Warm weather means grilling season and this Greek Shrimp Marinade is the perfect way to make your summer shrimp on the grill. Zesty lemon, rich extra virgin olive oil is mixed with spices and makes the perfect marinade. Pair the grilled shrimp with tzatziki sauce and an orzo salad or use the shrimp in a rice bowl.   

GREEK SHRIMP MARINADE 

Warm weather means grilling season. My family loves shrimp and today’s Greek Shrimp Marinade is one of my favorite ways to make it for the grill. 

Fresh shrimp is marinated in a Greek style marinade made of simple ingredients. It uses extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and lemon zest, oregano, dill, thyme, garlic powder and basil. The marinade adds so much fresh zesty flavor to the shrimp. 

The shrimp are then grilled until they are tender, juicy and very flavorful. What I love most is that shrimp grills quickly and can be on your plate in  under 10 minutes. 

You can also grill vegetables like fresh zucchini, red bell pepper and red onion alongside the shrimp to make a healthy meal or you can add them to the skewers with the shrimp to make shrimp kabobs.

This shrimp dish is the perfect way to add protein to your weekly dinners or lunches added to rice bowls or even shrimp tacos.

These Greek style shrimp work great with your favorite sides. I like to make this Summer Orzo Salad, or serve the shrimp alongside Mediterranean Lentil Salad or with these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables.

I like to serve these with Tzatziki sauce and some grilled lemons so guests can add more lemony zest their grilled shrimp. Your family will love these Greek Grilled Shrimp Skewers that are light but also very filling. 

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS 

PRE-COOKED SHRIMP: You might be wondering if you can use pre-cooked shrimp. You could do this but I don’t like to because I feel like it drys out the shrimp and it can easily be overcooked. Fresh shrimp is the best for grilling! 

FROZEN SHRIMP: You can use frozen shrimp and then grill them. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp overnight in the fridge before marinating. 

HOW LONG DOE SIT TAKE TO GRILL SHRIMP? Shrimp cooks very quickly on the grill! You want to keep an eye on the shrimp so they don’t overcook. Typically when I grill shrimp I do medium-high heat and do 2-3 minutes per side and should reach an internal temperature of 145ºF degrees.

OTHER WAYS TO COOK SHRIMP: My favorite way to make shrimp skewers is on an outdoor grill. But you can easily cook these shrimp in a skillet. You will want to add olive oil to the pan and saute the shrimp for about 3-4 minutes per side. To broil the shrimp: spray a baking sheet or casserole dish with non-stick spray. Place the shrimp skewers on the baking sheet. Broil for 3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are pink on the outside and the inside meat is opaque.

COLOR OF THE SHRIMP: I get questions sometimes about what color shrimp should be when you buy it.

When shrimp is a grey color it is uncooked. Once shrimp turns pink that meals it is cooked. If you see pink shrimp in the seafood case at your grocery store that is pre-cooked shrimp. 

DE-VEIN & DE-SHELL THE SHRIMP: If you can buy de-vained shrimp that is helpful and saves time. If the shrimp has a black line down the back of it that is the shrimp’s vein. Use your fingers drag the spoon across the vein until it comes out.

I also don’t like to cook the shrimp with the shell on because the shrimp can’t soak up the marinade. 

MARINATE: I only marinate shrimp for up to 30 minutes because I feel like longer tends to make the shrimp chewy.

I also like to save 1-2 tbsps. of the marinade {separate it out before you add the shrimp in} and I use it to glaze the finished shrimp for extra flavor. 

RECIPE MODIFICATIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS

FRESH HERBS: If you prefer fresh herbs in your marinade instead of dried spices that works great. Just make sure you mince them so they aren’t too large. 

CITRUS: I like to use fresh lemon juice and zest in my marinade but lime juice also works well. You also could use orange juice or vinegar. Citrus is the best way to tenderize the shrimp and add flavor. 

SPICE: If you like spice try adding cayenne red pepper or red pepper flakes to the marinade. 

SWEETEN IT: If you want a slightly sweeter flavor try adding 2-3 tbsps. of honey. You could also use agave or brown sugar if you want. 

SOY SAUCE: Soy sauce can be a nice addition to a marinade. Try using 2-3 tbsps. of soy sauce. 

GREEK SHRIMP MARINADE INGREDIENTS

FRESH SHRIMP: I like to use 1 pound of raw shrimp that is peeled and deveined (you can either leave tails on or remove them). I especially like jumbo shrimp when I grill. I tend to grill with the tails on.

I think they look nicer on a platter and it is less work to remove them all. If you are feeding a crowd you can easily double or triple this marinade.

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL: I used extra virgin olive oil because it is a great way to add flavor. I also suggest you brush your grill grates with oil so the shrimp don’t stick to the grill. 

LEMON JUICE & ZEST: The lemon juice and zest adds so much flavor. It also helps to keep the shrimp tender and juicy. You could also use lime juice and lime zest if you don’t have a lemon.

SPICES – DILL, PARSLEY, OREGANO, BASIL & THYME: The spices in this marinade are great together.

If you would prefer to use fresh dill, parsley, oregano and thyme that works great too. Just make sure you mince the herbs so they aren’t too large on in the shrimp marinade. You could also use paprika to add a little color or smoky paprika for a smoky flavor. 

GARLIC POWDER: I used garlic powder but you could use fresh garlic in its place. Either works great! 

FRESH PARSLEY AND DILL: I love add fresh parsley and dill to grilled shrimp skewers. I find it adds a nice finishing touch and takes the skewers to the next level.

HOW TO MAKE THIS SHRIMP MARINADE RECIPE

The marinade is so easy to make and really is the best grilled shrimp marinade!

CREATE THE MARINADE: You add the olive oil, lemon juice, dill, parsley, oregano, basil, thyme and garlic powder in a large bowl and whisk. Add the salt and black pepper and stir. 

Add the shrimp to the bowl or you can add it to a large ziplock bag and add the marinade.

Use your hands to massage the marinade into the shrimp. You can refrigerate for up 30 minutes but you don’t have to. 

PREPARE THE GRILL: When you are ready to marinade the shrimp and grill them you will want to soak the wooden skewers in water before using them on the grill.

THREAD THE SHRIMP: Set out your metal skewers, bamboo skewers or wooden skewers. Thread the shrimp on the skewers. Discard the excess marinade.

Heat the grill to medium heat. Spray with oil to prevent the shrimp skewers from sticking.

GRILL THE SHRIMP: Put the skewers on the grill or a grill pan and cook for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are pink on the outside and the meat inside should be white and opaque.

Do not overcook the shrimp or else it will become tough.

Remove the shrimp from the grill and garnish with fresh dill and parsley, feta cheese and lemon wedges.

HOW DO YOU STORE LEFTOVER SHRIMP?

Leftover shrimp will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Another option to is to wrap the shrimp tightly and keep it in the freezer for up to 4 months. 

OTHER SHRIMP RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED SHRIMP SKEWERS 

SHRIMP CREOLE SHRIMP RECIPE

EASY SHRIMP CURRY

SHRIMP DIP RECIPE

EASY CAJUN SHRIMP RECIPE

AIR FRYER COCONUT SHRIMP

HONEY GARLIC SHRIMP 

Questions? Please ask! I love helping and offering my suggestions. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #acedarspoon. I love to see what you are cooking! Happy Cooking- Julia 

Today’s post is sponsored by Heinen’s. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.