How Long to Cook Shrimp on a Traeger Grill: A Complete Guide

This garlic grilled shrimp on the Traeger is easy to make and cooks up super quickly. Putting it on skewers with just a little salt and pepper, it cooks in less than 10 minutes and gets a great garlic and ghee (or butter) sauce on top. This gluten free, paleo, and Whole30 compatible recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal!.

Grilling shrimp is a great way to cook this crustacean, and your Traeger grill makes it easy.

This recipe is great for summer when you don’t want the kitchen to get too hot and don’t want to stand over a hot grill for hours on end. The shrimp cook up in no time and are super flavorful in the garlic sauce. I promise, you’re going to love this recipe.

Cooking shrimp on a Traeger grill is a fantastic way to add delicious wood-fired flavor to this versatile shellfish. But figuring out exactly how long to cook shrimp on a Traeger can be tricky for grilling newbies This complete guide will walk you through everything you need to know to perfectly cook shrimp on your Traeger every time

Key Factors That Determine Shrimp Cook Times

Several key factors impact how long it takes to cook shrimp on a Traeger grill:

Shrimp Size

The size of the shrimp makes a major difference in cook times Small shrimp cook faster than jumbo shrimp, Here are general Traeger shrimp cook times based on size

Extra small: 1-2 minutes per side
Small: 2-3 minutes per side
Medium: 2-4 minutes per side
Large/Jumbo: 3-5 minutes per side

So make sure to adjust cook times based on the size of the shrimp you are cooking.

Temperature Setting

Cooking temperature also significantly impacts total cook time. Traeger recommends setting the grill to 350°F for shrimp. At this temp, shrimp will take 5-7 minutes total cook time.

Cooking at a higher temp like 450°F will decrease cook time. But too high of heat can dry out shrimp quickly.

Shell On or Off

Leaving the shell on shrimp while grilling can protect it from overcooking and drying out. Shell-on shrimp may take 1-2 minutes longer per side.

Peeling shrimp before grilling cuts down cook time, but you’ll need to watch closely to prevent overcooking.

Direct vs Indirect Heat

The GrillGrates position matters too. Direct heat on the Traeger grill grates cooks faster than indirect heat.

For tender shrimp, we recommend starting over indirect heat and then searing briefly over direct heat. This gives you the best of both worlds.

How to Tell When Shrimp is Done

Determining doneness visually is key to avoiding overcooked rubbery shrimp.

Signs shrimp is fully cooked:

Opaque and pink in color
Flesh is firm yet still tender
No translucency

An instant read thermometer should register 145°F for perfectly cooked shrimp.

Step-by-Step Traeger Shrimp Cook Times

Now that you know the factors that determine how long to cook shrimp, let’s walk through the complete process step-by-step:

Prep the shrimp: Peel, devein, and pat dry shrimp. Toss with oil and seasonings.
Preheat Traeger grill to 350°F: This moderately low temp helps prevent drying out. Close lid to preheat 15 minutes.
Cook indirect for 2-4 minutes per side: Place shrimp on side of grill away from direct heat. Cook until opaque.
Quick sear for 1 minute per side: Move shrimp over direct heat to add grill marks and flavor.
Check doneness and remove: Shrimp should be firm and register 145°F internally when done.
Enjoy amazing wood-fired shrimp!

Using this process will give you perfect shrimp every time using your Traeger grill. Cooking times may vary slightly based on size, temp, and whether shells are on or off.

Handy Shrimp Cook Time Chart

For quick reference, here are the estimated total cook times to expect when cooking shrimp on a Traeger grill at 350°F:

Shrimp Size	Shell On	Shell Off
Extra Small	4-6 minutes	2-4 minutes
Small	6-8 minutes	4-6 minutes
Medium	8-12 minutes	6-8 minutes
Large/Jumbo	10-14 minutes	8-10 minutes

These ranges provide a good starting point for your shrimp cook times. Monitor doneness closely and adjust cook times as needed based on your specific Traeger grill.

Helpful Tips for Grilling Shrimp on a Traeger

Follow these useful tips for flawless wood-fired shrimp every time:

Leave shells on for added moisture and protection from overcooking
Brine or marinate shrimp for extra flavor and juiciness
Use a grill basket to prevent sticking and make flipping easier
Go low and slow – higher heat dries out shrimp quickly
Resist the urge to flip frequently which can lead to overcooking
Watch carefully for visual signs shrimp is fully cooked

Delicious Traeger Shrimp Recipes to Try

Once you’ve mastered the basics, take your wood-fired shrimp skills to the next level with these amazing recipes:

Grilled Texas Spicy Shrimp

This recipe from Traeger tosses grilled shrimp in a spicy mixture of sautéed onion, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, and Traeger’s Texas Spicy BBQ sauce. The result is big, bold flavor in under 10 minutes cook time.

Cajun Smoked Shrimp

For low and slow shrimp perfection, try Traeger’s Cajun Smoked Shrimp recipe. The smoky, spicy Cajun flavor takes this classic shellfish to new heights.

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

Because everything’s better with bacon! Traeger’s recipe wraps jumbo shrimp in smoky bacon before grilling for a decadent appetizer sure to wow guests.

Jerk Shrimp Skewers

Transport your tastebuds to the Caribbean with Traeger’s recipe for jerk shrimp skewers. The homemade jerk seasoning adds exotic spice and flavor.

Cooking shrimp on a Traeger grill results in incredibly tender and flavorful shrimp with a delicious hint of wood-fired smoke. Use this complete guide to determine the ideal cook times for shrimp of any size. Mastering cooking shrimp properly on your Traeger opens up a whole world of amazing seafood recipes to enjoy all year round.

how long to cook shrimp on traeger

How do you know when shrimp are cooked?

Raw shrimp are kind of translucent, meaning you can see inside of them a little bit. When they are cooked, they are completely opaque, meaning you can’t see the inside at all. They will turn slightly pink on the outside and white on the inside. Recommended internal temperatures for shrimp range from 120 to 145 degrees F.

Why you should make these grilled garlic shrimp kabobs

This recipes requires very little prep and very few ingredients.
Now that you know how long the shrimp take to cook, you can quickly make dinner.
You won’t be able to stop eating them because the garlic and ghee sauce tastes so good.

how long to cook shrimp on traeger

For raw shrimp, use medium to large shrimp that are between 31 and 40 mm in size, and make sure they’re not frozen!
My favorite kind of lemon is the Meyer lemon, but any lemon will do. You can also use lemon juice.
Garlic – the recipe calls for 3 cloves. If you want a lighter garlic flavor, use less. If you want a stronger garlic flavor, use more.
Parsley—make sure you use flat-leafed parsley instead of curly-leaf parsley
Ghee – the recipe uses unsalted ghee. If you don’t have to follow a certain diet, you could also use unsalted butter.
Oil—any oil that can handle high heat will work in this recipe. It calls for extra virgin olive oil.
Ground black pepper and kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal brand)

I’ve written condensed directions here including pictures so you can see how to make this recipe. The full set of detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Before you scroll through, there is important information throughout this post.

How To Make Shrimp On A Traeger – Ace Hardware

How long do you cook shrimp on a Traeger Grill?

Seal the bag and marinate the shrimp in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight. When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 450° and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes. Thread the shrimp onto skewers and place directly on the hot grill grate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until the flesh is opaque. Serve and enjoy!

How do you smoke shrimp on a Traeger Grill?

Traeger grill shrimp. Add shrimp directly to the pellet grill grates (or put them on skewers first, or add them to a grilling basket before putting ‘em on the smoker rack). Close the lid, and smoke shrimp for four minutes. Flip smoker shrimp and smoke for another 2-4 minutes, or until done.

How do you cook Jumbo Shrimp in a Traeger smoker?

Prep shrimp for smoker. Wash shrimp if needed under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Preheat Traeger smoker (or whatever pellet grill you’re using) to 450 degrees F, with the lid closed. Quickly marinade shrimp before smoking. Add jumbo shrimp to a large bowl.

How do you marinate shrimp in a Traeger bag?

In a large resealable bag, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Add the shrimp and massage through the bag to coat. Seal the bag and marinate the shrimp in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight. When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 450° and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes.