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An Easy Shrimp Dinner That Always Works

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Donna Urso

What I Cook When I Have No Time 

There are days when I just don’t have the time, or honestly, the energy, to cook.

You know the kind of day I mean.

You’ve been busy, you’re tired, and the last thing you want is a complicated recipe with a sink full of dishes at the end.

A picture of shrimp on the grill, marinating in a sauce.
 
But I still want something homemade.

That’s where this shrimp dinner comes in.

This Is My “No Time” Meal

Jump to Recipe

This is one of those meals I’ve made more times than I can count.

It’s quick.

It’s simple.

And it uses ingredients I almost always have on hand.

That’s the key, isn’t it?

When you’re short on time, you don’t need a new recipe. You need something you already know works.

Why This Works So Well

Shrimp on three wooden skewers.
There are a few reasons I come back to this again and again:

  • Shrimp cook fast! Really fast!

  • There’s very little prep

  • It feels like a “real meal,” not just something thrown together

  • You can adjust it based on what you have

And maybe most importantly…

It doesn’t feel like a compromise because it is yummy.

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A Little Kitchen Strategy (This Matters More Than the Recipe)

Over the years, I’ve learned something that makes all the difference:

It’s not about having more recipes.
It’s about having a few reliable meals you can fall back on. Meals like this one.

When you have 5–10 go-to dinners in your back pocket, those “what am I going to make?” moments get a whole lot easier.

This easy shrimp dinner is one of mine.

What You’ll Need

This is flexible, but here’s the general idea:

  • Frozen shrimp (I always keep a bag in the freezer). My favorite size is 16-21per pound, or thereabout.

  • Butter or olive oil

  • Garlic (fresh or jarred—both work), even garlic powder will work.

  • A simple seasoning (salt, pepper, maybe a little lemon or lime if you have it)

  • Hot sauce for some zip.

  • Skewers, if you are grilling.

You can serve it with:

    Shrimp, pasta and basil mixed together.

  • Rice

  • Pasta

  • Grilled veggies or salad greens

  • Or even just on its own

No fuss. No overthinking.

How It Comes Together

This is the kind of cooking you don’t need to over-explain:

  1. Thaw the shrimp. If your shrimp isn't deveined, take the time to do it now.  A bird beak knife like this one makes quick work of the process.

  2. Heat your pan (or grill) with butter or oil

  3. Make your marinade.  See below for details.

  4. Add shrimp and cook just until done, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Don't overcook.  It will be tough.

  5. Season and serve

That’s it.

Dinner is on the table in minutes.

This Is Real-Life Cooking

I think sometimes we make cooking harder than it needs to be.

Not every meal has to be special.
Not every dinner needs a recipe.

Some days, it just needs to be:

  • Good

  • Simple

  • Done

And this is exactly that kind of meal.

If You’re Trying to Cook More at Home

Start here.

Not with complicated recipes.
Not with big plans.

Just with simple ingredients and a few meals like this, meals that fit into your life instead of taking it over.

If you watched the video, you saw exactly how I put this together.

And if you try it, I think you’ll find what I already know:

Sometimes the simplest meals are the ones you come back to the most.

Quick Shrimp Dinner Tips:

  • Keep frozen shrimp on hand for fast meals

  • Don’t overcook shrimp—it only takes a few minutes

  • Simple seasonings go a long way

Don't Forget to Pin this for later:

















The Easy Shrimp Recipe

grilling, low carb, shrimp recipe
dinner
American
Yield: 4
Author: Donna Urso
Easy Grilled Shrimp

Easy Grilled Shrimp

A quick, easy, and flexible grilled shrimp recipe with a spicy-tangy marinade you make in minutes.

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 6 MinInactive time: 20 MinTotal time: 31 Min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, and chili hot sauce.
  2. Chill the marinade. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss to coat evenly. Let the shrimp marinate in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Soak bamboo skewers in water.
  4. Thread the shrimp onto skewers, making sure to leave enough space between each shrimp.
  5. Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are pink and opaque.
  6. Serve the shrimp hot with additional lime wedges and chopped cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Don't marinate your shrimp in the chili-lime sauce for longer than 15-20 minutes. The lime juice will cook the shrimp.


You can cook the shrimp in a pan on your stove, just skip the skewers.

Recommended Products

Cutting Board Set

Citrus Juicer

Zester/Grater

Nutrition Facts

Calories

190.95

Fat (grams)

11.08 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

1.57 g

Carbs (grams)

0.51 g

Fiber (grams)

0.04 g

Net carbs

0.46 g

Sugar (grams)

0.09 g

Protein (grams)

22.83 g

Sodium (milligrams)

161.76 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

182.57 mg

Nutritional information is approximate.

Similar Recipes

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Shrimp Boil Dinner in Foil Packets

Easy Stovetop Shrimp and Pasta

©Just One Donna

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