The Skewer That Made Shrimp My Favorite Party Food
I grilled my first batch of these garlic butter shrimp skewers for a summer dinner party and watched every single guest abandon their forks entirely, picking up skewer after skewer with their hands and not caring one bit because the flavor was simply too good to slow down for utensils.
These skewer appetizers have become my most celebrated elegant appetizers for every warm weather gathering, and the combination of juicy grilled shrimp and rich, garlicky butter makes them the most irresistible appetizers on a stick I have ever put on a platter. Today every golden, buttery, garlic-kissed detail is yours to make your own.
Juicy, Garlicky, and Ready in Minutes
These grilled shrimp skewers with garlic butter deliver the most luxurious combination of perfectly charred, juicy shrimp and rich, herb-flecked garlic butter in one stunning skewer appetizer that comes together in under twenty minutes from start to finish. They are the kind of elegant appetizers that look incredibly impressive on a platter yet require the most straightforward cooking technique imaginable, making them one of the easiest and most rewarding easy appetizers on a stick you will ever add to your entertaining rotation. Whether you are serving them as the star of a full spread of skewer appetizers or as a standalone showstopper at your next cookout, these shrimp skewers always deliver exactly what every crowd is craving.
What You Need
- 2 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 16 to 20 medium bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Garlic Butter
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Yield: 12 skewers
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Garlic Butter are juicy, savory, and full of rich buttery flavor. Tender shrimp cook quickly and pair with garlic, lemon, and herbs for an easy appetizer or main dish.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
12 small skewers
Instructions
1. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes.
2. Melt the butter in a small pan and stir in the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
3. Thread the shrimp onto the skewers.
4. Brush the shrimp with the garlic butter mixture.
5. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side until the shrimp turn pink and opaque.
6. Brush with more garlic butter and sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Notes
Do not overcook the shrimp because they cook fast.
You can add red pepper flakes if you want more heat.
Serve with lemon wedges for extra brightness.
Grilling These Golden Beauties
- Soak the bamboo skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes before threading to prevent burning.
- In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, onion powder, red pepper flakes, cayenne, salt, and black pepper and whisk until fully combined.
- Add the shrimp to the marinade and toss until every piece is thoroughly coated.
- Let the shrimp marinate at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes only, as longer marinating in citrus can begin to cook the shrimp.
- While the shrimp marinates, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook gently for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and just golden.
- Add half the fresh parsley and half the chives to the garlic butter, stir, and remove from heat.
- Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium high heat and brush the grates lightly with oil.
- Thread 4 to 5 shrimp onto each soaked bamboo skewer, piercing through both the tail and body of each shrimp for secure threading.
- Place the shrimp skewers on the grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side until pink and lightly charred.
- Flip each skewer and brush generously with the warm garlic butter.
- Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the shrimp are perfectly cooked through and deeply golden.
- Remove from the grill and arrange on a large serving platter immediately.
- Spoon the remaining garlic butter generously over all the skewers.
- Garnish with the remaining fresh parsley, chive pieces, fresh dill, and a final squeeze of lemon juice right before serving.
Delicious Ways to Make Them Your Own
- Add chunks of red bell pepper and zucchini between the shrimp for a colorful, veggie-loaded variation
- Swap garlic butter for a spicy sriracha honey glaze for a sweet heat version that is equally irresistible
- Add a pinch of Old Bay seasoning to the marinade for a classic coastal seafood flavor profile
- Serve alongside other skewer appetizers like honey garlic chicken skewers and beef steak skewers for a full meat and cheese skewers style spread
- Drizzle with a lemon tahini sauce alongside the garlic butter for a nutty, tangy dipping option
- Add fresh pineapple chunks between the shrimp for a sweet, tropical contrast to the savory garlic butter
- Serve with a cool avocado crema dipping sauce for a creamy, fresh finishing touch
- Sprinkle with toasted breadcrumbs right before serving for an extra crunchy, golden finishing layer
- Arrange on a long wooden board with fresh lemon halves and herb sprigs for a stunning elegant appetizer presentation
- Build this as part of a full spread of toothpick appetizers and appetizers on a stick for a complete and impressive party table
People Also Ask
Can I make grilled shrimp skewers in the oven?
Absolutely, arrange the threaded skewers on a lined baking sheet and broil on high for 3 to 4 minutes per side, brushing with garlic butter in the final minute for a beautifully golden and juicy result.
How do I know when shrimp skewers are fully cooked?
Perfectly cooked shrimp turn from translucent grey to opaque pink and curl into a loose C shape, while overcooked shrimp curl tightly into an O shape and become rubbery and tough.
Can I make grilled shrimp skewers ahead of time?
Shrimp skewers are best served immediately after grilling for the juiciest result, but you can marinate the shrimp and prepare the garlic butter up to 24 hours in advance to make the cooking process incredibly quick and easy.
What size shrimp works best for skewer appetizers?
Large or jumbo shrimp sized 16 to 20 count per pound work best as they hold up beautifully on the skewers, cook evenly without drying out, and make the most visually impressive and satisfying appetizers on a stick.
What dipping sauce pairs best with garlic butter shrimp skewers?
These elegant appetizers pair beautifully with a lemon garlic aioli, a cocktail sauce, a spicy sriracha mayo, a cool avocado crema, or simply an extra bowl of the warm garlic butter for dipping right at the table.
Golden, Buttery, and Worth Every Single Bite
These grilled shrimp skewers with garlic butter are the skewer appetizers that bring the most luxurious, crowd-thrilling combination of perfectly grilled seafood and rich, fragrant garlic butter to your party table in one stunning, golden platter that never once fails to impress. The juicy charred shrimp glistening with that herb-flecked garlic butter on every skewer is a sight and a flavor so deeply satisfying it makes every single guest reach for one more before they even finish the first. Serve these as your signature elegant appetizers at your next gathering and let that gorgeous, buttery, golden platter become the most talked about and most requested dish you have ever brought to a table.
