Smoked shrimp is one of the quickest and easiest recipes you can make on the pellet grill. You will love how soft and tender this shrimp is. Simply marinate for 15-30 minutes, then pop on the grill for another 30 minutes. This shrimp has amazing flavor and is perfect as an easy appetizer or a quick dinner. Serve it with cocktail sauce, on a salad, or in shrimp tacos for a dish everyone will love.
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This easy smoked shrimp recipe is the perfect summertime grilling recipe. It is easy to make, and everyone will love it.
You can make this recipe on any grill, but I love how it tastes when cooked on an electric smoker. The smoke from the wood pellets adds an extra layer of smoky flavor that takes this dish to the next level.
If you don't have a pellet grill, you can quickly adapt this recipe for your gas or charcoal grill. Just keep an eye on the shrimp, so it doesn't overcook.
They're also perfect served with rice and grilled corn or as an appetizer with cocktail sauce.
So fire up your grill and enjoy the best smoked shrimp of your life! You will love how each bite of tender, juicy shrimp melts in your mouth.
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- The marinade time is only 15-30 minutes.
- Smoked shrimp is a healthy recipe that everyone will love, plus shrimp is low in calories.
- Shrimp is versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes, from an appetizer to a main dish.
- Shrimp is affordable and budget-friendly.
- The indirect heat of the pellet grill cooks the shrimp evenly, resulting in incredibly soft and tender shrimp.
- Hands-off cooking. Let the pellet grill do its magic!
🦐 Ingredients
This recipe requires simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store.
- Shrimp, peeled. I used jumbo shrimp that were peeled with the tail removed. You can also use shrimp that has the tail on if you prefer. Both fresh shrimp and frozen shrimp can be used. If using frozen, defrost completely first.
- Olive oil.
- Lemon juice.
- Garlic powder.
- Black pepper.
- Onion powder.
- Sea salt.
See the recipe card for quantities.
⏲️Instructions
First, use a paper towel to dry the shrimp. Place shrimp in a large bowl. Then, add olive oil to the shrimp.
Add the lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper to the shrimp.
Toss the shrimp with the ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to marinade for 15-30 minutes.
Preheat your pellet grill to 225 degrees F.
Remove the shrimp from the fridge and place it on a grilling rack. You can also use a foil pan or make your own out of a sheet of aluminum foil. You can also place them in a cast iron pan as well.
Once the smoker comes up to temperature, place the shrimp on the grill grate. You can also place the shrimp directly on the smoker rack. Close the lid.
Smoke the shrimp until it turns pink, which means it is fully cooked.
Remove the shrimp from the electric smoker and serve right away with your favorite sides or dipping sauce.
Enjoy!
🥗 How to serve smoked shrimp
- Use in shrimp cocktail.
- Serve with a green salad.
- Serve them with garlic and butter sauce in shrimp scampi.
- Toss them with pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil for a quick and easy meal.
- Serve them as an appetizer with cocktail sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Spicy smoked shrimp are excellent on top of grilled pizza.
🦐 Substitutions
- Shrimp - use any size of shrimp; small or large. Keep in mind that smaller shrimp will cook quicker.
- Olive oil - use avocado oil or vegetable oil instead.
- Lemon juice - use lime juice instead.
- Spices - use your favorite herbs instead.
📖 Variations
One of the great things about smoked shrimp is that there are so many ways to enjoy them. Here are a few of our favorite smoked shrimp recipes:
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning to add a little kick. You can also serve the shrimp with a side of hot sauce for dipping.
- Sweet: Add a tablespoon of brown sugar to sweeten them up a bit.
- Saucy: Brush the shrimp with BBQ sauce the last few minutes of smoking time.
- Buttery: Brush with melted butter before serving.
🍽 Equipment
To make this easy shrimp recipe, you will need a smoker. There are many different models and types of smokers, and they may cook differently.
I made this recipe in a Pit Boss pellet smoker. However, you can also use any other smoker, such as a Traeger pellet smoker, Char-Broil, Master Chef, ZGrill, Lousiana grill, Big Green Egg, or Masterbuilt smoker.
I also used hickory wood pellets, which gave the shrimp a fantastic flavor. But, of course, feel free to use your favorite wood pellets.
🌡️ Storage
If you have leftover shrimp, store them in the fridge in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to 2 days.
You can also freeze the shrimp for up to 2 months in a Ziploc bag.
💭 Top tips
- Use good quality shrimp.
- If your shrimp are frozen, thaw them thoroughly before cooking.
- When placing the shrimp on the grill rack, ensure they are not crowded.
- The smoke time of the shrimp will depend on the size of your shrimp. Smaller shrimp will take less time than larger shrimp.
- Remove the shrimp from the smoker when they are pink and slightly opaque.
- Serve immediately with fresh lemon juice or lemon zest.
- Serve the shrimp with a dipping sauce or cocktail sauce.
📋 Recipe
Easy Smoked Shrimp Recipe on Pellet Grill
Equipment
- Pellet grill
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp peeled
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Use a paper towel to dry the shrimp. Place shrimp in a large bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together until combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to marinade for 15-30 minutes.
- Preheat your pellet grill to 225 degrees F.
- Remove the shrimp from the fridge and place it on a grilling rack. You can also use an aluminum pan or make your own out of a sheet of aluminum foil.
- Once the smoker comes up to temperature, place the shrimp on the grill grate. Close the lid.
- Smoke the shrimp until they turn pink, which means they are fully cooked.
- Remove the shrimp from the electric smoker and serve immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon and your favorite sides or dipping sauce.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use good quality shrimp.
- If your shrimp are frozen, thaw them thoroughly before cooking.
- When placing the shrimp on the grill rack, ensure they are not crowded.
- The smoke time of the shrimp will depend on the size of your shrimp. Smaller shrimp will take less time than larger shrimp.
- Remove the shrimp from the smoker when they are pink and slightly opaque.
- Serve immediately with fresh lemon juice or lemon zest.
- Serve the shrimp with a dipping sauce or cocktail sauce.
Nutrition
⭐ FAQ
To know if shrimp are cooked, you can use a food thermometer. Shrimp are cooked through when they reach an internal temperature of 120°F. You can also judge doneness by the shrimp's appearance. When properly cooked, shrimp will be pink.
The best way to keep shrimp from drying out on the grill is to marinate them before grilling. This recipe includes olive oil which prevents the shrimp from sticking. Also, this recipe is cooked on low heat so they don't dry out.
The ideal temperature for smoking shrimp is 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many different types of wood pellets can be used for smoking shrimp. Some popular options include hickory, mesquite, and Signature Blend.
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
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