These grilled BBQ shrimp skewers are my go-to healthy summer dinner. They take 10 minutes start to finish, come off the grill juicy every time, and get coated in a sugar-free barbecue sauce. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and 23g of protein per serving for 148 calories.
BBQ Shrimp At A Glance
- ✅ Recipe Name: Grilled BBQ Shrimp Skewers (Stove or Grill!)
- 🕒 Ready In: ~10 minutes (no marinating needed)
- 👪 Serves: 4
- 🍽 Calories: ~148 per serving
- 💪 Protein: ~23g per serving
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Shrimp, sugar-free BBQ sauce, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder
- 📖 Dietary Info: High-protein, gluten-free, dairy-free, keto
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Juicy grilled shrimp coated in tangy sugar-free BBQ sauce, ready in 10 minutes with no marinating. Works on an outdoor grill or a stovetop grill pan, so you can make it year-round.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
I developed this recipe because I wanted a BBQ shrimp that fit how I actually eat: high in protein, fast, and not loaded with sugar. Most versions lean sweet or swim in butter. After testing this batch after batch in my own kitchen, I landed on one that stays juicy on the grill with no marinating and gets its flavor from a sugar-free BBQ sauce and a simple paprika-garlic rub.
The trick I learned the hard way is that shrimp go from perfect to rubbery in about thirty seconds. I pull mine the moment they curl into a loose C shape and turn opaque pink, never when they're tight and curled into a tight O. Get that right, and they're juicy every time.
If you love shrimp, try my oven-baked shrimp skewers when it's too cold to grill. And I almost always serve these with my grilled corn and avocado salad, sweet corn against smoky shrimp is hard to beat. More of a chicken night? My grilled Greek chicken skewers are on the same summer rotation.
Jump to:
- BBQ Shrimp At A Glance
- Why You'll Love These Shrimp Skewers
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- How to Grill BBQ Shrimp Skewers (Step-by-Step)
- Tips for the Juiciest Grilled Shrimp
- How to Grill Shrimp on the Stove
- What to Serve with BBQ Shrimp
- Storing, Freezing, and Making Ahead
- BBQ Shrimp FAQs
- More Shrimp Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love These Shrimp Skewers
- Ready in 10 minutes: No marinating, just season, skewer, and grill.
- High in protein: 23g per serving for only 148 calories.
- Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto: No swaps needed.
- Sugar-free sauce: All the tangy BBQ flavor without the sugar load.
- Stove or grill: Works on an outdoor grill or a stovetop grill pan, year round.
- Juicy every time: The secret is knowing exactly when to pull them off the heat.
- Great for any night: Perfect for summer cookouts, busy weeknights, or meal prep.
Ingredients You'll Need
You only need five simple ingredients plus a couple of pantry seasonings to make these grilled BBQ shrimp skewers. Full amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Shrimp: 1 pound peeled and deveined. Fresh or frozen, both work; just thaw the shrimp fully and pat them dry before seasoning so they char rather than steam. Love cooking with shrimp? Try my air fryer shrimp next.
- BBQ sauce: I use Stubb's sugar-free, but any sugar-free or low-sugar sauce keeps these light without losing the tang.
- Olive oil: Just one tablespoon to keep the shrimp moist and help the seasoning stick.
- Paprika: Adds color and a mild smoky depth.
- Garlic powder: For savory flavor that coats evenly, no chopping needed.
- Salt and black pepper: To taste, to round everything out.
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Shrimp size: Large or jumbo shrimp hold up best on skewers. If you use medium, cut the grill time to about 1 to 2 minutes per side so they don't overcook.
- Olive oil: Avocado oil works just as well and handles high heat nicely.
- BBQ sauce: Any sugar-free or low-sugar sauce keeps these light. Use your favorite regular BBQ sauce if you're not watching sugar, just know the macros will change.
- Paprika: Swap in smoked paprika for a deeper, more grilled flavor, even when cooking them on the stove.
- Make them spicy: Stir a pinch of cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce into the BBQ sauce for a spicy kick.
- Make it a meal: Thread cherry tomatoes, zucchini, or red onion between the shrimp for built-in veggies.
How to Grill BBQ Shrimp Skewers (Step-by-Step)
- Step 1: Season. Add the shrimp to a large bowl with 3 tablespoons of BBQ sauce, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Save the rest of the sauce for brushing later.
- Step 2: Thread. Slide 5 to 6 shrimp onto each skewer. If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes first so they don't burn.
- Step 3: Start grilling. Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high and lightly grease it. Grill the shrimp for 2 minutes on one side, then flip and brush with more BBQ sauce.
- Step 4: Finish and glaze. Grill the second side 2 to 3 minutes, until the shrimp curl into a loose C and turn opaque pink. Brush both sides with the remaining sauce and serve right away.
Tips for the Juiciest Grilled Shrimp
- Preheat fully. A hot grill or grill pan sears the shrimp fast and keeps them from drying out. If it's not hot enough, they steam instead of char.
- Don't walk away. Shrimp cook in about 4 to 5 minutes total and go from juicy to rubbery in seconds, so stay close and pull them the moment they turn opaque pink and curl into a loose C.
- Pat the shrimp dry. Drying them before seasoning helps the sauce stick and gives you a better char instead of a watery steam.
- Brush with sauce twice. Once on the grill and once right after, so they soak up the most flavor and finish glossy.
- Soak wooden skewers. Thirty minutes in water keeps them from burning. Metal skewers skip this step entirely.
How to Grill Shrimp on the Stove
No outdoor grill? You can make these shrimp skewers right on the stove with a grill pan, and they come out just as juicy with those same charred grill marks. It's how I make them year-round.
- Heat the pan. Set a grill pan over medium-high heat and let it get fully hot, about 2 minutes. Lightly grease it with oil so the shrimp don't stick.
- Add the skewers. Lay the seasoned skewers on the pan in a single layer without crowding, so they sear instead of steam.
- Cook and flip. Grill 2 minutes on the first side, flip, brush with BBQ sauce, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp turn opaque pink and curl into a loose C.
- Glaze and serve. Brush both sides with the last of the sauce and serve right away
No grill pan? A regular skillet works too. You won't get the grill marks, but the shrimp will cook the same way and taste just as good.
What to Serve with BBQ Shrimp
These grilled BBQ shrimp skewers work as a main or an appetizer, and they pair with just about any summer side. Here's what I reach for most:
- Fresh salads: My watermelon feta salad is the one I make on repeat. My healthy Greek pasta salad and caprese orzo pesto salad work well, too.
- Easy sides: Air fryer smashed potatoes, a slice of healthy cornbread, or my crispy potato salad round things out without much extra effort.
- Make it a bowl: Serve the shrimp over rice, cauliflower rice, or greens for a quick high-protein dinner.
Storing, Freezing, and Making Ahead
- Storing: Keep leftover grilled shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They're best the day you make them, but they hold up well for lunches.
- Reheating: Slide the shrimp off the skewers and warm them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, just until heated through. Go easy, since reheating too long makes them rubbery.
- Freezing cooked shrimp: I don't recommend it. Cooked shrimp turn watery and tough once thawed, so these are best fresh.
- Making ahead: You can season the raw shrimp and thread the skewers a few hours in advance, then keep them covered in the fridge until you're ready to grill. That's all the prep these need, since there's no marinating step.
BBQ Shrimp FAQs
Grill shrimp about 4 to 5 minutes total, 2 minutes on the first side and 2 to 3 minutes on the second. They're done when they turn opaque pink and curl into a loose C shape. A tight O shape means they're overcooked.
Grill shrimp over medium-high heat, around 375 to 450 degrees F. That's hot enough to char and sear them quickly without drying them out.
No. These shrimp don't need marinating. Tossing them in BBQ sauce and seasoning right before grilling is enough, which is what makes this a true 10-minute recipe.
Yes. Use a stovetop grill pan or a regular skillet over medium-high heat, or broil them in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes per side. They cook the same way and stay just as juicy.
Rubbery shrimp are overcooked. Shrimp cook in just a few minutes, so pull them off the heat the moment they turn opaque pink and curl into a loose C.
For these skewers, peel and devein the shrimp first so the BBQ sauce coats and flavors them directly. Leaving the tails on is fine and makes them easier to pick up.
More Shrimp Recipes You'll Love
If you loved these grilled BBQ shrimp skewers, here are a few more shrimp recipes to try next:
Did you make this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Grilled BBQ Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce, I love Stubb's sugar-free
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ - 1 teaspoon salt, based on taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Soak skewers (if needed): If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before you start so they don't burn. Skip this for metal skewers.
- Preheat: Heat the grill or grill pan to medium-high and lightly grease it.
- Season: Add the shrimp to a large bowl with 3 tablespoons of the BBQ sauce, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Reserve the rest of the sauce for brushing.
- Thread: Slide 5 to 6 shrimp onto each skewer. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes first so they don't burn.
- Grill: Cook the shrimp 2 minutes on the first side, then flip and brush with more BBQ sauce.
- Finish: Grill the second side 2 to 3 minutes, until the shrimp turn opaque pink and curl into a loose C. Brush both sides with the last of the sauce.
- Serve: Serve right away.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe tested and developed by Tati Chermayeff, creator of Healthful Blondie. A former Division I rower, Ironman triathlete, and recipe developer based in Austin, TX, Tati creates high-protein and healthy recipes that actually taste like the real thing.
Tati Chermayeff says
I love these! Easy and super flavorful.