Serve this quick and easy Cajun grilled shrimp for a weeknight dinner or lunch or even a delicious appetizer for the holidays or cookouts! Large raw shrimp are seasoned with a blend of spices and herbs and then grilled. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and serve with your favorite sides.
This Cajun shrimp can be cooked outdoors or in a grill pan indoors. Either way, you get juicy and flavorful shrimp that is great paired with rice, macaroni salad, coleslaw, or topped in a quinoa bowl.
Reasons You’ll Love This Cajun Grilled Shrimp…
- Here, you have an easy shrimp recipe that takes minimal effort and gets tossed on the grill.
- Cook in the house, pellet grill, or even a Blackstone Griddle.
- Quick and easy prep makes for a perfect dinner any night of the week.
- You control the spices used and the heat factor of this recipe.
- Family-friendly recipe that young and old can all enjoy.
Ingredients Needed
Shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp. If frozen, thaw fully.
Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, paprika, dried basil, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Parmesan: Grate parmesan cheese and use just a bit of it to add a tangy flavor.
Lemon: Lemon juice and slices will be used to tame the fishy flavor of the shrimp.
Skewers: While this isn’t food, you will need grilled skewers. If you cook in a pan on the stove, feel free to skip the skewers.
Variations to Recipe
Fresh Herbs: Instead of dried herbs, feel free to use fresh herbs. This will create a more vibrant flavor.
Honey: Once the shrimp is fully cooked, drizzle honey over it for a sweet and spicy pairing of flavors.
Smoked Paprika: Use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika. This will add a bit more of a smoky flavor to the shrimp.
Vegetables: Slice up bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and more, and mix in the spices with a drizzle of oil.
What To Serve With Grilled Shrimp
Here are a few of my favorite pairings for this tasty shrimp. Here are tons of ideas for you to consider.
Corn on the Cob: Here is a great one to toss on the grill or roast when cooking the shrimp. Add a little butter and a sprinkle of your favorite spices.
Potato Salad: Serve potato salad as a creamy vegetable side dish.
Coleslaw: You can make a quick coleslaw or throw it together. The cabbage and vinegar mixture compliments the shrimp nicely.
Vegetables: Cut a melody of veggies to mix up and cook on the grill or roast in the oven.
Corn Salsa: For a tasty twist on Taco Tuesday, consider throwing in warm tortillas and topping them with corn salsa and a drizzle of sauce.
Tips for Making Grilled Cajun Shrimp
Preheat Grill Or Pan
Make sure your grill is preheated or the pan is nice and hot to create that perfect sear. Also using a hot grill helps prevent the shrimp from sticking.
Oil Grill Grates
If you are using the grill use a brush and grill the grates. Do a little oil not too much or it will make more of a fire.
Soak Wooden Skewers
If you use wooden skewers you will want to soak them in water for at least 15-30 minutes before you use them and add the shrimp to the skewers. This will help them not burn up when you are grilling the shrimp.
Don’t Overcook The Shrimp
Make sure to not overcook the shrimp or it will become rubbery and pretty chewy. So make sure that you watch your shrimp as they will cook up very quickly.
Cleaning Shrimp
Start by removing the shells of the shrimp, and then devein the shrimp. To devein you will cut along the spine, and use a wooden skewer or toothpick, and pull out the dark vein. Then rinse in cold water.
FAQs
How spicy is Cajun grilled shrimp?
You can use a little or a lot of the cayenne to adjust the heat factor. The cayenne is the heat factor of this shrimp.
How do I know when the shrimp are done grilling?
The shrimp is done when it turns a pink and opaque color. Shrimp typically takes just a couple of minutes per side. So make sure to watch the shrimp as it cooks.
Can I use Cajun seasoning from the store?
Of course. Go ahead and use a pre-made Cajun seasoning instead of making it from scratch. Reach for any brand you would like.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
Cajun Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh large raw shrimp or frozen and thawed
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper increase for added heat
- Juice of half a lemon
- Lemon slices for serving
- Skewers optional
Instructions
- Preheat grill or grill pan over medium high heat. If using grill pan, grease with cooking spray.
- Add all dry ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until combined. Transfer the seasoning mixture into a large ziplock bag.
- Pat shrimp dry with a paper towel and place several shrimp at a time into the bag with seasoning. Seal the bag and gently shake to coat the shrimp. Remove and place onto a plate. Repeat until all shrimp are seasoned.
- Place shrimp onto your heated grill or grill pan and cook 2-3 minutes on each side, using tongs to flip, until the shrimp are no longer translucent.
- Remove the shrimp from the grill pan and transfer to a plate. Drizzle or squeeze lemon juice over the cooked shrimp.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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