By Becky Hardin
Published Jun 8, 2023
This is the best Shrimp Marinade for grilling shrimp because it’s simple but packed with flavor! A mix of soy sauce, balsamic, dijon, brown sugar, garlic, and Italian seasoning adds a rich, sweet and savory taste. So be sure to add this marinated grilled shrimp to your summer cookout rotation to pair with veggies, rice, or any dishes you please!
What’s in Grilled Shrimp Marinade?
This shrimp marinade blends salty, sweet, savory, and tangy ingredients for a fresh and balanced flavor.
- Olive Oil: Provides moisture to the shrimp and protects them from burning on the grill.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Adds tanginess and a subtle sweetness to the marinade.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the shrimp to caramelize on the grill.
- Soy Sauce: Adds umami flavor to the marinade and helps to tenderize the shrimp.
- Garlic: Adds earthy and savory flavor to the marinade.
- Italian Seasoning : Adds a classic Mediterranean flavor profile to the marinade.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds tanginess and a touch of heat to the marinade.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a hint of spiciness.
- Salt + Pepper: Enhance the natural flavor of the shrimp.
- Shrimp: For this recipe, you’ll want large peeled and deveined shrimp.
Pro Tip: For a milder recipe, omit the red pepper flakes.
Variations on Marinated Grilled Shrimp
This shrimp marinade is so versatile, but you can still customize it even more to suit the dishes you plan to serve it with. Try adding the zest and juice of a lemon or lime to make the marinade even brighter. Swap the Italian seasoning for Creole seasoning , blackened seasoning , taco seasoning , or herbs de Provence . You can also swap out the brown sugar for honey, agave, or maple syrup to change the flavor profile slightly.
You can marinate these shrimp for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 2 hours. Any longer than that, and the proteins in the shrimp will start to break down too much, leading to mushy shrimp.
While there’s no need to pre-soak your shrimp for this recipe, you can soak them in a mixture of 1 cup of water, ¼ cup of sugar, and ¼ cup of salt for about 30 minutes before rinsing and marinating to help keep them tender and juicy.
Shrimp cook super fast, so the key is to remove them from the heat right when the flesh is uniformly pink, with no brown or greyish-brown spots. Properly cooked shrimp should read 120°F on an instant-read thermometer.
I always recommend peeling the shrimp to allow the marinade to penetrate more deeply, but the tails can be left on or removed– the choice is yours!
How to Store
Store leftover marinated shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the grill or in a lightly-oiled frying pan just until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze cooked shrimp in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve marinated shrimp with white rice , roasted potatoes , oven baked risotto , Parmesan polenta , quinoa salad , or tricolor pasta salad . A crunchy cucumber salad , fresh corn on the cob , grilled asparagus , or a grilled peach salad would also be delicious!
Or use these shrimp to make shrimp tacos , grilled shrimp salad , or shrimp summer rolls .
More Skewered Shrimp Recipes We Love
- Pesto Shrimp
- Bang Bang Shrimp
- Grilled Shrimp Salad
- More Easy Shrimp Recipes
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup olive oil
- ▢ 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ▢ ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional, for spice
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined (thawed if frozen)
- ▢ Choped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning, dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper together. ½ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Add in the shrimp and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. 1 pound large shrimp
- Skewer the shrimp onto metal or wood skewers.
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Brush or spray the grates with oil.
- Grill the skewers for 2-3 minutes per side or until the shrimp are opaque. Remove from the grill and serve. Choped fresh parsley
Equipment
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
- Wooden Skewers
Becky’s Tips
- For a milder recipe, omit the red pepper flakes.
- If you are using wood skewers, soak them for 1 hour before skewering the shrimp and grilling.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Sauces and Marinades to Try
We love to boost flavor by creating simple spice rubs or easy sauces. It’s such a quick way to pack your dinner with all the flavor with none of the fuss. Here are some favorites:
- Burger Sauce
- Steak Marinade
- Chicken Seasoning
- Pork Chop Seasoning
- Chicken Marinade
- Turkey Rub
- Garlic Aioli
Shrimp Marinade Recipe
Equipment
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
- Wooden Skewers
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional, for spice
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined (thawed if frozen)
- Choped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning, dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper together. ½ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Add in the shrimp and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. 1 pound large shrimp
- Skewer the shrimp onto metal or wood skewers.
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Brush or spray the grates with oil.
- Grill the skewers for 2-3 minutes per side or until the shrimp are opaque. Remove from the grill and serve. Choped fresh parsley
Video
Notes
- For a milder recipe, omit the red pepper flakes.
- If you are using wood skewers, soak them for 1 hour before skewering the shrimp and grilling.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
