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Blackened Shrimp on the Grill

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This amazing Blackened Shrimp On The Grill recipe makes the shrimp super flavorful! They are perfect for a salad, making blackened shrimp tacos and fajitas, or as the main protein for any meal. They are so versatile, and oh, did I mention they are as tasty as they are easy!

When you cook blackened shrimp in a cast-iron skillet on your grill, the bold flavors of the blackening spice really shine. The other bonus is that there is no mess to clean up in the kitchen! They also can get a little smoky too so perfect for the outdoors.

Blackened shrimp in a cast-iron pan with slices of lemon on a blue and white towel

HELPFUL ITEMS FOR THIS RECIPE

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Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

Glass Bowls with Lids, Set of 8, Clear

Salt and Pepper Grinder

How do you make good blackened shrimp?

Picture of blackened shrimp with a slice of lemon and chopped parsley for garnish

Making good blackened shrimp is pretty easy, really. Start with good shrimp (fresh or frozen). A good blackening seasoning. A cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, butter, lemon juice, and boom, there you have it delicious blackened shrimp. All in 20 minutes to 30 minutes from start to finish!

Ingredients

  • Shrimp
  • Vegetable oil
  • Butter
  • Chopped parsley
  • Smoked paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Brown sugar
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Kosher salt
  • Fresh ground pepper
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Lemon

Where we live, all we usually get is frozen shrimp; if you can find it fresh, even better! Make sure that if your shrimp are frozen, you thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. If you are in a rush, you can place the frozen shrimp in a colander and run them under cold water for 20 minutes or so until they are thawed.

You definitely want to make sure that your shrimp are completely thawed before you cook them in your skillet. If not, they may cook unevenly.

What is blackening seasoning made of?

Blackening seasoning is basically just a combination of spices. You can buy prepared blackening seasoning in your local grocery store. But if you have a pantry that is relatively well-stocked, you can easily create your own blackening spice.

In a medium-sized bowl, start by combining the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, oregano, thyme, Kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, and cayenne pepper.

You will want to make sure that your shrimp are dry, the seasoning adheres to the shrimp better, and they sear in the pan better when they are not wet or damp. Once you have them thawed, lay them out on a tray or baking sheet and pat them dry using a paper towel.

Ready to sear the shrimp

When the shrimp are patted dry, place them in a large bowl. Drizzle the shrimp with the vegetable oil and toss gently or stir to coat all the shrimp. Next, add the prepared spice mix to the bowl. Gently toss the shrimp to evenly coat all the shrimp with the spices.

Pre-heat your grill to medium-high heat, place your cast iron skillet on the grill and close the lid. Leave the skillet on the grill for 6-8 minutes to heat. The skillet should be so hot that it is just starting to smoke.

When the pan is hot, add a little oil to the pan and swirl it around, so the bottom of the pan is covered in oil. WARNING! Use an oven mitt or other heat-resistant glove when you move the skillet. The pan handle is VERY HOT!

Now it’s time to start to sear your shrimp. Cook them in batches. Don’t put too many shrimp in the skillet at one time and crowd the pan. Add the shrimp to the skillet, make sure that they are not touching and there is space between them.

Cooking for 1 – 2 minutes on the first side, then turn them and allow them to cook on the other side. Remove the cooked shrimp to a plate and cook the rest of the shrimp using the same process, adding more oil as needed until they are all cooked.

When you have cooked all the shrimp, add them back to the pan. Add butter and lemon slices and toss or stir to coat the shrimp.

What goes well with blackened shrimp?

Blackened shrimp in a cast iron skillet with lemon slices and parsley for garnish.

You can serve blackened shrimp as they are in a bowl as an appetizer; they are super yummy. But there are so many other options for your blackened cooked shrimp! You can serve them as blackened shrimp tacos, with a little classic salsa and avocado.

For a lower-carb healthy meal option, you could serve them as lettuce wraps with a tangy sauce or garlic aioli. Or as a topping on your Caesar salad, maybe in place of the usual chicken topping.

Blackened shrimp on a white dinner plate with peas, and mashed potatoes on a blue and white striped place mat.

If you are looking for a great dinner option, you can serve your blackened shrimp with mashed potatoes and a lovely vegetable side like peas, carrots, or green beans. Who wouldn’t want to dig into a fabulous plate like that?

Or you can serve up blackened shrimp pasta. Simply boil up a pot of your favorite pasta, like spaghetti, linguini, or fettuccini. The shrimp would pair very nicely with a creamy alfredo sauce or a simple garlic butter sauce.

So many options! This blackened shrimp recipe is as perfect for busy weeknights as it is for an elegant dinner.

What is the best way to cook frozen shrimp?

Raw shrimp spread out on a piece of paper towel on a baking sheet.

You can indeed cook shrimp from frozen. In fact, you can, in fact, cook just about any seafood from frozen. You do, however, need to be careful not only that the seafood is cooked through, but you have to consider the cooking method that you are using to cook your seafood.

Earlier I mentioned that you should thaw your shrimp prior to cooking them. For this method of cooking shrimp, in a skillet, it is best to cook them after they have thawed. This is because the skillet only cooks one side of the shrimp at a time. If you are cooking frozen shrimp, you may overcook the outside of the shrimp, while the center of the shrimp tail may be undercooked.

Plus, the blackening seasoning will not adhere to frozen shrimp nearly as well as shrimp that has been thawed.

If you are going to cook shrimp from frozen, you may find the best method is to boil them. Shrimp can be super tasty if you use a great crab boil when cooking the shrimp!

Blackened shrimp on a white plate with peas and mashed potatoes, with a small bowl of peas and a cast iron skillet of blackened shrimp beside the plate.

Oh, by the way, this blackened seasoning is perfect for spicing up your chicken or fish also!

Blackened shrimp with slices of lemon and chopped parsley for garnish.

Pin it HERE!!

The blackening spices in this blackened shrimp recipe will put some pop into your shrimp!

Pin it HERE!!

The blackening spices in this blackened shrimp recipe will put some pop into your shrimp!
Blackened shrimp in a cast-iron pan with slices of lemon on a blue and white towel

Blackened Shrimp on the Grill

Ken Noland
There is simply nothing like Cajun-style blackened shrimp from the grill!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Grilling
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 224 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 lbs large shrimp thawed, peeled, and deveined, tails on
  • 2 Tbsps vegetable oil plus more for cooking
  • 4 Tbsps unsalted butter
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • Chopped parsley for garnish optional

For the spice mix:

  • 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper or more to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a medium-sized bowl, make the blackening seasoning by mixing together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne, set aside.
  • Before seasoning the shrimp, pat them well with paper towels to make sure they are dry. The shrimp will sear better when dry. 
  • Place the shrimp in a large bowl, add the 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and then add the spice mix. Toss everything so the shrimp are well coated in the seasonings and oil, set aside.
  • Preheat the grill at high heat. Place a cast-iron skillet directly on the grates and close the top. Let it heat up for 5-8 minutes until super hot.
  • You will now sear the shrimp in batches. Add about 2 teaspoons of oil to the skillet and swirl it around until it is evenly coated. Add a layer of shrimp, not touching into the skillet, and sear until charred, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Flip the shrimp and sear the other side. Take the shrimp out and place it on a plate. Sear the remaining shrimp in batches, adding more oil if needed.
  • If you notice the cast iron skillet is starting to lose some of the heat, you can close the grill lid again and let it heat for a few more minutes in between batches.
  • Once all the shrimp is seared, add them back to the pan, add the butter and lemon slices and toss to coat. Garnish with optional parsley and serve immediately.

Equipment

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25", Black
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25″, Black
Libbey Small Glass Bowls with Lids, 6.25 ounce, Set of 8, Clear, 3.45-inch -
Libbey Small Glass Bowls with Lids, 6.25 ounce, Set of 8, Clear, 3.45-inch –
Grind Gourmet Salt and Pepper Grinder Set of 2 with Modern Thumb Push Button Grinder, Premium Stainless Steel, for Black Pepper, Sea Salt and Himalayan Salt, With Stand"
Grind Gourmet Salt and Pepper Grinder Set of 2 with Modern Thumb Push Button Grinder, Premium Stainless Steel, for Black Pepper, Sea Salt and Himalayan Salt, With Stand”

Notes

Cooking the shrimp in the skillet on the grill is optional. You can cook them the same way inside on the stove over high heat. But, this can then make the entire house very smokey from searing. 
The spice mix is very mild. Add more cayenne for more of a kick!
CAUTION: The cast iron skillet is very hot! Make sure you have a pair of good heat-resistant oven mittens. DO NOT pick up the hot skillet with your bare hands!! This will cause severe burns!

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 26gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 255mgSodium: 1222mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


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  1. Tandoori Shrimp Skewers - BBQing with the Nolands says:
    June 26, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    […] over a hot grill, it only takes a few minutes, and it’s so easy. You can have these wonderful shrimp on your family’s dinner plates in no […]

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Hi, I’m Ken thanks for stopping by BBQing with the Nolands! I was born and raised in Western Canada. I grew up on the great wide open farmlands that produce some of the worlds’ best livestock and grains.
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