Grilled rosemary shrimp is an easy dinner recipe to make, and it is packed with flavor! It’s low-carb, Keto friendly, and Whole30 compliant.
We love grilling this Rosemary Shrimp in the summer. There’s something about the smell of the BBQ and the casual atmosphere that makes it one of my favorite ways of cooking. Especially since it doesn’t require heating up the kitchen. This grilled shrimp marinade has all the delicious flavors to make it a summertime favorite. (This post was originally published on May 13th, 2013 and has been updated to contain nutritional information. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn commission on qualifying purchases.)
What Makes this Grilled Rosemary Shrimp Keto and Whole30 compliant?
The ingredients! When you stop cooking with, mixes, boxes, canned soup and other packaged products, and just use simple ingredients, it’s amazing how many dishes become instantly healthier. We’re taught that the Mediterranean Diet is the gold standard for healthier eating. This shrimp recipe fits the bill.
Just olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper, are all that’s needed for this deliciously simple recipe. Because there is no dairy, it is also Whole30 compliant. I’ve been using this simple marinade for years. Who knew 30 years ago that it would one day be considered Whole30 and Keto as well?
What size shrimp should I use for grilled shrimp?
Use the largest size shrimp you can afford. Using small shrimp will not have the same results. If you can, look for wild caught shrimp. Again, this is not a “budget” recipe. But it’s still so much further than going out to eat in a restaurant! Using wild caught shrimp is best. Read more about why you shouldn’t buy farmed shrimp here.
A word about shrimp sizing.
In the culinary world, shrimp are referred to not by terms like “jumbo” or “extra large”, but rather by approximately how many are in a pound. So for example, a chef might ask for 10-15’s or 16-20’s depending on the dish he or she is preparing. For something like Ceviche, you can choose shrimp that’s much smaller, say 21-25’s, or even 25-30’s. For this recipe, I found “10-15” shrimp, and bought a little over a pound. I counted 18 shrimp.
Can I substitute ingredients for grilled shrimp?
While you can sometimes substitute ingredients in a recipe in a pinch, this is one time when you’ll want to use quality ingredients. For this recipe, you’ll need fresh lemon juice, fresh, not jarred or powdered garlic and fresh, not dried rosemary. When you cook with so few ingredients, you’ll be able to taste each ingredient, so make sure it’s the best!
How long does shrimp have to marinade for?
The nice thing about cooking with fish and seafood, is that it doesn’t need to marinade for very long. Marinate this shrimp for between 30 minutes to one hour.
What’s in this grilled shrimp marinade?
You can read more about the differences between “marinate”, “marinade” and “macerate” here. A marinade needs to have an acid, an oil, and seasoning.
The acid of the lemon balances nicely with the strong resiny rosemary. As with any recipe, check the flavor of the marinade before adding it to the fish. Check for balance. Does it taste delicious? Is it too acidic? Add some more oil. Is to too “oily”? Add some additional lemon. Remember to season liberally with salt and pepper. Is it garlicky enough for you? I used three garlic cloves, but as with anything, my cloves could be smaller, my lemons larger than yours, so that’s when personal tastes comes into play.
What can I serve with grilled rosemary shrimp?
Since this is a Mediterranean inspired dish, I like to serve Grilled Vegetables or a Greek Salad. I sometimes serve it with cauliflower rice for me, and Golden Rice Pilaf for my husband and daughter. The best part about this dish? I can have dinner on the table in under 45 minutes.
Some of the items used in this post are available at my Amazon Affiliate Store.
Grilled Rosemary Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp 10-15 per pound. Unpeeled.
- 1 large lemon juiced, (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons finely chopped rosemary
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl.
- Cover shrimp with marinade, turning to coat. Set aside, about 30 minutes, and up to an hour.
- Discard marinade. Thread shrimp on bamboo or metal skewers, about 4 shrimp per skewer. Grill or broil shrimp over medium heat, about 2-3 minutes per side, or until just done and pink.
Paul Anderson says
Beautiful prose adjacent to mouth-watering photography! This is a new line on my “to-do” list. Thanks Cynthia !
Cynthia says
Thanks Paul! It’s so hot today, I just want to grill outside!
Mr. & Mrs. P says
This is right up our alley! We just love flavorful dishes that are also light.. Looks delicious!
Daniela says
Hy, i’m Daniela, 🙂
do you still have a foodblog?
thank you!
Cynthia says
yes!
Sandy Headtke says
Shrimp just went on the shopping list. I’ve been wanted to use rosemary stems as a skewer with grilled shrimp, this will be the perfect recipe to try it on.
Cynthia says
Oh, great Sandy! Let me know how they turn out!
Mila says
What a yummy and flavorful recipe! Shrimps look delish! 🙂
Cynthia says
Thanks Mila…and so fast and easy too!
Culinary Flavors says
I love shrimps and rosemary must have given them a very unique taste!
Culinary Flavors says
Thanks for coming and linking up at The Weekend Social. All posts get pinned on our pinterest board! Please be sure to come back next week starting Thursdays at 9PM EST on culinaryflavors.gr! I hope to see you there!
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine says
You’re so right about herbs Cynthia, each one is so deliciously unique and can totally change the tone of a meal. I love this time of the year in that I have so many choices right out my back door. I’m a huge fan of lemon and rosemary too and this easy dinner sounds like gourmet restaurant fare!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Wow Cynthia this looks great. What an interesting analogy about musicians and chefs. I’m going to be thinking about that for a while! I’ve been craving shrimp and now rice pilaf too! Pinning!
Cynthia says
Thanks so much Tricia!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
A simple, lovely dish! Great flavors.
Taylor Kiser says
Perfect light dinner that packs in the flavor too!
Cynthia says
Totally! We love those low-carb dishes!
Danielle says
I’m not a whole30 person, but these shrimp sound perfect for my “try to be healthy” lunches! I love the fresh herbs and garlic of course. YUM!
2pots2cook says
Thank you for the beautiful collection ! Glad to find you !
Cynthia says
Awesome! I’ll be stopping by your site!
Heather Castillo says
I’m up for any shrimp dish! It’s one of my favorite things. I can’t wait to try this!
Cynthia says
Me too! It’s one of my favorite seafoods!
Jay Aguirre says
Shrimp is one of my favorite sources of protein. When I was on keto, shrimp and salmon were always in my diet. Great recipe!
Cynthia says
Thanks Jay. It’s a great source of protein whether keto, pescatarian or whole30. That’s what I love about simple recipes!
Talya says
Oh my goodness this look so good! So simple but the rosemary sounds like the perfect pairing for a yummy grill.
Cynthia says
So simple and so easy!
Nyxie says
This would make a gorgeous dish for a BBQ! If only we had the weather over here!
Thank you for sharing.
Cynthia says
You can also use the marinade and broil them in the oven too!
Ashlee says
Simple easy and delicious. I love, love shrimp so I’m going to try this recipe this week for sure!
Cynthia says
Super easy and so delicious! Let me know how it turns out!
Melanie williams says
What a lovely idea for a dinner. Beautiful step by step guide, easy to understand and lovely piccys too x
Cynthia says
Thank you Melanie! It’s a very simple and easy dinner.
Cindy Batchelor says
This looks so yummy! I have yet to grill this summer! This has inspired me! Thanks for sharing!
Cynthia says
Thank you Cindy! Enjoy!
Catherine says
Such a perfectly light yet delicious meal for the summer nights! This looks and sounds so good, Cynthia!
Cynthia says
Thank you Catherine!
Mubin Ansari says
Wow ! Looks delicious and easy to cook
Should try this simple recipe this weekend !
Provided I get fresh sea food
Cynthia says
Thank you Mubin! So simple and delicious!
ESHR PRKR says
I love how you stressed quality, fresh ingredients. When it comes to any recipes that come to shrimp I believe one should spend the coins. That’s to a cook what a kolinksy brush is to an artist. While reading this it hit me to visit one of the many ponds (I live on an island) in my area to catch some shrimp. Thank you!
Cynthia says
lucky you! I only have access to store-bought shrimp, but I always make sure it’s wild-caught.
Christina Conte says
This is one of my very favorite ways to have shrimp! So easy and simple, but the flavor is the best!
mimi rippee says
Yum. I don’t use rosemary often, and when I do, it’s a very small amount. But this recipe really appeals to me. Thanks!
Elaine R. says
Have made this recipe before, so thanks for sharing it again because this is the perfect time for it! It’s so darn hot!
Cynthia says
Thank you! It’s perfect on a hot summer’s night for sure!