Cajun Grilled Shrimp
On April 17, 2023 (Updated December 02, 2024)
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These cajun grilled shrimp are seasoned with a bold and spicy cajun seasoning blend and grilled for maximum flavor.
Cajun Shrimp on the Grill
Looking for a great, spicy shrimp that can be used in just about anything? This cajun shrimp is cooked on the grill and comes packing the flavor!
This shrimp is perfectly cooked and majorly juicy with just the right amount of char and snap from the grill. The cajun seasoning is bold with a kiss of heat (plus the option to customize and add more spice if you like). Lastly, the fresh lemon juice squeezed on right before serving is really the chef’s kiss that ties everything together.
Ingredients for Cajun Shrimp
You don’t need too much to make this cajun shrimp. Start with around 2 pounds of 21/25 shrimp with the tail still on, some butter, lemon juice, and a tasty cajun seasoning blend. Here’s everything you’ll need to make this shrimp.
- 2 pounds deveined 21/25 shrimp
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
I have a full recipe page for the Cajun Seasoning, you can navigate to that page to learn more about this tasty rub. Here’s what you’ll need for this seasoning.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
How to Make Cajun Shrimp on the Grill
Here’s how to make yourself some cajun shrimp on the grill.
- Preheat. Fire up your grill and set it to preheat to 400-450 degrees F. When cooking something quick like shrimp, I tend to just fire up my gas grill unless I’m cooking other food on the BBQ, then I might use a charcoal grill. Either will work just fine for this recipe.
- Skewer. Skewer the shrimp, making sure that they are secured on the skewer. I like to use metal skewers when cooking shrimp.
- Season. Pour the melted butter into a bowl and add the cajun seasoning. Stir to combine. Next, using a basting brush, brush the shrimp with the seasoned butter, ensuring that each shrimp is well covered.
- Oil the grates. Shrimp has a tendency to stick to the grates, so you’ll want to oil them before you cook on them. Fold up a paper towel and stick it between a set of tongs. Dip the paper towel in a high heat oil (I usually use avocado oil), and run the paper towel over the grates to saturate them in oil.
- Grill. Once the grates have been oiled and your shrimp is seasoned, place the shrimp directly on the grill grates. Grill for 2-3 minutes, flip the shrimp, and grill for another 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp reaches 145 degrees F.
- Dig in. Promptly remove the shrimp from the grill so you don’t overcook it. For a little extra kick, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp right before serving.
How Long to Grill Cajun Shrimp
It doesn’t take long to cook grilled cajun shrimp! In fact, it will only take around 2-3 minutes per side, or 4-6 minutes total to grill shrimp.
Shrimp cooks very quickly on the grill, so I recommend staying close to the grill and watching them closely as they cook. You want to remove them when they reach 145 degrees F and are in a loose C shape. If you overcook your shrimp, they’ll be tough and chewy.
Tips for Grilling Cajun Shrimp
Here are some tips for grilling this cajun shrimp.
- Preheat your grill. Really let your grill come up to that 400-450 degree F temperature zone. If you put the shrimp on when the grill is too cold, you will cook the shrimp through before developing any of that char on the exterior.
- Don’t overcook your shrimp. Use a thermometer to track the internal temperature to 145 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, look at the shape of your shrimp. Cook your shrimp until they resemble a C shape. If your shrimp look like a “g” or an “o”, you’ve gone too far.
- Oil your grates. A nice coat of high-heat cooking oil (avocado, canola, vegetable) can help prevent your shrimp from sticking to the grates. Simply pinch a paper towel between the end of your tongs and saturate the towel in the oil. Brush the oiled towel over the grates to put an even coating of oil on the grates.
More Cajun Recipes
Ready to make more cajun recipes on the BBQ? You’ve come to the right place! Hey Grill Hey believes you can cook anything and everything on the grill, and these cajun recipes are totally amazing.
Cajun Grilled Shrimp Recipe
Follow the recipe, and I’ll teach you the simple steps to making your own at home. If you’re looking for the ultimate way to help you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero, join my members-only group The Grill Squad for full access to all my meat, rubs, sauces, and meat buying masterclasses, podcasts, and so much more.
Cajun Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 2 pounds deveined 21/25 shrimp tail on
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Cajun Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Preheat. Turn on the grill and preheat it to High (400-450 degrees F).
- Make the seasoning. Combine all ingredients for the Cajun seasoning in a bowl except for the cayenne pepper. Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and taste for heat level. Continue adding until you reach your desired spice.
- Skewer. Slide the shrimp onto skewers, ensuring that each one is secured.
- Season the shrimp. Pour melted butter into a bowl and add the homemade Cajun seasoning. Brush the seasoned butter onto the shrimp skewers.
- Oil the grill grates. Pour 2 Tablespoons of a high heat cooking oil (avocado, canola, or vegetable oil) into a small bowl. Pinch a folded-up paper towel between your tongs, soak the towel in the oil, and brush lightly across the surface of the grill grates.
- Grill the shrimp. Place the shrimp skewers directly on the oiled grates and grill for 2-3 minutes per side until the shrimp curls into a "C" shape, is opaque throughout, and reads an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- Enjoy. Remove the shrimp from the grill to a serving platter. Top the finished shrimp with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
