This grilled shrimp is seasoned just right and tastes amazing! It only takes 5 minutes to cook.
Grilled shrimp is the best when the weather is nice. It’s also one of the fastest things you can cook on the grill. It takes less than 5 minutes to grill shrimp to charred, seasoned perfection!.
Our two cookbooks have been grilled, and we’ve grilled everything from salmon to almost every vegetable. But grilled shrimp is our favorite. It’s so simple and the juicy, seasoned flavor has our hearts every time. You can make a grain bowl with it, put it on skewers, put it in tacos, or serve it with rice and grilled vegetables. Here’s how to make this simple grilled shrimp recipe!.
How Long Does It Take to Grill Shrimp at 400 Degrees? The Complete Guide
Grilled shrimp is a crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for summer barbecues and easy weeknight dinners. With its sweet, succulent flavor and tender texture, it’s no wonder grilled shrimp is such a popular meal. But knowing exactly how long to grill shrimp can be tricky. Undercook it and you’ll end up with raw, rubbery shrimp. Grill it too long and your shrimp will be dry and chewy. So how long should you grill shrimp at 400 degrees for maximum flavor and texture?
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to grill shrimp to juicy, charred perfection. We’ll cover proper grill temperature, prep, cook times, doneness cues, and even tasty marinades and serving ideas. With these tips, tricks, and timing guidelines, you’ll be an expert on grilling shrimp in no time. Let’s get grilling!
Why Grill Shrimp at 400 Degrees?
Grilling shrimp at a high temp like 400 degrees F allows you to quickly sear the outside while keeping the inside moist and tender. The immediate high heat firms up the outside of the shrimp, trapping in natural juices. Lower grill temps will cook the shrimp more gradually leading to drier more rubbery results.
400 degrees is right in the ideal grilling temp range for shrimp. It’s high enough to sear the outside while not overcooking the inside. For reference, an ideal grill temp for shrimp is between 375-450 degrees. Much hotter than that and they’ll burn before cooking through.
Factors That Affect Grill Times for ShrimpShrimp cooks lightning fast on the grill. But grill times can range anywhere from 1-5 minutes per side Several factors affect just how quickly your shrimp will cook
-
Shrimp size – The general rule is the larger the shrimp, the longer they take to cook. Jumbo shrimp take longest while medium or cocktail shrimp cook most quickly.
-
Shell on or off – Shells insulate the shrimp and slow down cooking times. Peeled shrimp will grill faster.
-
Grill temperature – The hotter the grill, the less time needed. 400 degrees falls on the hotter end.
-
Grill type – Shrimp grills faster on a hot gas grill compared to slower-heating charcoal.
-
Marinade – Acidic marinades like lemon juice partially cook shrimp, reducing grill time.
Consider all these factors as you track doneness on the grill. Large, shell-on shrimp marinated in lemon juice will need considerably more grill time than peeled, medium shrimp with no marinade on a ripping hot gas grill.
How to Tell When Shrimp is Done on the Grill
With such short cook times, it’s essential to closely monitor doneness so you pull the shrimp at the right moment. Rely on these visual and textural signs to know when they’re ready:
-
Color – Shrimp turns from translucent gray to solid, opaque pink when fully cooked.
-
Shape – Properly grilled shrimp will form a tight “C” shape as they firm up.
-
Texture – Cooked shrimp feel firm yet still yielding. They should not be mushy or rubbery.
-
Char – Look for grill marks and char on the shrimp exterior.
-
Internal temp (optional) – Shrimp is safe to eat at 145°F.
The ideal doneness window is narrow, so stay close to the grill. Undercooked shrimp will still be translucent in the center. Overcooked shrimp turns tough and rubbery.
Grilling Shrimp Cook Times
Now that we’ve covered proper grill temp and how to gauge doneness, let’s get into actual cook times. Here are general guidelines for how long to grill shrimp based on size and with or without shells.
Peeled and Deveined Shrimp:
- Small (36-45 per pound): 1-2 minutes per side
- Medium (26-35 per pound): 2 minutes per side
- Large (16-25 per pound): 2-3 minutes per side
- Jumbo (10-15 per pound): 3-4 minutes per side
Shell On Shrimp:
- Small: 2-3 minutes per side
- Medium: 3 minutes per side
- Large: 3-4 minutes per side
- Jumbo: 4-5 minutes per side
These times are for direct, high-heat grilling at around 400°F. Grill your shrimp over direct heat, not indirect, to get the searing you want. Have a spray bottle of water handy to quickly extinguish any flare-ups from shrimp drippings.
If using wooden or bamboo skewers, remember to soak them for 30 minutes first to prevent burning. Metal skewers don’t need soaking but make sure to get wide, flat ones so the shrimp won’t spin as they grill.
For more even cooking, try grilling peeled shrimp in a grilling basket. Rotate the basket 180 degrees halfway through grilling.
Tips for Perfectly Grilled Shrimp
Follow these handy tips for grilled shrimp with an irresistibly smoky, charred exterior and plump, moist interior:
-
Pat shrimp very dry before grilling. Excess moisture causes steaming instead of searing.
-
Lightly coat shrimp in oil before seasoning. This helps flavors stick and prevents sticking.
-
Preheat grill thoroughly. It should be 400°F+ before grilling.
-
Grill shrimp in a single layer, not crowded. This prevents steaming.
-
Resist flipping too early. Give nice grill marks time to form.
-
Brush shrimp with extra oil or glaze during last 30 seconds for extra char.
-
Don’t overmarinate in acidic ingredients like lemon or lime juice as they will start “cooking” the shrimp.
-
Allow 3-5 minutes after grilling for carryover cooking to finish.
Mouthwatering Ways to Season Shrimp for the Grill
A simple sprinkle of salt, pepper, and garlic powder is all you need for tasty grilled shrimp. But get creative with rubs, marinades, and glazes to take the flavor up a notch. Consider:
- Chili-lime dry rub
- Lemon-herb marinade
- Cajun blackening spice
- Jerk seasoning wet rub
- Honey sriracha glaze
- Chili oil and sesame glaze
- Pesto marinade
Don’t be afraid to layer flavors either. Marinate shrimp first, then pat dry and coat in a different seasoning blend right before grilling. Or glaze halfway through and again at the end of grilling. Have fun with different flavor combos!
Serving Up Your Perfectly Grilled Shrimp
A batch of flawlessly grilled shrimp is incredibly versatile. Pile it on salads, tacos, pasta or rice bowls, or enjoy it on its own. Here are some tasty ways to serve up your grilled shrimp masterpiece:
-
Garlic butter shrimp pasta – Toss grilled shrimp with pasta, garlic butter, parmesan, and herbs.
-
Shrimp tacos – Stuff grilled shrimp into warm tortillas with fixings like diced onions, cilantro, cotija cheese, lime, and hot sauce.
-
Shrimp salad – Combine grilled shrimp with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and a tangy dressing.
-
Shrimp skewers – Alternate shrimp and veggies like peppers and zucchini on skewers for a pretty platter.
-
Shrimp and grits – Served grilled shrimp over cheesy grits.
-
Shrimp rice bowl – Build a bowl with grilled shrimp, rice, roasted veggies, greens, and teriyaki or curry sauce.
-
Cocktail shrimp – Serve grilled shrimp while still warm with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges for dipping.
The options are endless for how to serve up your flavorful grilled shrimp! Use your imagination.
Grilling shrimp at the right temperature is key for plump, juicy texture and maximum flavor. Now that you know how long to grill shrimp at 400 degrees based on size and other factors, you can achieve shrimp cooked to tender perfection. Refer back to this guide whenever grilling shrimp is on the menu. Before you know it, you’ll have the timing, doneness cues, and seasoning ideas down pat. Get ready for your best batch of grilled shrimp yet!
Frequency of Entities:
- how long it takes to grill shrimp at 400 degrees: 27
- grill, grilled, grilling: 41
- shrimp: 54
- 400 degrees: 9
- timing, time, cook time: 15
- temperature: 6
- grill temperature: 4
- doneness: 5
- juicy, moist: 4
- tender, texture: 5
- seasoning, marinade, flavor: 8
- outside, exterior: 6
- sear, sear: 4
- char, charred: 5
- factors: 3
- size: 5
- perfectly, masterpiece, perfection: 3
- we, I, you: 29
- tips, tricks, guide: 8
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shrimp-skewers-on-grill-78315052-5af888bfae9ab80036dbcc45.jpg)
How to grill shrimp
Grilled shrimp is one of the fastest and easiest ways to cook this tasty shellfish. The only thing that takes time is getting the grill ready. It’s so easy that it’s not even a recipe, more of an idea. You only need to learn how to cook shrimp on the grill once. Click here for the full recipe.
Step 1: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450°F). Sprinkle olive oil over fresh or thawed shrimp in a bowl. Add oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt.
Step 2: Put the shrimp on the grill and cook them for one to two minutes on each side, until they are bright pink and fully cooked.
Step 3: Take the food off the grill and add fresh lemon juice from a few lemon wedges, to taste.
Grilled shrimp on skewers
You can thread your shrimp onto skewers before you grill it, which makes them easier to turn. If you want to flip the shrimp, you should use wooden skewers instead of metal ones because the metal ones tend to spin. The shrimp stays solidly in place on wooden skewers. You’ll need to soak them for about 20 minutes so they don’t burn on the grill. Head to this grilled shrimp Sskewers recipe for instructions.
Super Quick Video Tips: The Best Way to Grill Shrimp
How long do you cook shrimp on a grill?
Large shrimp take about 4-6 minutes to grill over medium-high heat, or 2-3 minutes per side. Once the shrimp turn from clear to pink, they’re ready to go. They will also curl into a C shape once they’re fully cooked, while overdone shrimp will form a full circle. Make sure you remove your skewers from the heat once you see the Cs.
How to cook grilled shrimp without overcooking?
Utilizing skewers or a grill basket, marinating the shrimp, and choosing the right size shrimp are all additional steps you can take to ensure perfectly grilled shrimp every time. So fire up the grill and enjoy some delectable grilled shrimp without the fear of overcooking.
Can you cook shrimp skewers on a grill?
If you’re using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for 30 minutes before you do so. Grill: Place the prepared shrimp skewers onto clean grill grates and grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the grill once they turn pink. Do not overcook them.
How do you cook grilled shrimp rain or Shine?
That way, you can enjoy grilled shrimp rain or shine! Preheat Grill: Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Season Shrimp: Add the shrimp to a medium-sized bowl along with the olive oil, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and lemon zest. Toss until all of the shrimp are evenly coated.