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Home » Recipes » Shrimp Marinade Recipe

Shrimp Marinade Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · May 22, 2023 · 48 Comments · Jump to Recipe

Shrimp Marinade Recipe

This is the best shrimp marinade for seared or grilled shrimp, with a hugely flavorful combination of sweet and spicy for perfect shrimp every time. Fire up the grill!

Grilled shrimp, ready to serve

The Best Shrimp Marinade Recipe

We're grilling up shrimp in the Chili Pepper Madness backyard, my friends. Would you care to join us? We always make the best grilled shrimp because I infuse all that succulent shrimp with lots of bold flavor before grilling.

The secret? It's my Zesty Grilled Shrimp Marinade, and I think you're going to love it.

It's a simple combination that comes together in the perfect way to infuse your shrimp with loads of flavor, and a bit of that zesty spice we spicy food lovers crave.

It's the perfect grilled shrimp recipe, really, with such a bold and piquant marinade leading the way.

Grilled shrimp on a platter

It's also great if you're sautéing or cooking up shrimp on the stove top, so it's not just a grilled shrimp marinade, but a great shrimp marinade in general. No matter how you care to cook it!

So hey, let's get cooking!

Let's talk about how to make grilled shrimp marinade, shall we?

Shrimp Marinade ingredients

Shrimp Marinade Ingredients

  • Oil. Use ¼ cup olive oil for the marinade, though you can use other oils, like vegetable oil.
  • Sweet. I use 1 tablespoon honey, though you can use brown sugar instead.
  • Garlic and Herbs. Use 2 cloves garlic, minced, and 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped. You can incorporate other herbs, like cilantro or basil.
  • Spices. Use 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 or more of crushed red pepper flakes if you're looking for a spicier shrimp marinade. I use a tablespoon usually.
  • Citrus. Use 1 teaspoon lime zest. Lemon zest is good, too. You can use lemon or lime juice, but the acidity starts to cook the shrimp. Zest is better for a longer marinade.
  • Hot Sauce. Splash in some of your favorite hot sauce if you'd like for some added zing!
  • Shrimp. This marinade is good for 1 pound of fresh shrimp, though you can easily upscale it to several pounds of shrimp. I usually marinade shrimp that's been peeled and deveined, though you can marinate unpeeled shrimp, if desired. You can use frozen shrimp as well.

How to Make Shrimp Marinade - the Recipe Method

Steps for making my Shrimp Marinade Recipe

Whisk Together the Ingredients. Whisk together the olive oil, honey, garlic, parsley, paprika, lime zest, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Reserve Some of the Marinade. Reserve a couple tablespoons of your marinade before marinating the shrimp to use as a glaze or finishing sauce if you'd like.

Marinate the Shrimp. Place the raw shrimp in a large plastic bag or large bowl and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag and refrigerate at least 15 to 30 minutes, or for 1 hour before cooking. 

When ready to cook, drain the shrimp marinade and discard it. Thread the shrimp on skewers for grilling, or leave them separated.

Grill the Shrimp. Preheat grill to medium high heat and add the shrimp. Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp turn pink and cook through.

Transfer to a serving platter.

Finish the Shrimp. Brush on any reserved shrimp marinade as a finishing sauce.

Also, squeeze on a bit of fresh lime juice for an extra pop of fresh citrus.

Grilled shrimp with loads of marinade

Boom! Done! Perfectly grilled shrimp in the house! Ready to serve. Such an easy recipe, isn't it? With BIG flavor.

The marinade does everything for you. It's nice and thick and really coats the shrimp. So good.

Serve up your grilled shrimp as the main meal with a side dish, or they make an outstanding appetizer or party starter. Everyone loves grilled shrimp.

Heat Factor

Mild-Medium. You'll get a nice pop of heat from the chili flakes and your own chosen hot sauce, though not a big kick. Cayenne is good for spicier shrimp, or go with a hotter chili powder, like ghost pepper powder. Yes!

Recipe Tips & Notes

This shrimp marinade it best for marinating raw shrimp for maximum flavor. You can marinate pre-cooked shrimp, but you won't get as much of the marinade flavor.

The Citrus Factor. I prefer to use lime zest in my shrimp marinade as opposed to lime juice, as the acidic citrus will start to break down the shrimp if you marinate for too long.

This applies to any acid, like lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice or vinegar. If using lime juice instead of lime zest, keep your marinating time to 15 minutes or less.

Additional Ingredients. Try lemon zest instead of lime zest if you prefer lemon. Dijon mustard is good. Soy Sauce is a nice flavor addition, though results in a darker color of your finished shrimp. 

How Long Do You Marinade Shrimp?

I like to marinate my shrimp at least 15 to 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour before cooking. I refrigerate it until I'm ready to go. You can marinate for longer, but don't go more than a few hours, as the shrimp texture can be affected.

How to Cook Marinated Shrimp?

Grilling the shrimp is a great way to cook them up, but you have many options.

You can also easily cook the shrimp up in a grill pan or a saute pan on the stove top, or bake them in the oven until they are pink and cooked through.

I don't recommend boiling marinated shrimp, though, as it will strip away much of the marinade flavor. For grilling, I like to thread them onto wooden skewers.

Storage & Leftovers

You can make the shrimp marinade ahead and store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 5 days. When you're ready to cook, marinate your shrimp and get grilling.

Store any leftover grilled shrimp in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To enjoy them again, warm them gently in a pan on the stovetop.

Shrimp Marinade Recipe

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my shrimp marinade, and the grilled shrimp! Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you. Keep it spicy!

Try Some of My Other Popular Shrimp Recipes

  • Grilled Buffalo Shrimp
  • Firecracker Shrimp
  • Bang Bang Shrimp
  • Blackened Shrimp
  • Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich
  • Shrimp Etouffee
  • Shrimp Ceviche
  • Aguachile (Mexican Shrimp Ceviche)
  • Mexican Garlic Shrimp (Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo)
  • Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

Try Some of My Other Zesty Marinade Recipes

  • Spicy Salmon Marinade
  • Zingy Pork Chop Marinade
  • Spicy BBQ Chicken Marinade
  • Teriyaki Marinade
  • Jamaican Jerk Marinade
  • Fajita Marinade
  • See all of my Spicy Marinade Recipes
Basting shrimp with grilled shrimp marinade

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. 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 #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Shrimp Marinade Recipe
Print

Shrimp Marinade Recipe

This is the best shrimp marinade for seared or grilled shrimp, with a hugely flavorful combination of sweet and spicy for perfect shrimp every time. Fire up the grill!
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Seasonings
Cuisine: American
Keyword: marinade, shrimp
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Calories: 254kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 4
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 20 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey or you can use brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (try an extra pinch or two of ghost pepper powder for some great spiciness!)
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more as desired - optional, for spicier marinade
  • Salt and black pepper to taste 1/4 teaspoon each is usually good
  • Hot Sauce to taste optional
  • 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined

Instructions

  • Whisk together the olive oil, honey, garlic, parsley, paprika, lime zest, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Reserve a few tablespoons now if you'd like to use some as a finishing sauce.
  • Place the shrimp in a large zip-lock bag and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag and refrigerate at least 15 to 20 minutes, or for 1 hour before cooking.
  • When ready to cook, drain the marinade and discard it.
  • Grill or saute the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink and cooked through. Transfer to a serving platter.
  • Squeeze on a bit of fresh lime juice to finish.

Video

Notes

Reserve a couple tablespoons of your marinade before marinating the shrimp to use as a glaze or finishing sauce.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 254kcal   Carbohydrates: 5g   Protein: 23g   Fat: 15g   Saturated Fat: 2g   Cholesterol: 286mg   Sodium: 887mg   Potassium: 102mg   Fiber: 1g   Sugar: 4g   Vitamin A: 405IU   Vitamin C: 6mg   Calcium: 167mg   Iron: 3mg
Shrimp Marinade Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 5/22/23 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 7/13/20.

Grilled shrimp on the grill
 

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Tracie says

    May 23, 2023 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    Made this last night just as the recipe calls except I had no parsley and decided to throw in some diced chives. I also went heavy on the garlic since we love garlic. I threw it all in a ziploc bag and mixed it really good inside the bag then added the shrimp and mixed with the marinade, saves on cleaning up another dish! Marinated for nearly an hour and bbq’d on skewers over charcoal. They were EXCELLENT! I make butter garlic shrimp all the time, this will be my new go to recipe. thanks!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      May 24, 2023 at 6:32 am

      Outstanding! Glad you enjoyed it, Tracie! Thanks for sharing. Wish I was there! Haha.

      Reply
  2. lynne brotherton says

    February 04, 2023 at 2:53 pm

    Can you use agave nectar instead of honey?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 05, 2023 at 7:45 am

      Absolutely, Lynne. Great substitute.

      Reply
  3. M’Lou Thompson says

    November 05, 2022 at 2:13 pm

    5 stars
    Where we live, fresh seafood is a staple, and this is my go-to marinade for shrimp. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      November 05, 2022 at 2:17 pm

      Thanks so much! I love it! Much appreciated!

      Reply
  4. CAT says

    October 27, 2022 at 5:23 pm

    5 stars
    Ok here I go! Making this now for dinner. I will comment after I eat it lol! Cant wait!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      October 27, 2022 at 5:33 pm

      Enjoy! We LOVE this one!

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    October 25, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    5 stars
    Very simple to make and delicious!! Loved saving a little of the marinade to brush onto of the shrimp after they were cooked. We'll enjoy this again soon!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      October 26, 2022 at 2:59 pm

      Perfection! Thanks, Karen!

      Reply
  6. GlennaAZ says

    October 16, 2022 at 9:07 pm

    5 stars
    I made your shrimp recipe and even though there was enough for three, it was entirely eaten by two. All I have to say is that is was very beautiful and very delicious. Easy too. I will be using this one from now on.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      October 17, 2022 at 6:00 am

      Awesome, thanks!!

      Reply
  7. Allyson Cohan says

    August 27, 2022 at 3:59 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, this was so good! I'll never use another marinade - amazing flavor! Thanks so much, Mike!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      August 29, 2022 at 10:59 am

      Thanks, Allyson! I know, this is SO GOOD! Everyone loves this shrimp marinade! My favorite for sure.

      Reply
  8. Angela says

    August 21, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe. We loved it. We went for more spice and cooked the shrimp on the griddle. It was so freaking delicious!! Doing it again tonight with shrimp and steak. Can’t wait

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      August 22, 2022 at 8:38 am

      Glad you enjoyed it, Angela!

      Reply
  9. Dana Beck says

    July 28, 2022 at 9:15 am

    5 stars
    My husband and I really enjoyed this marinade.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      July 28, 2022 at 10:14 am

      Glad you enjoyed it, Dana! =)

      Reply
  10. Maria says

    June 30, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    5 stars
    Tried this recipe since I had all the ingredients at home and it was simple. I did substitute the salt for soy sauce as someone had posted and the shrimp came out delicious. I will definitely make this again, thank you!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 30, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      Thank you, Maria. I'm very happy you enjoyed it! I use this recipe all the time. One of my favorites.

      Reply
  11. Bobbie says

    June 25, 2022 at 8:15 am

    5 stars
    This was absolutely delicious
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 25, 2022 at 8:18 am

      Great! Thanks, Bobbie! Glad you enjoyed it. =)

      Reply
  12. Kim says

    June 12, 2022 at 7:49 pm

    What kind of hot sauce did you use? I’m just getting into cooking. Any recommendations will help, thank you.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 12, 2022 at 9:47 pm

      Kim, I use a homemade Louisiana style hot sauce, but you can use your favorite. Use something like Crystal or Tabasco, really for a nice kick. I'd love to hear what you choose.

      Reply
  13. Teri says

    June 11, 2022 at 5:21 pm

    5 stars
    I tried a lot different shrimp marinades but this is the best one I've ever came across. It is just delicious and the option of making it extra spicy is even better.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 12, 2022 at 7:49 am

      Great! I love to hear it, Teri! Thanks for sharing. =)

      Reply
  14. Michelle says

    March 15, 2022 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    Used this marinade on salmon and baked in the oven. Perfection!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      March 15, 2022 at 9:17 pm

      Awesome! I love it, Michelle! Great use.

      Reply
  15. Julie Warbrick says

    January 23, 2022 at 11:00 am

    5 stars
    A wonderful recipe! I enjoy the latitude you provide for individual preferences. The second time I made the shrimp, I lacked a lemon or lime and instead used the zest of an orange, and it was very appealing! Thank you! I plan to try this with chicken.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      January 23, 2022 at 5:29 pm

      Nice!! Thanks, Julie! I appreciate your comments! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  16. Jérémie says

    September 04, 2021 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    Great vid, Mr H.! Mouth-watering!
    I wanted to try this one on barbecue, but with shrimp and chicken skewers.. I was wrong the marinade was OK with the chicken, but gorgeous with the shrimps: here we taste the sour and sweet richess of the recipe. Ordinary with chicken (my mistake) but wonderful with shrimps!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      September 04, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      Thanks, Jérémie! Definitely a good one here! I LOVE this marinade. =)

      Reply
  17. Nancy says

    November 28, 2020 at 8:20 am

    This looks delicious! I am making it this weekend. What sides would you suggest to serve with the shrimp?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 28, 2020 at 2:54 pm

      I love it served over rice, Nancy, or maybe a nice side of roasted/grilled veggies!

      Reply
      • Tina says

        April 19, 2022 at 5:54 pm

        Can I leave the shrimp marinating overnight?

        Reply
        • Mike Hultquist says

          April 19, 2022 at 9:01 pm

          Tina, 1 hour tops is best. Overnight can affect the consistency of the shrimp, making them mealy.

          Reply
  18. Jazz says

    August 08, 2020 at 1:15 pm

    5 stars
    This was beyond delicious! I marinated the shrimp a bit over an hour, and two pounds of shrimp got devoured by two people (I won't say who, lol) in record time. I've already made this multiple times for company to rave reviews. 🙂 Thanks for another great recipe!!!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      August 09, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      Excellent, Jazz! Glad to hear it!

      Reply
  19. Christa says

    July 26, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    5 stars
    this marinade would be great on anything! i grilled my shrimp in a cast iron grill pan after marinating for an hour. the flavors are terrific and i don’t even like honey. just the right amount of spice - 10/10 will def make again!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 26, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      Nice! Super happy to hear, Christa! Very happy you enjoyed it. I agree, it would be great on many things.

      Reply
  20. Jamie VanParys says

    July 18, 2020 at 12:04 pm

    5 stars
    Not only did I use your marinade, I wrapped the shrimp in bacon. AMAZING!!! Every one of the recipes of yours we have tried, have not disappointed! Glad I subscribed to your site!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 19, 2020 at 8:37 am

      Thanks, Jamie! BACON!! I love it. Super happy you are enjoying the recipes.

      Reply
  21. Karen says

    July 18, 2020 at 11:33 am

    5 stars
    Great flavor!!!
    Thank you for the recommendation (and explanation) about using lime zest instead of lime juice. May seem like a logical thing to do, but my brain had never considered it. I am always concerned about citrus juice "cooking" the shrimp. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 19, 2020 at 8:37 am

      Great! Thanks, Karen! I appreciate it. I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
  22. Shannon Young says

    July 14, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Mike,
    Great recipe thanks, my wife loved it. An excellent tip to use citrus zest rather than the juice for longer marinating times.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 14, 2020 at 3:37 pm

      Thanks, Shannon! Glad you enjoyed. This is definitely my very favorite shrimp marinade by far. Extra spicy for me, please! Love it.

      Reply
  23. Stephanie says

    July 13, 2020 at 1:53 pm

    5 stars
    This is definitely the most flavorful marinade I've ever seen, you know your marinades and this is no exception!!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 13, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      Thanks, Stephanie! That is high praise coming from an outstanding cook like you! Big flavor indeed! We love this one.

      Reply

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