Main · Seafood

Grilled Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers Over Open Fire

Posted July 29, 2026

These grilled lemon garlic shrimp skewers come together in under 30 minutes over an open flame, with a bright, garlicky marinade that caramelizes fast and a smoky char you can't get on a gas burner. Built for backyard nights when the fire's already going and dinner needs to move quickly.

Time Quick (35 min)
Serves 4
Crowd Wow High
Mess Minimal
Open Fire Grill by river
Cook Surface
OakStoke Open Fire Grill
Fire
Medium-high open fire or a settled coal bed, even heat across the grate

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Zest and juice of 2 lemons
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the skewers

  • 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
  • 1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for finishing
  • Wooden or metal skewers (soak wooden ones 30 minutes first)

Cook Steps

1
Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Add the shrimp, toss to coat, and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes while the fire builds.
2
Thread the shrimp onto skewers, alternating with folded lemon rounds every third piece.
3
Once the fire has settled into steady flame or glowing coals, set the Open Fire Grill in place and let the grate heat for a few minutes.
4
Lay the skewers across the grate. Listen for that first hard sizzle, that's the sign the heat is right.
5
Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once, until the shrimp are opaque with light char marks and the lemon rounds have started to caramelize at the edges.
6
Pull the skewers off, scatter with fresh parsley, and serve straight off the grate while they're still hissing.

Pitmaster Notes

Don't walk away: Shrimp go from perfect to rubbery in under a minute over open flame. Pull them the moment they turn opaque and curl into a loose C shape, they'll keep cooking a bit off the heat.