Grilled Pesto Shrimp
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Whether you serve this grilled shrimp for dinner or as an appetizer, it disappears in a flash. Make extra!
There are endless ways to use pesto sauce—the Italian blend of olive oil, fresh basil, garlic, nuts, and Parmesan—but this grilled pesto shrimp recipe has to be one of my favorites. Whether you serve it with pasta (it’s especially delicious with spaghetti aglio e olio) and a vegetable for dinner or as an appetizer, the shrimp disappear fast. Trust me, no matter how much you think you’ll need, make extra!
“Terrific dish that came together quickly. Another dinner to add to our rotation!”
What You’ll Need To Make Grilled Pesto Shrimp
For the shrimp, I use frozen jumbo (16/20) shrimp labeled “shell split and deveined.” Come dinnertime, all I have to do is run the shrimp under cold water to quickly defrost and then peel. Note that the “fresh” shrimp you see in the seafood case at the supermarket is typically thawed frozen shrimp; so, for the freshest shrimp, you’re better off buying it frozen and defrosting it yourself.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by making the basil pesto: simply combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Reserve two tablespoons of the fresh pesto (you’ll use that on the grilled shrimp) and pour the rest over the shrimp.
Toss to coat and let the shrimp sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to marinate.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and grill the shrimp a few minutes per side. Be careful not to overcook them!
Right before serving, add the reserved pesto to the grilled shrimp. I know it only looks like a little, but pesto is very strong and garlicky so you don’t want to overdo it.
Serve with lots of napkins and enjoy!
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Grilled Pesto Shrimp
Whether you serve this grilled shrimp for dinner or as an appetizer, it disappears in a flash. Make extra!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds extra large (26/30) or jumbo shrimp, peeled (tails left on) and deveined, thawed if frozen
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 3 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Thread the shrimp onto skewers, if desired. (I usually don't bother, unless the shrimp are on the smaller side, in which case they might slip through the grill grates.)
- In a food processor or blender, combine the olive oil, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, Parmigiano-Reggiano and walnuts. Process until the mixture is well blended. Reserve two tablespoons of the pesto in a bowl large enough to hold all of the shrimp and set aside. Pour the remaining pesto over the shrimp and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to marinate.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. Place the shrimp on the grill and cook until plump and slightly charred, a few minutes per side. Transfer the cooked shrimp to the bowl with the reserved pesto and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 258
- Fat: 17
- Saturated fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Sodium: 922 mg
- Cholesterol: 194 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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I mistakenly bought pre-cooked frozen shrimp. Would these still work? Maybe cook for a minute on the grill just to get a nice char on the shrimp?
You could try it, but not sure if they’ll end up being overcooked that way. If you don’t want to risk it, you could use the shrimp in this shrimp salad.
Delicious! Served tonight as an appetizer. Could only find the “large” shrimp- 15-25 to the pound. I broiled them two minutes flipped over, broiled another two minutes. Perfect. There was not one shrimp left! A terrific recipe. Thank you!
I made this recipe on the stove top using a hot grill pan. Next time I need to double the recipe. Winner, Winner Shrimp Dinner!!!!!!!!!
I made this for dinner along with the Israeli Salad. Both were delicious and perfect for summer! I will be making both of them again. My husband declared both “keepers”!
Hi Jenn, If I don’t have a grill, what are my options? Oven or store top? Thanks.
Lin
Either will work Lin – a grill pan or the broiler in your oven. Hope you enjoy!
Terrific dish that came together quickly. Another dinner to add to our rotation!
Thanks for another great recipe Jenn and the bonus is that it is easy peasy! We had company tonight & the shrimp was devoured! The only complaint is – there are no leftovers! 😊😂
Can I cook this on the stove with a cast iron skillet? Don’t have a barbie.
Sure, Cathleen, I think it would work. Enjoy!
OH MY GOODNESS, these shrimp were AMAZING!! I crave them all the time – even when it’s freezing outside (sorry, hubby who has to grill)!
I am having a large group over and was thinking of serving this as an appetizer, and want to make it ahead of time, how would you suggest I do that? All of the appetizers will be displayed on a table, when the guests arrive. Any other appetizer favorites you would suggest? Thank you so much!!
Hi Stacey, I’ve only served this dish hot, but you could make the shrimp ahead, refrigerate and then serve cold or at room temperature. Some other well-liked appetizers that would be great for this time of year: Broiled Feta with Tomatoes, Pancetta Wrapped Asparagus and Zucchini Fritters. Hope that helps!