13 Spicy Grilled Shrimp Recipes That Bring the Heat to Dinner

platter of grilled shrimp
Photo: Anna

Grilling shrimp not only takes minutes but also leaves them with an unbeatable char. Coat these crustaceans with spices before firing up the grill, however, and you're left with a fiery flavor that complements the cooking method well. Perfect for main dishes and party appetizers alike, our best spicy grilled shrimp recipes get their flavor from ingredients like cayenne, Sriracha, jalapeños, and chipotle peppers.

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Spicy Chipotle Grilled Shrimp

grilled shrimp on skewers on a white plate
Soup Loving Nicole

This recipe's marinade includes chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, paprika, cilantro, red pepper flakes, and cayenne, so you can expect a peppery punch. "We all like spicy food in our house and are always looking for new spicy recipes," SPROUT2000 says. "We definitely will be using this recipe again."

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Sweet and Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Sweet and Spicy Grilled Shrimp
*Sherri*

No one will suspect these Sweet and Spicy Grilled Shrimp call for just two ingredients: honey and chile-garlic sauce right from the bottle. And you can have it on the table in a mere 20 minutes.

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Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Spicy Grilled Shrimp
KGora

Cayenne, paprika, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and coarse salt are all you need to make this popular shrimp recipe. And unless you're feeding toddlers, as home cook jpollock tells us, your crew shouldn't find these shrimp too spicy to fill up on.

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Marinated Grilled Shrimp

Marinated Grilled Shrimp on a grill
Allrecipes Magazine

"Don't let the cayenne pepper scare you," recipe contributor BLONDIEPEREZ says. "You don't even taste it. My two and four year olds love it and eat more shrimp than their parents! It is also a big hit with company, and easy to prepare." Of course, you can up the cayenne if you're looking for heat.

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Spicy Lime Grilled Shrimp

grilled shrimp with parsley over white rice in an orange dish
France C

Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to taste, reviewers say, as spiciness and saltiness vary from brand to brand. Home cook WendyR used Old Bay instead for a similar kick of cayenne.

06 of 14

Spicy Garlic Grilled Shrimp

grilled shrimp on skewers over yellow rice on a white plate
Soup Loving Nicole

"The flavors were great and this is super simple," Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole says of these garlicky, butter-basted grilled shrimp. "This is spicy as advertised, so scale back the cayenne if you are sensitive to heat."

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Spicy Coconut and Lime Grilled Shrimp

Spicy Coconut and Lime Grilled Shrimp
Lisa Weston

Jalapeno, lime, fresh cilantro, shredded coconut, and soy sauce bring this dish Southeast Asian flair. "My whole family loved this recipe, including my two young sons. The marinade was spicy but also kept a great flavor. It only took minutes to make using a food processer," home cook Niki M. says.

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Margarita Grilled Shrimp

grilled shrimp with lime garnish over white rice
Dianne

As this margarita-inspired marinade contains citrus (which will result in cured fish), let the shrimp soak in it for no more than 30 minutes. That way, you won't risk overcooking them on the grill.

09 of 14

Tex-Mex Grilled Shrimp and Salsa

grilled shrimp on the rim of a bowl with salsa
Soup Loving Nicole

Before you put Tex Mex-seasoned shrimp on the grill, use it to take tomatoes, onion, garlic, and jalapeño to blistering perfection. You'll use these ingredients to make a smoky salsa for dipping.

10 of 14

Grilled Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Grilled Spicy Shrimp Tacos on a white plate
Soup Loving Nicole

Between its chili-lime marinade, tangy red slaw, and spicy-sweet chipotle sauce, these shrimp tacos pack plenty of flavor into corn tortillas.

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Easy Grilled Spicy Shrimp

spicy grilled shrimp with green onions
Baking Nana

"My new easy grilled spicy shrimp has been a summer favorite and so easy with all of the entertaining we do," recipe contributor Cindy Anschutz Barbieri says. Just reach for Sriracha and a few jars from the spice cabinet to make this 10-minute recipe.

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Grilled Shrimp Jalapeno Kabobs

grilled shrimp on skewers with jalapenos wrapped with bacon
Soup Loving Nicole

Tuck shrimp into jalapeño halves before wrapping them with thick-cut bacon and threading them on a skewer. If you can handle heat, recipe contributor MISSERSUE recommends leaving a few seeds on the jalapeños.

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Amazing Spicy Grilled Shrimp

platter of grilled shrimp
Anna

Ingredients like sesame oil, hot sauce, ketchup, chile paste, and lemon juice combine in a marinade that's earned these shrimp an average rating of 5 stars and reviews like this: "Quite possibly the best shrimp I've ever made," home cook VALENE says.

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Find More Shrimp Recipes

Summer Grilled Shrimp Salad
Summer Grilled Shrimp Salad | Photo by Kim's Cooking Now.
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