If you love the zesty fresh citrus flavor of a good margarita, you’ll love this incredible tequila lime shrimp recipe! It’s the essence of your favorite summertime cocktail, in the form of incredible shrimp skewers – perfect for throwing on the grill.
I like to call them Margarita Shrimp! In fact, you can treat them just like your favorite margarita! Add a hint of agave to sweeten them up, a touch of salt and of course, a squeeze of fresh squeezed lime juice and your favorite tequila!
These are incredible on their own, but they also make amazing tacos in my homemade taco bowls, a delicious addition to Mexican Pasta Salad, and salad tossed with Cilantro Lime Dressing or Apple Chipotle Vinaigrette.
If you love a great grilled kabob, don’t miss my easy steak kabobs, lemon garlic shrimp, or these delicious chicken kabobs! I’ve also got the most delicious fruit skewers, which make the perfect appetizer for parties!
I like to give a lot of detail in my recipe posts to guide readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, feel free to click “jump to recipe” right under the title of this post and you’ll head straight there!
Why You’ll Love these Shrimp Skewers
These tequila lime shrimp are great for entertaining. They’re so easy to eat and such a flexible way for family and guests to serve themselves because they can add them to tortillas, salads, rice, and more!
In fact, we love to add fruits and veggies for even more flexiblity – red pepper and pineapple are favorites to go alongside these shrimp to play up on that sweet and citrusy burst of flavor!
This tequila lime shrimp is also a healthy dinner option! It’s low calorie and can be extremely low carb if combined with the right sides. It can also fit into a Keto and Whole 30 lifestyle!
Tequila Lime Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp – Fresh shrimp is of course ideal, but you can certainly use frozen. Just make sure to follow the package directions for defrosting. Medium-larger shrimp work best for skewering on the grill, but again you can use whatever you have on hand!
- Tequila – Use whatever tequila you have on hand.
- Lime Juice – A hint of fresh squeezed lime juice adds bright flavor to this recipe. You can substitute 100% real lime juice purchased in the produce aisle of your grocer if needed.
- Oil – Olive oil is preferred, but you can substitute canola oil if needed.
- Pepper – Thick red pepper flakes and fresh ground black pepper make it pop!
- Limes, Halved or sliced – optional! You can grill limes for an extra squeeze to serve with this delicious dish.
Variations
- Honey Lime Shrimp – Add a touch of honey (or agave) to sweeten it up!
- Margarita Shrimp – Add a crack of sea salt to the finished product and you’ll have a true margarita shrimp- so good!
- A Mexican Spin – for an added burst of Mexican flavor, throw a table spoon of cilantro and a teaspoon of cumin in the marinade. If you really want to spice it up, add a teaspoon of diced jalapeño!
QUICK TIP: My recipes include an easy slider bar that helps you navigate more or less servings! This makes your party planning so easy!
How to Make Shrimp Skewers on the Grill
On the Grill
- Marinate – Combine marinade ingredients and marinate refrigerated for 30 minutes up to six hours.
- Prep – Dry shrimp and put on skewers (metal or soaked 15+ minutes in water). Preheat grill to medium high. Brush grill grate with olive oil.
- Grill – Grill shrimp 2-3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink. Flip and grill 2-3 minutes on the other side until translucent and pink.
Preheat grill to medium high. Brush grill grate with olive oil.
Flip and grill 2-3 minutes on the other side until translucent and pink. 
QUICK TIP: Because this marinade is slightly acidic with the addition of lime juice, don’t marinate for longer than six hours! Otherwise this marinade will begin to break down the shrimp meat itself, creating a mushy mess. It’s not a safety issue to marinate longer, but they lose texture!
On the Stovetop
If you’re making this tequila lime shrimp on the stovetop, simply omit the bamboo skewers and sauté traditionally.
- Prep and Marinate – Make sure shrimp are completely thawed. Follow steps above for marinating and coating shrimp.
- Heat Oil – Heat oil over medium high heat in pan. When oil moves around the pan easily, add shrimp. (They will sizzle when they hit the pan.)
- Sauté – Sauté the shrimp for about three minutes per side, until pink and completely opaque – this is how you’ll know when they are done.
One of the best parts of cooking shrimp is that it’s so easy to tell when they are done. They are floppy and gray when they are first cooking, and when they are done they’ll be a perfect pink with a red tail.
In the Oven
This method might be the easiest way to cook your shrimp!
- Prep and Marinate – Set your oven to broil. Marinate your shrimp as listed in steps above.
- Line Sheet Pan with Shrimp – Arrange your shrimp on a baking sheet in an even layer – I like to use aluminum foil for easy clean up. A quick spray of olive oil on the foil will help eliminate sticking, too!
- Broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely. You’re looking for that perfect pink color discussed in the other cooking methods above – it’s so easy!
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Margaritas to Serve them With
They just go hand in hand! I’ve written a complete guide for how to choose the best tequila for your margaritas and a margarita guide with all the tips you need to make the BEST margs from scratch.
Zesty Tequila Lime Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
- 3/4 pounds shrimp
- 3 tablespoons tequila
- 3 tablespoons lime juice fresh squeezed or store bought
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper fakes
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinate
- Combine marinade ingredients and marinate refrigerated for 30 minutes up to six hours.
Grill
- Dry shrimp and put on skewers (metal or bamboo soaked 15+ minutes in water).
- Preheat grill to medium high. Brush grill grate with olive oil.
- Grill shrimp 2-3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink.
- Flip and grill 2-3 minutes on the other side until translucent and pink.
Notes
Variations
- Honey Lime Shrimp – Add a touch of honey (or agave) to sweeten it up!
- Margarita Shrimp – Add a crack of sea salt to the finished product and you’ll have a true margarita shrimp- so good!
- A Mexican Spin – for an added burst of Mexican flavor, throw a table spoon of cilantro and a teaspoon of cumin in the marinade. If you really want to spice it up, add a teaspoon of diced jalapeno!
On the Stovetop
If you’re making this tequila lime shrimp on the stovetop, simply omit the bamboo skewers and sauté traditionally.- Make sure shrimp are completely thawed.
- Follow steps above for marinating and coating shrimp.
- Heat oil over medium high heat in pan.
- When oil moves around the pan easily, add shrimp. (They will sizzle when they hit the pan.)
- Sauté the shrimp for about three minutes per side, until pink and completely opaque- this is how you’ll know when they are done.
In the Oven
This method might be the easiest way to cook your shrimp!- Set your oven to broil.
- Marinate your shrimp as listed in steps above.
- Arrange your shrimp on a baking sheet in an even layer – I like to use aluminum foil for easy clean up. A quick spray of olive oil on the foil will help eliminate sticking, too!
- Broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely. You’re looking for that perfect pink color discussed in the other cooking methods above – it’s so easy!
How many tablespoons of lime juice and olive oil? Not stated in recipe.
My apologies. It has been updated!