Grilled Jerk Shrimp

May 04, 2022, Updated Nov 09, 2023

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Smoky and delicious, with a tangy spicy kick – grilled shrimp in a vibrant red jerk seasoning and lime juice are a delicious, healthy dinner!

picture of jerk shrimp on a white plate with sliced green onions and limes

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Jerk Shrimp on the Grill
How to Grill Jerk Shrimp
Tips to Perfect Grilled Jerk Shrimp & FAQs
What to Serve With Jerk Shrimp
Grilled Jerk Shrimp Recipe

Jerk Shrimp on the Grill

Jerk shrimp is delicious on the grill – the spicy, delicious Caribbean seasoning is perfect on a grill with a smoky, char-grilled flavor.

Jerk sauce is a Jamaican sauce made up of a blend of seasonings – usually cumin, nutmeg, allspice, smoked paprika, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.

You can use store-bought jerk sauce for this recipe, but I used a recipe from Jessica in the Kitchen – her easy homemade jerk sauce was a perfectly spicy sauce and super easy to whip up.

To find her homemade jerk sauce recipe, click here.

Jessica’s vegan takes on the traditional Jamaican recipes she grew up with are always incredibly delicious if you’re looking for some great meat free meals – but her jerk is hands down the best!

Jerk sauce is delicious on all sorts of meats, fish, and vegetables – and it is naturally low carb and keto.

How to Grill Jerk Shrimp

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

Shrimp
Olive oil
Green Onions
4 organic scotch bonnet peppers*, 3 ¼ oz
½ large red onion or 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic
5 stalks of scallion
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh pimento seeds
2 tablespoons brown sugar, I used organic
1 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons oil
7 sprigs of fresh thyme
Squeeze lime

We’re going to use Jessica from Jessica in the Kitchen’s recipe for jerk sauce – it is perfect, and I don’t see any reason to change it. Please click here for the recipe.

Tips to Perfect Grilled Jerk Shrimp & FAQs

Drizzle olive oil over your shrimp evenly.

This will help give your salmon a lightly fried texture and allow the oil to crisp on the shrimps. Don’t skip the oil!

Season shrimp liberally.
Take your shrimp’s temperature!

Aim for 165 degrees for fully cooked salmon. Remove shrimps from the grill at 160 degrees, as they will carry over cook.

FAQs

When are shrimp fully cooked?

Shrimp is fully cooked at 165 degrees. Use a digital thermometer to ensure shrimp is fully cooked through.

How can you tell that shrimp is done?

When shrimp is fully cooked, it turns from grey and translucent to white and opaque.

What to Serve With Jerk Shrimp

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