Chili Lime Shrimp
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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!
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 (including marinating time).
Gluten free, dairy free and delicious – this zesty, tangy shrimp marinade is the best and so versatile!
tyler’s 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. When they turn from a grey color to a light pink color, you will know they’re ready to remove from the heat.
shrimp marinade ingredients
Substitutions for chili lime shrimp:
Shrimp: Either fresh or frozen is fine for this recipe, but fresh seafood always has the best flavor and texture. If using frozen shrimp in this recipe, just make sure to completely defrost them by running them under cold water before cooking. 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. You also may like our healthy shrimp scampi or shrimp puttanesca.
Other proteins: You can use this recipe on chili lime steak, salmon, pork, or chicken too! Try our Pineapple Grilled Chicken or Balsamic Grilled Chicken next!
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.
Lime juice/zest: Fresh lime juice and zest are ideal, but if you only have bottled lime juice, that can work. We use this citrus juicer for lemons and limes.
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. Make sure to use a high quality olive oil like this one.
Cooking in a pan: If you don’t have a grill you can pan sear these for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Veggies: You can also add veggies to the kebabs like in this Greek Chicken Kebabs recipe.
How to make chili lime shrimp:
- Mix together your marinade. You can also make this ahead of time, then place it in a large Ziploc bag or other container with a lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- 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!
- 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!
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.
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 Healthy Caesar Salad Recipe
- Over rice or cauliflower rice
We also like to serve them with healthy sides like grilled veggie kebabs, grilled corn, foil-grilled vegetables, or crispy rosemary smashed potatoes.
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.
Chili Lime Shrimp
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
Instructions
- Preheat grill to 400 (medium-high heat)
- In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice/zest + spices. Toss peeled shrimp with marinade + allow it to marinate for at least 10 minutes. You can marinate directly in a bowl or ziploc/stasher bag.
- Add shrimps on to skewers. You can also place the shrimp directly on your grill grates or flat top grill if you do not have skewers.
- Place on hot grill and cook for 5 minutes. Flip + cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve shrimp in tacos, on a salad, or with rice.
No directions for what to do with lime and salt.
It’s in the 2nd step.
Oh my goodness. I made this last night along with the veggies in foil I found on your site and they both were AMAZING!!!!!
Thanks, Denise!! So happy you liked them!
This recipe is absolutely fantastic! My hubby is not a big shrimp fan but just loved this recipe. It was so easy and quick!
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it!
This is my new favorite way of eating shrimp, for sure! My husband and I also put this on chicken and grilled it and it was delicious!
Thank you so much!
I could eat an entire plate of this shrimp by themselves. I love the marinade!
We were grilling tonight so I just threw together the shrimp and marinade to cook it so I’d have a quick lunch for the weekend. It’s quick, easy and it tastes amazing.
This makes me so happy to hear, Teresa!! It’s the perfect easy grilling recipe!
This shrimp recipe is easy and delicious. We like it over a salad!
Thank you so much, Linda! I’m sure it’s delicious over a salad.