Grilled Margarita Shrimp Skewers - Margarita Flavors from the Grill

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July 24 is National Tequila Day. I'm sure everyone is looking for creative ways to celebrate. A margarita is an obvious choice, especially delicious in slushie form on a hot summer day.

But don't stop there! Since you already have tequila on hand, make some grilled margarita shrimp.

Fast, easy, and delicious. My kind of meal!

serving tray of grilled margarita shrimp.

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Ingredients Needed
How to Make these Shrimp Skewers
Serving Suggestions
Storage
Recipe FAQs
More Delicious Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients: shrimp, tequila, lime, garlic, cilantro, cayenne pepper, olive oil.

How to Make these Shrimp Skewers

First, mix the simple marinade of tequila and fresh lime juice (sounds like a margarita to me!) with olive oil and some Mexican-y spices.

Pour the marinade over the peeled and deveined shrimp and stir gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate the shrimp while it marinates.

Making the marinade for the shrimp skewers.

This step needs at least 30 minutes but can be left up to 3 hours. Very convenient when ~~you feel like having a drink~~ there are other dishes to prepare.

While the shrimp are soaking in the marinade, soak your skewers (only necessary for bamboo, not metal) for 30 minutes.

Then, carefully thread the shrimp onto the skewers to make the kabobs.

Threading the shrimp onto bamboo skewers.

Preheat your grill on medium-high heat and oil the grates a little. Since shrimp are very low in fat, they tend to stick to grill grates unless you oil a little.

Add the skewers to the hot grates. Grill the shrimp for about 2 to 3 minutes, then turn each skewer to cook the other side. The shrimp will be opaque pink with a nice char.

Shrimp cooks very quickly, you only need about 5 to 6 minutes cooking time to produce delicious, perfectly cooked crustaceans on a stick.

Your skewers are ready to serve, to celebrate national tequila day or just to celebrate the deliciousness of shrimp!

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve these grilled margarita shrimp with rice or a salad to make a light and satisfying meal.

Don't forget to prepare some margaritas or a pitcher of prickly pear lemonade to complement the flavors of the dish.

a platter of margarita shrimp skewers ready to eat.

Did you know? According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, the margarita is merely a popular Mexican and American drink, the Daisy (margarita is Spanish for "daisy"), remade with tequila instead of brandy. It became popular during Prohibition as people drifted over the border for alcohol. There is an account from 1936 of Iowa newspaper editor James Graham finding such a cocktail in Tijuana, years before any of the other margarita "creation myths". (source: Wikipedia)

Storage

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave, being careful not to overcook the shrimp.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

You can use frozen shrimp that has been properly thawed and drained. However, fresh shrimp will yield a more tender and flavorful outcome.

Is there a kid-friendly version of this recipe?

Yes, for a kid-friendly version, omit the alcohol from the marinade and focus on the citrus. Add a little orange juice and possibly honey for a sweet and tangy taste that children will enjoy.

More Delicious Recipes to Try

Try this grilled margarita shrimp for your next cookout!

If you love shrimp, you should also try Chili Lime Shrimp or Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad .

If you love grilling food on skewers, you should give these Sweet and Sour Pork Kabobs a try!

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close up of shrimp skewers on a rectangular platter

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