Grilled Tequila Lime Shrimp

4.50 from 36 votes

Grilled Tequila Lime Shrimp are perfect for a sunny summer day when friends are expecting something flavorful to snack on. The tequila adds bold flavor, while fresh lime juice, garlic, olive oil, and ancho chile powder make the shrimp bright, smoky, and a little sweet from the grill.

Prep Time10

Cook Time4

Marinade Time4

Total Time4 14

Course: Seafood

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: servings

Author: Joshua Boquist

Ingredients

1 ½ lb large shrimp peeled and deveined with tails on
¼ cup tequila
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tbsp ancho chile powder
1 ½ tsp kosher salt

Instructions

Ensure the shrimp are peeled and deveined. I like to keep the tails on for a more finger-food-friendly serving option.
Add the tequila, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, chile powder, and salt to a large bowl. Thoroughly mix to combine all ingredients.
Add your shrimp to the marinade and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place it in the fridge for 1 to 4 hours so the shrimp can marinate and soak up all of the flavors.
Soak some bamboo skewers in water while the shrimp marinates. This prevents them from burning while on the grill (see recipe notes).
Preheat your charcoal grill. You want a grill that is fairly hot with direct heat.
Pierce 4 to 5 shrimp on each skewer (see recipe notes).
Place the shrimp skewers on the grill and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. The shrimp will cook very quickly and should form a "C" when fully cooked, not an "O" (see recipe notes).

Video

Notes

Use Skewers

Use metal skewers or soak bamboo skewers in water before grilling so they do not burn over the direct heat.

How To Skewer Shrimp

When piercing the shrimp on the skewer, pierce each shrimp in two places so they stay secure while cooking. I like to pierce once through the tail and again near the head of the shrimp.

Do Not Overcook Shrimp

Shrimp cook quickly. They are done when they turn pink and curl into a loose C shape. If the shrimp curl tightly into an O shape, they are likely overcooked.

Nutrition