This grilled Cajun lemon shrimp is a super-easy and delicious grilled shrimp skewer recipe with a Cajun flair.
Winter has been brutal, and it’s left me thinking about warm weather and all my favorite grilled treats.
Visions of grilled teriyaki chicken kabobs, BBQ bacon wrapped kielbasa, and smoked tri tip are all dancing through my head right now!
If you’re craving summer flavors like I am, these grilled Cajun lemon shrimp are for your. Seasoned with a bold blend of spices and grilled to tender, juicy perfection, these are shrimp you can’t stop eating.
Grill them outdoors in the summer or on a stovetop grill in the winter and serve them with favorites like hatch green chile fries, fried mac and cheese bites, or fried corn casserole bites. Yum!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: All you need is shrimp, seasonings, and lemons!
- Simple Process: This recipe only takes a few simple steps and less than 20 minutes to make.
- Bold Flavor: Every bite of these plump, tender shrimp is loaded with complex, smoky, citrusy flavor.
- Versatile: Serve these as an appetizer or a main course with your favorite sides. You can also use them in other recipes, like these fried shrimp tacos, to change things up.
- Great for Meal Prep: These are freezer-friendly, so you can make extra for future meals.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Shrimp: Choose large shrimp with a fresh scent and a glossy look.
- Seasonings: A blend of garlic salt, Slap Ya Mama, smoked paprika, basil, and chili powder gives the shrimp a complex, Louisiana-inspired flavor.
- Lemons: A squeeze of lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy note that complements the bold spices.
Variations
- Shrimp: Any large shrimp variety will work for this recipe. Extra-large shrimp, like tiger shrimp, are also a great choice.
- Shellfish: Try seasoning and grilling crab legs, mussels, clams, or lobster tails.
- Mild: Omit the chili powder for a version with less heat.
- Extra Spicy: Add red pepper flakes for an even spicier version.
How to Make Grilled Cajun Lemon Shrimp
- Combine the seasonings, place the shrimp in a bag, and shake to coat.
- Grill the shrimp until no longer translucent. Then, remove from the grill, squeeze a bit more lemon juice on them, and enjoy.
Expert Tips
- Choose large, plump shrimp with a fresh, briny smell and a bright, glossy sheen. The shrimp should never be dull or have a “fishy” smell. If you can find shrimp with heads, look for ones that have bright, round eyes, as well.
- Pat the shrimp dry before tossing them in the coating mixture to ensure the coating adheres properly.
- Perfectly cooked shrimp should be C-shaped. Never cook shrimp until they form an O. This indicates they’re overcooked and likely rubbery.
- If you use wooden skewers, soak them for 30 to 35 minutes to ensure they won’t burn while the shrimp are grilling.
Grilled Cajun Lemon Shrimp FAQs
The most common mistake with grilling shrimp is overcooking them. It’s important to cook your shrimp until they’re no longer translucent and C-shaped. That’s the perfect doneness. Never cook them until O-shaped, or they’ll be rubbery.
Shrimp only need about 2 to 4 minutes per side to fully cook. This depends on the size of the shrimp used, so check for doneness by color and shape rather than time.
Refrigerate these shrimp for up to 3 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
More Delicious Shrimp Recipes
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Grilled Cajun Lemon Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh large shrimp, peeled and deveined (I used Argentine Red shrimp)
- 2+ lemons
- 1 tsp Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp basil
- ¼ tsp chili powder
Instructions
- Clean grill, spray with a non stick spray and turn grill to medium/high.
- Whisk all seasoning ingredients together and place in a small baggie.
- Pat dry shrimp and place a few shrimp at a times into baggie. Seal and gently shake to coat. Remove and place on a plate. Repeat for remaining shrimp.
- Place shrimp on skewers, squeeze lemon juice to both sides of shrimp as they grill, and grill for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side until the shrimp no longer translucent.
- Remove from grill, squeeze additional lemon juice on shrimp, if desired, and enjoy.
- *If using wooden skewers, soak in water for approximately 30-35 minutes prior to using so they won’t burn while on the grill.
Notes
- Choose large, plump shrimp with a fresh, briny smell and a bright, glossy sheen. The shrimp should never be dull or have a “fishy” smell. If you can find shrimp with heads, look for ones that have bright, round eyes, as well.
- Pat the shrimp dry before tossing them in the coating mixture to ensure the coating adheres properly.
- Perfectly cooked shrimp should be C-shaped. Never cook shrimp until they form an O. This indicates they’re overcooked and likely rubbery.
- If you use wooden skewers, soak them for 30 to 35 minutes to ensure they won’t burn while the shrimp are grilling.
Nutrition
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.
Enjoy, Terri
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How many servings does 1 lb of large shrimp serve”
Hi Carol, usually with the larger shrimp you get between 16-20 shrimp.
It’s hard to get a lot of flavor added to shrimp, but this is perfect! We still grill in the rain, just need to wait between downpours – haha. I just cleaned our shrimp and sending my husband to grill these. Thank you.
You sound like us, always grilling in any kind of weather. We hope you guys enjoy this recipe. Have fun! ;)
Oh , how I love cajun spice on shrimp!
Us too! Can’t get enough of that yummy spice! Thanks so much! :)
Oh my! These shrimps are all I need right now. So juicy and burst in flavors. And the best part is it only takes 15 minutes to make.
Hi Linda, Yes! Super quick to make and super delicious to enjoy! :)
Made these without the cheese and loved them!
Thanks so much Alyssa, I’m so glad you enjoyed these! :)
What a great recipe! Lemon and shrimp are always a good idea!
Thank you so much Kelly! Yes, they definitely go great together! :)