Chili Lime Shrimp

Name: Chili Lime Shrimp
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined); 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin); 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ¼ cup lime juice; 1 tablespoon lime zest (zest of 1 lime); ½ teaspoon salt

Chili lime shrimp is an easy dinner option made in no time. This is a tangy recipe you can prep and grill or sauté in under 30 minutes!

5 Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos on a black sheet pan with chili powder, limes, and cilantro on the side.

If you need an easy healthy dinner, this chili lime shrimp is the perfect option.

Chili lime shrimp is easy to make on your grill or in your sauté pan in under 30 minutes. Gluten free, dairy free and delicious – this tangy shrimp marinade is the best!

Table of Contents

reasons to make chili lime shrimp

Quick to prep and cook. Marinating shrimp is quick, and they cook in under 15 minutes!
Healthy – Shellfish in general is low in calories. Our grilled shrimp recipe is just 454 calories for a huge serving!
Super versatile recipe – For other protein options and marinade flavors, check out the recipe variations section, below.

The lime marinated shrimp have the perfect zesty flavor, using a bit of lime zest along with the juice really adds some depth to the marinade.

Close up of chili lime shrimp skewers on a black grill with a lime on the side.

These shrimp have the perfect zesty marinade with the best lime flavor and a little kick that is so easy/simple to make. (Like under 5 minutes to make simple!) Let me show you how it’s done.

ingredients you’ll need

Other than the seafood, you will just need a few ingredients for the marinade

peeled deveined raw shrimp – Either fresh or frozen is fine for this recipe, but fresh seafood always has the best flavor and texture. You can also buy shrimp in the shells and peel them/devein them yourself but I recommend buying them peeled and deveined to save yourself the time!

Medium to large shrimp are best for grilling. Avoid using small shrimp, because they cook too quickly and can get stuck in the grill grates depending on the type of grill. We used medium sized shrimps, and they came out great!

🍤 Helpful Tip: Buy pre-peeled, deveined shrimp. You can often find them in the frozen section.

shrimp marinade ingredients

Ingredients to make chili lime shrimp in white bowls on a grey background: shrimp, fresh lime juice, lime zest, spices including chili powder, olive oil

lime juice/zest – fresh lime juice and zest is ideal but if you only have bottled lime juice that can work. We use this hand held juicer for lemons and limes.
spices: salt, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder – you can make a big batch of this seasoning and save it for later, it goes great on chicken and steak too!
extra virgin olive oil – our favorites are Bono and Garcia De La Cruz

Substitutions for chili lime shrimp:

Marinade: You can adjust the marinade on this if you’d like. Use any of these Healthy Salmon Marinades or our Shrimp Fajitas Marinade is a delicious option. Just double the recipes so there is enough to coat all of the shellfish.

Spices: It’s ok if you don’t have all of the spices we call for in the recipe. Simply replace it with a similar spice. Another option is to use a premade seafood spice blend – even a Tex-Mex or Cajun spice blend would be a great choice!

Oil: You can use avocado oil instead of olive oil in this recipe if you’d like.

Cooking in a pan: If you don’t have a grill you can pan sear these for 3-4 minutes on each side.

Shrimp: You can use this recipe on salmon or chicken too! Try our Chili Lime Chicken next!

How to make chili lime shrimp:

Chili Lime Marinade in a white bowl with a whisk in it.

Mix together your marinade.

Raw Shrimp in a chili lime marinade in a white bowl.

Add shrimp and marinade into a ziploc bag or bowl. Let them marinate for about 10 minutes, you don’t need a lot of time to get some great flavor into these shrimp. You can place these shrimp directly on your grill grates or use skewers to keep them all together and make sure they don’t fall through the grates!

3 Chili Lime Shrimp Skewers on a black stove top grill.

While they’re marinating get your grill heated. You want to make sure it is super hot before putting the shrimp on. 4-5 minutes on each side should give you perfectly cooked shrimp. You can also pan sear these shrimp in a sauté pan should you not be in the mood to grill or run out of propane! Follow the same steps but be sure to coat your pan with olive oil cooking spray in advance.

These shrimp cook SO quickly, so just make sure to watch them!

tips for making grilled marinated shrimp

There isn’t much prep work for you to do, other than making the marinade for the shrimp. After that, it’s just a matter of grilling the seafood!

making the chili lime shrimp marinade

Minimize dish washing. Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a bowl, or shake them together in a gallon size Ziploc bag. Doing this will save cleanup time.
Avoid over-marinating. Let the shrimp marinate for at least 10 minutes, but no longer than 45 minutes. Any longer than that and you will risk the acidity of the lime juice breaking down the proteins in your seafood. This process is a form of “cooking” the shrimp (the same process is used for ceviche).

How to grill shrimp:

Remember to preheat your grill. You want to make sure it is super hot before adding the marinated shrimp. We suggest heating the grill to at least 400°F. for this recipe.
You can skewer the shrimp with metal or wooden skewers or place the pieces directly on the grill grates, you can also use a grilling basket if it’s easier for you!
Avoid overcooking. Shellfish cooks very quickly, so to avoid burning them, don’t walk away for too long. Just 4 to 5 minutes on each side should give you perfectly grilled shrimp.

The cook time for shrimp on the grill can vary, so it’s best to use a visual reference. When they turn from a grey color to a light pink color, you will know they’re ready to remove from the heat.

Best skewers for grilling:

Metal skewers are definitely better for grilling because you don’t have to worry about them burning or catching fire. (Or leaving little flecks of wood in/near your food!)

We think these metal skewers from amazon are the best for grilling. They’re reasonably priced and have held up great for us. We pop them right in the dishwasher after using!

If you need to use wooden skewers, these are a good option. I always recommend soaking them in water for 30 minutes before using them to reduce the risk of burning the wood.

Chili Lime Shrimp and cilantro lime rice on a white plate with another plate on the side.

recipe variations:

Cook the shrimp in a skillet or grill pan. If you don’t have a grill, you can pan sear the seafood for 3-4 minutes on each side. Using a flat top grill or griddle is another great option as well!

Use different proteins. You can use this marinade on salmon, steak, or chili lime chicken would be delicious too!

serving suggestions

Pretty much anything goes with grilled marinated shrimp! but here are some of our favorite ways to serve chili lime shrimp:

As an appetizer – I like to serve these shrimp as an appetizer, topped with our Homemade Guacamole.
In tacos– Top with some Pineapple Mango Salsa or you can try these Shrimp Tacos
In lettuce wraps
On top of a salad – substitute for the chicken in this Caesar Salad Recipe
Over rice or cauliflower rice

We also like to serve them with healthy sides like grilled veggies and crispy rosemary smashed potatoes.

With grilled veggies
With Smashed Potatoes

A close up of chili lime shrimp on a taco shell with another shrimp taco in the background.

If you’re looking for other grilling recipes – check out these Healthy Grilling Recipes! Or check out our 50+ Healthy Low Calorie Shrimp Recipes.

storage options

Shrimps are best eaten fresh off the grill but they could be refrigerated for up to 2 days if you choose to serve them cold or reheat. (I really don’t love reheated shrimp to be honest so eating these fresh is your best bet)

Storing: Because seafood has a tendency to absorb flavors from nearby foods, it’s important to store them in an airtight container.

Reheating: I don’t love reheating shrimp but if needed you could put them in a toaster oven or in a pan to heat them up.

FAQ

Can you use frozen shrimp?

Yes, absolutely! You can use frozen shrimp in this recipe, just make sure to completely defrost them by running under cold water before cooking.

How long does shrimp need to sit in lime juice?

The shrimp needs to sit in the marinade for at least 10 minutes.

Can you over marinate shrimp?

Yes, to avoid the proteins in your shellfish from breaking down, we recommend marinating shrimp for no longer than 45 minutes. Keep in mind that seafood marinades are only to add flavor. They don’t have connective tissue that requires tenderizing, like beef and pork do

Can I make the marinade ahead of time?

Absolutely, yes! Just combine all of the marinade ingredients together, then place it in a large Ziploc bag or other non-reactive container with a lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Other healthy grilling recipes:

Looking for other delicious recipes? Check out these Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas and Healthy Grilling Recipes. Click here to grab our free healthy grilling cookbook.