It’s happened to most of us. We are getting ready to grill a delicious shrimp dinner, but when we open our utensil drawer, we realize that we’re out of wooden skewers for grilling shrimp. Then you’re left wondering how to grill shrimp without skewers.
Grilling shrimp with skewers is the perfect way to make grilled shrimp. Investing in some metal skewers so that you always have skewers on hand is a great idea. However, it’s entirely possible to grill shrimp without skewers.
Are you ready to learn how to grill shrimp without skewers? Let’s dive in and learn all the easy ways to make grilled shrimp, even if you haven’t stocked up on skewers.
How to Grill Shrimp Without Skewers: 3 Different Methods
You can easily grill shrimp without skewers. We have four methods that we have used to grill shrimp.
Method 1: Grilling Shrimp in Foil
You can grill shrimp in foil packets even if you have small shrimp. That’s the beauty of this method.
Besides being a great way to grill shrimp if you don’t have skewers, this method for cooking shrimp on the grill is also the perfect way to lock in delicious buttery goodness. Best of all, you need just a few key ingredients.
Here is how to grill shrimp in foil.
- Preheat your grill to 400°F.
- Season the shrimp with your preferred ingredients. You need butter or olive oil. Other ingredients can include freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic cloves, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Wrap the shrimp will all of the ingredients in foil. Crimp the foil and fold it inward to create a neat packet.
- Cook the foil packet on the grill for between 8 and 10 minutes. You’ll know your dinner is done when the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Don’t overcook the shrimp because it will become chewy, and the delicate flavor will be affected.
- Open the packet carefully because it will be steaming.
To make this grilled shrimp in foil a complete meal, add some quick-cooking veggies into the foil packages. This can be broccoli, asparagus, or bell peppers and onions.
Method 2: Laying Shrimp Directly on the Grill Grate
One of our favorite ways to make grilled shrimp without skewers is to lay the shrimp directly on the grill grate.
To cook grilled shrimp using this method, you need reasonably large shrimp. Small shrimp will fall through into the fire or coals below.
Cooking shrimp directly on the grill grate requires close watching. You don’t want the shrimp to get dry, and they’re done in about 5 minutes. Be sure to turn them halfway through the cooking time.
Method 3: Grilling Shrimp in a Grilling Basket
We love our grilling basket. It’s perfect for cooking veggies on the grill, but it’s also super handy for cooking grilled shrimp, scallops, and more.
To cook your shrimp on the grill using a grilling basket, follow these steps.
- Rinse and pat dry your shrimp.
- Marinate the shrimp in the fridge with some olive oil and the seasoning of your choice (Old Bay Seasoning is ideal).
- Slice your preferred vegetables, including bell peppers, squash, mushrooms, green onions, and zucchini. Season the veggies with salt and pepper.
- Spray the grilling basket with olive oil cooking spray and place the basket on the grill.
- Grill the delicate veggies first (the mushrooms and onions).
- Cook the rest of the vegetables, sauteeing them until they’re tender but not overcooked.
- Remove the vegetables from the basket and add the shrimp.
- Stir the shrimp until they start to turn pink.
- Add the vegetables back to the basket and stir to combine.
- Serve and enjoy!
Method 4: Grilling Shrimp on a Cookie Cooking Rack
One quick and easy way to grill shrimp is to put a cookie cooling rack directly atop your grill grates. The cookie cooking rack will allow the heat to get into contact with the shrimp, but the spaces in the rack are super narrow, which keeps your shrimp from falling through the cracks.
To make grilled shrimp without skewers using a cookie cooling rack, follow the same recipe that you would follow to cook grilled shrimp with skewers.
Method 5: Using a Cast-Iron Frying Pan on the Grill
Cast-iron cookware is perfect for grilling outdoors. If you don’t have skewers, consider sauteeing your shrimp over the hot coals or fire in a skillet.
The key is to get your fire hot enough that you can melt butter in the cast-iron skillet. Once the butter is melted, simply toss in your shrimp and saute them. If you don’t want to use butter, you can also use olive oil for cooking your shrimp in a frying pan on your grill.
Squeeze some lemon juice over your shrimp, and you’re ready for one of the best meals of your life.
FAQs about Grilling Shrimp
Below, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about grilling shrimp.
How do you grill shrimp if you don’t have skewers?
There are a few different ways to grill shrimp if you don’t have skewers. Here are our favorites.
- Grill shrimp in foil.
- Lay the shrimp directly onto the grill grate.
- Grill shrimp in a grilling basket.
- Grill shrimp atop a cookie cooling rack.
- Cook your shrimp in a cast-iron frying pan on the grill.
Can you grill shrimp directly on grill?
Yes, you can grill shrimp directly on your grill, and you can grill them with or without the shells. To keep the shrimp from drying out when you grill them, marinate them. If you remove the shell, the marinade will more easily penetrate the delicious meat, giving the shrimp even more flavor.
What is the best way to grill shrimps?
The best way to grill shrimp is to cook them for no more than five minutes on medium-high heat (between 375 and 400 degrees).
How do you keep shrimp from drying out on the grill?
Here are a few ways to ensure that your shrimp stays juicy when grilled.
- Use brine or marinade to soak the shrimp. To use brine, soak the shrimp in their shells in a mixture of 1⁄3 cup of salt with eight cups of water. Allow the shrimp to soak in the brine for approximately three hours.
- Consider full-fat yogurt as a marinade. Yogurt has a natural acidity that tenderizes the shrimp beautifully.
- Don’t overcook the shrimp. Remember that shrimp is fully cooked in five minutes or less.
Can you use frozen shrimp for grilling?
You can thaw your frozen shrimp in advance, but if you forget to thaw them, don’t worry. Shrimp thaws very quickly. All you need to do is put your shrimp in a colander. Then, place the colander in the sink and run cold water over the shrimp until they’re thawed. It will take just a few minutes.
Also, shrimp can technically be grilled while frozen. They will just require about two more minutes of cooking time.