Description
This Grilled Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful seafood dish perfect for summer grilling. Juicy, large shrimp are marinated and basted with a rich garlic butter sauce, then grilled to perfection for a deliciously smoky and buttery experience. Perfect as an appetizer, main dish, or party snack, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality shrimp right from your backyard grill.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Skewers
- 6-8 wooden skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes if wooden)
- 1 ½ lbs. large raw shrimp (20-40 per pound, peeled, deveined, with or without tail)
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 8-10 garlic cloves, finely chopped or pressed through a garlic press
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Soak Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling to prevent burning on the grill.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, garlic, salt, and optional red pepper flakes. Melt the butter and then remove from heat. Let the mixture infuse for at least 10 minutes to develop flavor.
- Preheat Grill and Prep Shrimp: Preheat your grill to medium heat, around 350-400°F. Meanwhile, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and thread them onto the soaked skewers in a single layer, then place on a rimmed baking sheet for easy handling.
- Brush Shrimp with Butter Sauce: Split the garlic butter sauce in half. Set aside one half for serving later. Brush the other half generously onto both sides of the shrimp skewers.
- Grill the Shrimp: Place the shrimp skewers on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes on one side. Flip and grill for another 2-3 minutes until the shrimp have curled up and are opaque and pink, indicating they are fully cooked.
- Serve: Serve the grilled shrimp hot with the reserved garlic butter sauce on the side for dipping, enhancing each bite with extra buttery garlic goodness.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from catching fire on the grill.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste for desired spiciness or omit for a milder flavor.
- Make sure not to overcook the shrimp, as they become rubbery; cooking until just opaque and pink is ideal.
- This recipe works well with gas or charcoal grills.
- Serve with fresh lemon wedges or chopped parsley for an extra fresh touch.
