp warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
That’s all it takes for deliciously grilled shrimp any time you want it! Adjust cooking time slightly for larger or smaller shrimp.
Next, let’s look at flavorful ways to dress up this basic oven grilling method.
Oven Grilling Shrimp Marinades, Rubs and Sauces
One of the best parts of oven grilling shrimp is how easy it is to add lots of flavor. Here are some delicious ways to season shrimp before or after oven grilling:
Simple Marinades
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Lemon Garlic: Olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, parsley
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Herb: Olive oil mixed with rosemary, thyme, oregano, S&P
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Asian: Soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger
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Tropical: Pineapple juice, brown sugar, lime
Marinate 15-30 minutes. Pat dry before grilling.
Spice Rubs
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BBQ rub
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Cajun seasoning
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Lemon pepper
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Chili powder and paprika
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Old Bay or seafood seasoning
Just coat shrimp with oil first so the rub sticks.
Compound Butters
Stir in ingredients like herbs, citrus or garlic, then top grilled shrimp:
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Lemon parsley butter
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Chipotle lime butter
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Garlic herb butter
Sauces for Serving
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Cocktail sauce
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Lemon aioli
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Chimichurri
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Thai chili sauce
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Bourbon bbq sauce
Get creative mixing and matching marinades, spices and sauces for endless flavor combinations!
Shrimp Oven Grilling Tips
Use these tips for perfect oven grilled shrimp every time:
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Roast shrimp in a single layer so they cook evenly. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.
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Brush or spray oil on the baking sheet so shrimp don’t stick. Line with foil for easy cleanup.
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No need to flip halfway – shrimp cook quickly enough on one side.
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Watch closely near the end so shrimp don’t overcook and dry out.
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Grill lemon or lime slices along with the shrimp for a tasty finishing touch.
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Let shrimp rest 3-5 minutes after removing from oven before serving.
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Chill leftover grilled shrimp to use in salads, tacos, pasta and more.
Full Oven Grilled Shrimp Recipes
Once you get the basic oven grilling method down, it’s easy to make delicious complete shrimp recipes. Here are some of my favorite oven grilled shrimp meals:
Garlic Lemon Shrimp Sheet Pan Dinner
Roasted veggies and lemon garlic shrimp cook together on one pan for fast, fuss-free dinner.
Ingredients:
- Shrimp
- Zucchini
- Lemon slices
- Potatoes
- Garlic
- Lemon, olive oil, parsley
Instructions:
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Toss veggies and shrimp in olive oil, salt, pepper on a sheet pan.
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Roast in hot oven 10 minutes until shrimp is pink.
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Add lemon slices and garlic and roast 4-5 minutes more.
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Toss with lemon juice, parsley and serve.
Cheesy Shrimp Broccoli Pasta Bake
Creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta turns into an easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients:
- Penne pasta
- Shrimp
- Broccoli florets
- Cream cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Lemon
- Breadcrumbs
Instructions:
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Boil pasta, drain, return to pot.
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Mix in chopped broccoli, shrimp, cream cheese, lemon juice.
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Transfer to baking dish, top with cheddar and breadcrumbs.
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Bake at 375°F until hot and bubbly, 25-30 minutes.
Spicy Shrimp Fajitas
Make these tasty shrimp fajitas with tender oven grilled shrimp.
Ingredients:
- Shrimp
- Bell peppers & onion
- Fajita seasoning
- Flour tortillas
- Toppings like avocado, cheese, salsa
Instructions:
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Toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Roast at 450°F for 5 minutes.
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Grill peppers and onions until charred.
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Warm tortillas. Fill with shrimp, veggies and toppings.
The possibilities are endless for oven grilled shrimp recipes! Use your favorite seasonings and serve shrimp in tacos, over grits or greens, in pasta, on skewers – wherever you want a quick and easy flavor boost.
Oven Grilled Shrimp Are Always in Season
Once you realize how easy it is to make juicy, flavorful oven grilled shrimp, you’ll want to cook this seafood staple all year long.
In just minutes, you can have tender shrimp ready to use in all kinds of dishes. I hope these tips help you master oven grilling fantastic shrimp any night of the week.
HOW DO I REHEAT GRILLED SHRIMP?
- In the microwave, heat for 30 seconds and then every 20 seconds until everything is warm.
- Stove: For bigger portions, heat gently on the stove until everything is warm. It’s important to just warm the shrimp up and stop cooking them.
HOW TO SERVE GRILLED SHRIMP
This recipe for grilled shrimp can be eaten on its own or with any of the sides listed above. It can also be put in pasta, salads, or wraps. Here are a few ideas but don’t let this limit your imagination!.
- Grilled shrimp Salad. Choose your favorite greens and add grilled shrimp and your favorite vegetables, like peppers and sweet corn that has been grilled. Add nuts for crunch, cheese that melts in your mouth, and Italian dressing on top. You can also swap out the chicken in my Cobb Salad or Buffalo Chicken Salad for shrimp. You can also add shrimp to any of your favorite salads, like Corn Salad or Green Bean Salad.
- Grilled shrimp Pasta. Add some grilled shrimp to angel hair or spaghetti pasta and melt some hot butter on top. It tastes great with Cacio e Pepe (which I highly recommend), Sun-Dried Tomato Fettuccine, or Fettuccine Alfredo if you want to get fancy. You can also serve garlic shrimp with zoodles or spaghetti squash to cut down on carbs.
- For grilled shrimp mac and cheese, add shrimp to your favorite mac and cheese recipe right at the end of cooking.
- Add this to any of your favorite risotto recipes, like mushroom, parmesan, or spinach risotto. You’ll love it!
- Pasta salad. Add cold tortellini or pasta and toss with extra olive oil or Italian dressing.
- Soups. Add to your favorite soups at the end of cooking.
- Pizza. Put marinara or Alfredo sauce on top of your favorite pizza dough. Then add cheese, peppers, shrimp, etc. You can also use French bread or bagels to make quick pizzas or mini pizzas.
- Greens. For an extra healthy meal, serve grilled shrimp over fresh or sautéed spinach, or any other greens of your choice. Top with a fried or soft-boiled egg.
- Scrambled eggs or omelettes. When the eggs are almost set, add the chopped shrimp and mozzarella cheese to the scrambled eggs.
- Frittata. Add chopped shrimp to this scrumptious frittata recipe.
- Grain Bowls: Put your favorite grains in a bowl, then top them with grilled shrimp and your favorite vegetables. There are both cooked and raw vegetables, like fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouts, and so on.
- Wraps: Put grilled shrimp on a flatbread and top it with lettuce, vegetables, and any other toppings you want.
- For low-carb lettuce wraps, put grilled shrimp and vegetables on bib lettuce leaves.
- Baked Potatoes: poke holes in washed, dried potatoes. Brush with oil and sprinkle with kosher salt before putting on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for an hour, or until the potatoes are soft and the skin is golden brown. Put the potatoes back in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Top with grilled shrimp and cheese. Top with sour cream, green onions, etc.
Because it doesn’t cook in butter and the marinade has very little oil, grilled shrimp is one of the healthiest ways to eat shrimp.
Shrimp is low in calories, contains zero carbs and provides a high amount of protein and healthy fats. It is also a great source of selenium, a mineral that may help reduce inflammation and improve heart health, and iodine, an important mineral needed for brain and thyroid health.
There are also a lot of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and the antioxidant astaxanthin in shrimp. All of these are good for your heart. It’s also high in other nutrients. For example, four ounces of shrimp has more than 2075 percent of the daily value for vitamin B12, more than 2050 percent of the daily value for phosphorous, and more than 2050 percent of the daily value for choline, copper, phosphorus, niacin, zinc, and magnesium.
FAST RECIPE How to Cook Oven Roasted Shrimp | Black Tiger Shrimp | Prawns
How do you cook grilled shrimp?
Try Al Roker’s easy barbecue grilled shrimp and this recipe for peel-and-eat grilled shrimp. Peel raw shrimp and season as desired. Coat seasoned shrimp in a mixture of flour and beaten egg (first dipping the shrimp into the flour, then the egg, then flour once more). Deep fry each batch of four to five shrimp for about three minutes.
How do you cook shrimp in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Tear off a 16-inch sheet of aluminum foil and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Using a spoon, arrange marinated or seasoned shrimp (and vegetables, if desired) in the center of the foil and top with a pat of butter, or more marinade. The shrimp should be arranged in one layer.
How do you make grilled shrimp spicier?
Make the grilled shrimp spicier by adding ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or swapping with chipotle chile powder. Swap seasoning. Use the same grilling technique but mix up the flavor profile by using my chili lime marinade, chipotle marinade, jerk marinade, honey sriracha marinade or buffalo marinade instead.
How do you eat grilled shrimp?
Add grilled shrimp to Garlic Pasta with herbs like fresh parsley and a little bit of lemon zest or serve the shrimp atop a bowl of Pesto Pasta. Salad . Make a large bowl of Shrimp Pasta Salad or serve grilled shrimp on a bed of Arugula Salad. Grains .