Our favorite Shrimp Marinade – flavored with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs. The perfect way to prep your shrimp for grilling… and it makes a delicious sauce for drizzling, too!
There’s something about shrimp on the grill that always feels like such a treat. Because when you do it right, fresh grilled shrimp is a delicacy! And part of doing it right ALWAYS includes a good marinade.
Of course, we all know that the easiest marinade is a bottle of Italian dressing… but this homemade Shrimp Marinade is almost as easy, and SO worth it.
Made with simple ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, fresh garlic, fresh herbs, and just the right amount of salt and pepper… it comes together in no time and really does take fresh shrimp to that next level.
Even better, it doubles as a delicious drizzle for the shrimp once it’s cooked… and it makes the perfect salad dressing or bread dip, too! So be sure to plan accordingly.
what you’ll need for this recipe
Oil – I used extra virgin olive oil as the base of this marinade. Substitute avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil if you prefer.
Lemon juice – Lemon juice adds delicious citrus flavor to the marinade and pairs beautifully with the shrimp. Use fresh or bottled lemon juice OR substitute any type of citrus juice.
Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds a huge pop of flavor to the marinade and helps enhance the sweetness of the shrimp. I always prefer fresh garlic, but dried garlic or garlic powder will also work.
Fresh herbs – Fresh herbs add delicious flavor to this recipe and also make a delicious garnish for the shrimp after cooking. I used a combination of fresh basil and fresh parsley.
Salt & pepper – Salt and pepper help bring out all the other flavors in the marinade. I used kosher salt and freshly ground pepper for maximum flavor.
how to make shrimp marinade
Combine the ingredients in a pourable glass measuring cup. Whisk well. You can also make it in a glass jar with a lid and shake vigorously before using.
Recipe Variations
- Use any type of oil you prefer
- Use any type of citrus juice in place of lemon juice
- Substitute garlic powder for the fresh minced garlic
- Use any fresh herbs, such as fresh oregano, thyme, basil, or tarragon
- Add finely chopped onion
- Add additional seasonings, such as dried Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, or Old Bay seasoning
- Make it blackened using blackened seasoning
make-ahead & storage tips
Shrimp Marinade can be made up to 3 days in advance and should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator before using. You can also make the marinade (minus the fresh herbs) up to one month in advance and add the fresh herbs just before using.
Shrimp Marinade
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil OR any neutral oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh herbs I used basil and Italian parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl, jar, or glass measuring cup.
- Whisk or shake well to combine.
- Pour over raw shrimp, reserving desired amount for drizzling on cooked shrimp.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes – 2 hours to allow time for the marinade to flavor the shrimp.
- Grill or cook shrimp as desired.
Notes
Recipe Variations
- Use any type of oil you prefer
- Use any type of citrus juice in place of lemon juice
- Substitute garlic powder for the fresh minced garlic
- Use any fresh herbs, such as fresh oregano, thyme, basil, or tarragon
- Add finely chopped onion
- Add additional seasonings, such as dried Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, or Old Bay seasoning
- Make it blackened using blackened seasoning
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