Grilled Citrus Garlic Shrimp Skewers
Bright, zesty, and incredibly quick, these grilled citrus garlic shrimp skewers combine orange, lemon, and lime with fresh garlic and herbs for a bold, fresh flavor. Ready in under 20 minutes on the grill, this is one of the easiest and most satisfying healthy grilling recipes for dinner.
Equipment
- grill
- skewers (metal or wooden) use double skewers for stability
- mixing bowl
- whisk
- tongs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs large shrimp (21–25 count), peeled and deveined, tails on
- 1 zest and juice of 1 large orange (about 1/4 cup juice)
- 1 zest and juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tbsp juice)
- 2 zest and juice of 2 limes (about 3 tbsp juice)
- 5 cloves garlic, grated
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter (optional)
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, sliced
- lime and lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together orange, lemon, and lime zest and juice, garlic, olive oil, honey, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Reserve one-third of the marinade separately for finishing.
- Pat the shrimp dry and toss with the remaining marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes, no longer than 30 minutes.
- If making finishing butter, gently melt butter and mix with reserved marinade and chopped parsley. Keep warm.
- Thread shrimp onto skewers using a double-skewer method to keep them secure and flat. Shake off excess marinade.
- Preheat grill to high (425–450°F). Clean and oil the grates היטely before cooking.
- Place skewers on the grill and cook for 2–3 minutes on the first side until charred and releasing easily.
- Flip skewers and grill for another 2–3 minutes until shrimp are opaque, pink, and lightly charred.
- Remove from grill and immediately brush with reserved marinade or citrus butter.
- Rest briefly, then garnish with parsley, chives, and flaky salt. Serve with citrus wedges.
Notes
Do not marinate the shrimp longer than 30 minutes to avoid a rubbery texture from the citrus. Always reserve a portion of the marinade before adding raw shrimp for safe finishing. For extra flavor, brush with fresh marinade or citrus butter immediately after grilling.