Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp is an easy recipe with a marinade of lime juice, olive oil, garlic and cilantro you can grill indoors or out in 30 minutes!
Move over Grilled Chicken Breasts, this yummy new Dinner Recipe is here to be the best BBQ main dish all summer long! This quick and easy shrimp recipe is sure to be a huge hit the whole family will love.
GRILLED CILANTRO LIME SHRIMP
A quick marinade and a little time on the grill is all it takes to make the most delicious grilled shrimp for tacos, appetizers, or pasta in no time. This shrimp recipe is so easy to make and is ready in about 30 minutes with simple, fresh ingredients.
The key to Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp is fresh ingredients. Fresh lime juice, olive oil, fresh cilantro, minced fresh garlic cloves, and fresh lime zest make a marinade packed with flavor. The acid from the lime juice makes these shrimp so tender in only 15 minutes.
If you love shrimp and tropical vacations, this is the perfect recipe for Shrimp Tacos. You’ll be imagining sandy beaches with every yummy bite of tender Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp wrapped in a warm tortilla topped with avocado. Having a margarita on the side doesn’t hurt this mini stay-cation meal either.
You can serve Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp as an appetizer by making mini skewers. Make a healthy main dish by topping White Rice (or Brown Rice) with the grilled shrimp. Top your Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa for the perfect light summery dish!
Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp are one of most delicious healthy main dishes that fits pretty much any diet that include meat. The marinade has no sugar and is low carb. Shrimp are naturally low fat and the small amount of olive oil is a healthy fat.
How long can I marinate Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp?
The most you want to marinate shrimp in an acidic marinade, aka with lime juice, is 20 minutes or your shrimp will become mushy. If grilling on an outdoor grill, you can thread the shrimp onto the skewers ahead of time to save time and marinate them later.
Tips for Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- Fresh Shrimp: Buy your shrimp the same day you plan on making them. Raw shrimp doesn’t take long to thaw and will go bad pretty quickly in the fridge.
- Jumbo Shrimp: Large shrimp or jumbo shrimp are the easiest for grilling so you are less likely to overcook them. Plus the vein is easier to see in jumbo shrimp.
- Deveining: Use a small sharp knife and cut down the back of the shrimp down to the vein. Rinse shrimp under cold running water and slide your thumb down the back to remove the vein.
- Cooking Time: According to the USDA’s Food Safety Guidelines, shrimp are fully cooked when they white and opaque on the inside. Look for a nice pink color on the outside.
EASY SIDE DISH RECIPES TO SERVE WITH GRILLED CILANTRO LIME SHRIMP
Elote (Mexican Grilled Street Corn)
Easy Refried Beans
Spanish Rice (Mexican Rice)
Mexican Corn Salad
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VARIATIONS ON GRILLED CILANTRO LIME SHRIMP
- Spicy Shrimp: Make your Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp spicy by adding chipotles in adobo or sliced jalapeños (with the seeds for extra hot) into your marinade.
- Lemon: Substitute the lime juice and zest with lemons and leave out the fresh cilantro for a Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewer.
- Herbs: Use Thai basil instead of cilantro for Thai grilled shrimp or use Italian parsley and oregano with no lime or cilantro for an Italian marinade.
- Seasonings: You can add different seasonings or spices to the marinade like chili powder for chili lime shrimp or ground cumin for Mexican flavor or Cajun seasoning for a New Orleans fusion.
- Skillet: Easily make these into Sautéed Cilantro Lime Shrimp by cooking in a cast iron skillet over medium heat until pink on the outside and pearly white in the center.
MORE EASY GRILLED SUMMER MAIN DISHES
Perfect, Easy Ribeye Steak
Grilled Pork Chops
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Easy Grilled Chicken
HOW TO STORE GRILLED CILANTRO LIME SHRIMP
- Serve: Grilled shrimp can be at room temperature for 2 hours before it needs to be refrigerated.
- Store: Place Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp in an airtight container or plastic zippered bag and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Lay cooked shrimp flat on a baking tray and freeze for 1 hour. Transfer to a freezer safe bag, sealed tight, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp is an easy recipe with a marinade of lime juice, olive oil, garlic and cilantro you can grill indoors or out in 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
- 2 teaspoons grated lime zest , 1 lime
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice , 1 juicy lime
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 pound shrimp , 16-20 per pound, peeled and deveined, defrosted
Instructions
Mix cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
Toss the shrimp with the marinade and let marinate for 15 minutes.
Heat your grill or grill pan to medium heat. If using a grill, skewer the shrimp on metal or soaked wooden skewers.
Grill the shrimp, 2-3 minutes per side, until the shrimp is bright pink.
