It’s easy to make THE BEST grilled shrimp marinade with lime juice, soy sauce and garlic. You can make this easy shrimp recipe in less than 30 minutes. It’s great for making shrimp tacos, stir-fry, or a surf and turf dinner on the grill!
2011 was a hot summer day in Los Angeles. I pulled out my laptop and began writing this blog. The first recipe I ever posted was this recipe for Grilled Shrimp with THE BEST shrimp marinade. This is still one of our family favorites and one of the most-read recipes on the blog after more than ten years!
The combination of flavors in the marinade pairs well with Mexican food, Chinese food and American food. In the past ten years, I’ve used this marinated shrimp in Shrimp Tacos, a stir fry with THE BEST Stir Fry Sauce, and a surf and turf dinner with grilled steak.
You can also skewer and grill the shrimp, which tastes great. Serve them with rice, quinoa, or vegetables. Lots of different things can be done, but one thing is for sure: you’ll be using this shrimp marinade recipe for years to come!
It’s quick, simple, made with just 7 ingredients and the flavor combination is perfect. Why it works:
Another great thing about it is that it only takes 5 minutes to mix and 15 minutes to marinate.
Shrimp is one of the most beloved seafood ingredients worldwide. Its sweet, briny flavor and firm yet delicate texture make it a versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways. From shrimp scampi to coconut shrimp, and shrimp tacos to shrimp cocktail, there are so many amazing shrimp recipes to try. However, one question that often comes up is whether or not you need to marinate shrimp before cooking.
Marinating is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned liquid before cooking. This allows the food to absorb flavors and become more tender. When it comes to shrimp, marinating can certainly enhance the flavor and texture, but it is not strictly necessary. There are pros and cons to marinating shrimp that are important to consider.
The Potential Benefits of Marinating Shrimp
There are several potential benefits that marinating can provide for shrimp
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Enhanced flavor – Marinades infuse shrimp with extra flavor. The acidity helps break down tissues, allowing seasonings to penetrate deeper.
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Tenderized texture – Acidic marinades like lemon or lime juice gently “cook” the shrimp, making it more tender.
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Added moisture – Marinades help prevent overcooking by adding moisture to shrimp.
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Lower sodium – You can control the sodium content with homemade marinades vs heavily salted shrimp
So if you want to add exciting new flavors or get ultra-tender shrimp, marinating is a great idea. It allows you to layer flavors and customize shrimp to your taste.
Simple Shrimp Marinade Recipes
If you do want to marinate your shrimp, here are some simple and delicious marinade recipes to try:
Lemon Garlic Marinade: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
Soy Ginger Marinade: Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and brown sugar.
Italian Herb Marinade: Combine olive oil, white wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
Spicy Sriracha Marinade: Mix sriracha sauce, lime juice, olive oil, honey, and cumin.
Coconut Curry Marinade: Blend coconut milk, red curry paste, lime zest, and cilantro.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to marinating shrimp! Feel free to experiment with different flavor combinations until you find favorites.
How Long Should You Marinate Shrimp?
When marinating shrimp, you don’t need to marinate for long periods to see results. In fact, over-marinating can make the texture undesirably mushy. Here are some marinating time guidelines:
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30 minutes to 1 hour: Best for quick, light marinades like lemon juice.
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1-2 hours: Good for thicker marinades using oil, yogurt, buttermilk etc.
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4 hours – overnight: Best for the most intense flavor infusion.
The marinating time can also depend on the size of the shrimp. Large shrimp or prawns may need a little longer compared to smaller shrimp. For best results, keep shrimp chilled while marinating.
Tips for Marinating Shrimp Perfectly
Follow these tips to get restaurant-quality results when marinating shrimp at home:
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Pat shrimp dry before marinating to help flavors absorb better.
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Use non-reactive containers like glass or plastic. Metal bowls can react with acids.
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Make sure shrimp is well coated and submerged in marinade.
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Gently turn shrimp halfway through marinating time.
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Discard used marinade instead of basting with it to avoid bacteria.
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Rinse off any excess marinade before cooking. The sugars can burn easily.
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Pat shrimp dry with paper towels before cooking for best sear or grill marks.
How Marinating Changes Shrimp Texture and Flavor
The effects marinating has on the final texture and flavor of shrimp depends on several factors:
Texture:
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Acid softens muscle fibers, making shrimp more tender.
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Oil or dairy adds moisture and prevents overcooking.
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Too long in acidic marinade can make texture mushy.
Flavor:
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Herbs, spices, etc directly infuse the shrimp with more flavor.
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Acids brighten and accentuate natural sweetness.
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Meat tenderizers like pineapple juice also tenderize.
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Over-marinating makes flavors one-note and overpowering.
When done right, marinating results in shrimp that is tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Paying attention to marinating times and techniques will give you the best possible results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While marinating shrimp can take your recipes to the next level, it’s important to avoid these common pitfalls:
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Over-marinating – Too long in an acidic marinade makes shrimp mushy.
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Using too much salt – Shrimp is naturally salty, so marinades rarely need extra salt.
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Reusing marinade – Don’t baste or reuse marinade to avoid bacteria transfer.
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Crowding the container – Shrimp needs room to marinate evenly.
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Incomplete coating – Make sure all shrimp surfaces get coated with marinade.
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Marinating too warm – Marinate shrimp chilled for food safety.
Follow the guidelines carefully, and your shrimp will turn out tender and full of flavor.
Cooking Marinated Shrimp Perfectly
Once shrimp is marinated, it’s time to cook and enjoy! Here are foolproof methods for cooking marinated shrimp:
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Pan sear over very high heat just until opaque and cooked through.
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Grill shrimp quickly over direct high heat, basting once with reserved marinade.
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Broil under high heat 4-5 minutes per side until opaque.
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Bake at 400°F for 5-7 minutes just until shrimp is pink and cooked through.
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Stir fry marinated shrimp 2-3 minutes in a very hot pan or wok.
The key is using high heat and avoiding overcooking. Check for doneness by looking for an opaque, pinkish color throughout the shrimp.
Should You Always Marinate Shrimp?
While marinating shrimp has some big benefits, it is not a required step. Here are some instances where you may want to skip the marinade:
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If using very fresh, high-quality shrimp that doesn’t need tenderizing.
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When making a quick weeknight stir fry or pasta dish.
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For shrimp cocktails or platters where simplicity is key.
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In dishes with lots of other bold flavors like jambalaya or gumbo.
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If short on time. A sprinkle of salt, pepper and herbs is all you need.
Marinating shrimp is a great option, but not absolutely necessary. Let your taste preferences and the recipe guide you.
Marinating shrimp before cooking is certainly not required, but it can take your shrimp dishes to new heights of flavor and tenderness when done properly. Pay close attention to marinating times, and avoid over-marinating which ruins the texture. Feel free to experiment with endless marinade possibilities to discover your favorite seasoned shrimp. Just be sure to use high heat and don’t overcook for perfect results every time. So grab some fresh shrimp and start marinating your way to next-level seafood dishes.
How to cook shrimp
- Set the grill over medium-high heat, about 450°F, whether it’s inside or outside.
- Take the shrimp out of the marinade with tongs and put them right on the grill.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. How long this takes will depend on how big the shrimp are that you use in the recipe. For smaller shrimp, you’ll only need 1-2 minutes per side. For jumbo shrimp, you’ll need 3-4 minutes per side.
- Warm up a cast iron or grill pan over medium-high heat on the stove.
- Place the shrimp in the hot pan or skillet, being careful not to crowd it. Use tongs to remove the shrimp from the marinade.
- Cook the shrimp for two to three minutes on each side. If the shrimp are small or large, add or take away one to two minutes.
- If you want to know when shrimp is done, flip it over or take it off the grill or skillet when it starts to turn opaque white with pink spots.
- If the shrimp are frozen, put them in a colander and run cold water over them in the sink for three to five minutes. The shrimp will be thawed before being added to the marinade.
- If your shrimp are extra big and say “16-20,” which means there are 16–20 shrimp per pound (as seen in this post), you can put them right on the grill without worrying that they will fall through the grates.
- If your shrimp are medium or small (marked 31–40 or below), I suggest putting them on grill-safe foil or a flat grill basket so they don’t fall through the grates. And if the shrimp are small enough, you can put them on metal or wooden skewers and put them directly on the grill.
- If you are cooking the shrimp on the stove, don’t put too many things in the pan at once. The shrimp won’t cook all the way through, and the outside won’t get a nice crust. If you have to, work in batches. There is no need to cook the shrimp all at once; the first batch will still be warm when you take the second batch out of the pan.
- Do not rinse the marinade off the shrimp before cooking. If you’re grilling the shrimp, you can put it on the grill right after marinating it. Use tongs to shake off any extra marinade from the shrimp before adding it to the skillet if you’re cooking it in a skillet. Any extra marinade that drips through the grill grates when you put the shrimp on it will be used. When cooking shrimp in a skillet, the marinade will stay in the skillet because it has nowhere else to go. This means that the shrimp will not get that beautiful sear on the outside. Also, this is why I say not to crowd the skillet when cooking the shrimp on the stove.
- Can I use this marinade on other seafood? Yes, especially if I want to grill it. This marinade is great for giving seafood a lot of flavor before I grill it. I can use it on up to a pound of scallops, tilapia, swordfish, cod, or halibut. Lemon marinade should only be used for two hours on seafood, the same as with shrimp. I recommend 15-30 minutes.
- Is the marinade hot? No, it’s not very hot. You can make it spicier by adding 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder to the marinade.
- What can I use instead of soy sauce? Coconut aminos are a good choice if you are allergic to soy or gluten or just don’t like the taste of soy sauce. This sauce can be used instead of soy sauce because it doesn’t contain soy, gluten, or a lot of salt. That’s why I think you should add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the marinade if you use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- How many pounds of shrimp can this recipe marinate? It can marinate one pound of shrimp. It’s easy to double the recipe and marinate two pounds of shrimp. To do this, move your mouse over the word “servings” in the recipe card below and change it from 4 to 8. This will make all of the ingredient amounts in the card double.
- Yes, you can make the marinade ahead of time. Just mix the marinade ingredients together, cover it, and put it in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, make sure that the shrimp doesn’t sit in the lime juice for more than two hours. If it does, it will change texture and become tough.
- How long should you marinate shrimp? Shrimp can soak up a marinade in 15 minutes, but you can marinate it for up to two hours.
Step by step instructions
- Prepare the marinade. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, chili powder, lime juice, crushed garlic, soy sauce, and chili powder. Add the red pepper flakes and whisk to mix.
- Marinate the shrimp. Add the shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for 15 minutes. Note: The shrimp can be marinated for up to two hours, but not longer than that. If you do, the acid from the lime juice will start to “cook” the shrimp, like in a ceviche.
How to Make Sauteed Shrimp
How do you marinate shrimp before grilling?
Combine olive oil, minced garlic, chopped parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss the cooked shrimp in the marinade and let it sit for 15 minutes before grilling. 2. Asian-Inspired Marinated Shrimp For an Asian twist, create a marinade using soy sauce, honey, grated ginger, sesame oil, and a splash of rice vinegar.
Can I eat raw shrimp?
Eating raw shrimp is not recommended. Raw shrimp can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is also a good source of purines, which can trigger gout attacks. If you want to eat shrimp, cook it thoroughly to reduce the risk of food poisoning and to help prevent gout attacks. Cook shrimp until it is opaque and pink to ensure that it is safe to eat.
Should you marinate shrimp if you have more than one ingredient?
However, why would you settle for basic shrimp when marinades contain multiple flavorful ingredients. For example, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs can infuse the shrimp with flavor. Since shrimp is so easy to marinate, they will absorb the flavor of any ingredients you add to them.
Can you use marinated shrimp as a sauce?
Yes, you can use the marinade as a sauce for the cooked shrimp, but it is important to heat it to a boil first to kill any bacteria from the raw shrimp. Once heated, the marinade can be used as a flavorful sauce for the cooked shrimp. Can I freeze marinated cooked shrimp? Yes, you can freeze marinated cooked shrimp for up to 2 months.