This easy smoked shrimp recipe is perfect for a quick dinner or meal prep recipe! It only uses minimal ingredients and can be served so many different ways, including meals like tacos, wraps, pasta or salads. Once you know how to smoke shrimp on your pellet grill, you won’t go back!
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Smoked Shrimp Recipe:
- You don’t need any fancy ingredients to smoke shrimp! Just a lime and a few common pantry spices is all that’s required!
- It’s quick! Cooking seafood in general is a fast process, but when smoking something you’re usually dealing with cook times of hours, not minutes. Not this recipe! Just 30 minutes is all you’ll need.
- This smoked shrimp recipe is low carb/keto, Whole30, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and all around just delicious, so that no matter who you’re enjoying dinner with.
- Smoked shrimp is really versatile! You can eat it on it’s own, served with a dipping sauce, in pastas, wraps, salads, tacos, with rice, roasted vegetables, and so much more.
Smoked Shrimp Ingredients
When you’re cooking shrimp on a smoker, only very few ingredients are needed. You will need 1 pound of large shrimp that’s been peeled and deveined. You can remove the tails, but it’s best to keep them on until after they’ve been smoked. This makes it easier to transfer them on and off of the smoker, and cooking with the tail on results in a more flavorful shrimp. The only other ingredients needed are for the shrimp seasoning.
For the dry rub:
The spice blend for the shrimp includes the juice from half of a lime, a bit of olive oil or avocado oil, and very common pantry spices. Those spices include paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano and salt and pepper. These are all widely available at any grocery store, or at online retailers like Thrive Market.
For the smoked shrimp tacos:
To make these smoked shrimp tacos, you’ll need street taco sized tortillas, or you can use a grain-free tortilla option. You’ll also need pico, shredded romaine, cilantro, diced avocado and a squeeze of Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo. Primal Kitchen’s squeeze bottle Chipotle Lime Mayo is the perfect addition to smoked shrimp tacos.
It’s zesty, creamy, and made with avocado oil! It’s also Whole30 Approved, keto, paleo and made without soy. You can pick up their new larger squeeze bottles on their website (using the code PALEOBAILEY gives you a discount at checkout)!
How to Smoke Shrimp
Smoking shrimp is a really quick process unlike most other meats on the smoker. The entire process takes a half hour, and there’s no flipping or babysitting the smoker involved! This makes this recipe ideal for firing up the smoker on weeknights being you won’t need multiple hours to smoke your protein.
Equipment needed:
- Pellet grill, such as a Traeger, Green Egg, Camp Chef or Pit Boss
- Wood pellets in your preferred wood/flavor. For this recipe I recommend hickory, mesquite or signature
- Aluminum foil (optional, but recommended)
Step 1
The first step for smoker shrimp is to preheat the smoker or pellet grill to 225 degrees F. Then you’ll combine the spices in a small bowl so they are evenly mixed together.
Step 2
Next, add the shrimp, oil, lime juice and spice mixture into a large bowl. Then you can use tongs or a large spoon to gently toss to coat the shrimp. You’ll want to do this carefully being shrimp are rather delicate and you don’t want to tear them. You can also use your hands to ensure they’re all evenly coated.
Step 3
The next step is to lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the smoker grates. While this is optional and you definitely don’t need to use the foil, it will make it easier to place the shrimp onto the grates without them falling between the grates or getting stuck between them.
Place your shrimp onto the smoker (or on top of the foil) so they’re evenly spaced. Then close the lid and let them smoke for 30 minutes, or until the shrimp is pink. Be careful not to overcook so the shrimp doesn’t dry out. The smoke time may vary depending on the size of your shrimp. If you use medium sized shrimp, reduce the smoke time to 20 minutes.
Serving Smoked Shrimp
There are so many ways to serve shrimp that’s been smoked! You can enjoy it on it’s own dipped in a sauce like Chipotle Lime Mayo, or in tacos as we like to and pictured here. You can also use smoked shrimp in basically any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp. They can be tossed with pasta to give it a nice smokey flavor, added to wraps, salads, with rice, roasted vegetables or beans, in stir fry, with fajita veggies, with a cream or butter sauce.. the options really are endless!
How to Store Leftover Smoked
Smoked shrimp can be kept as leftovers for up to 3 days. The leftovers make a great option for a quick protein that can be enjoyed hot or cold, or to add to salads or wraps for lunches during the week. To store your shrimp, let them cool completely and then place them in an airtight container or bag. Keep them in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or toss in a skillet over medium heat for a minute or two.
Other Smoker Recipes You’ll Love:
- Smoked BBQ Wings
- Best Smoked Butterfly Chicken
- Smoked Lamb Roast
- Smoked Buffalo Wings
- Smoked Chicken Drumsticks
- Smoked Chicken Quarters
Smoked Shrimp
This easy smoked shrimp recipe is perfect for a quick dinner or meal prep recipe! It only uses minimal ingredients and can be served so many different ways, including meals like tacos, wraps, pasta or salads. Once you know how to smoke shrimp on your pellet grill, you won’t go back!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Smoker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1-pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F.
- Combine the spices into a small bowl and then toss the shrimp with the oil, lime juice and seasoning
- Lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the smoker grates and place the shrimp onto the foil. Smoke for 30 minutes* until the shrimp is pink. Remove from the smoker and serve
Notes
- It is best to leave the tails on when smoking shrimp because it makes it much easier to grab them to place on and off of the smoker. Leaving tails on when cooking shrimp also makes the shrimp more flavorful
- You do not have to use the aluminum foil, though it does make it easier to place the shrimp onto the smoker so they don’t fall through the grates or get stuck between them
- This recipe is very easy to double if you’re cooking for more than just a few people, or if you’re wanting to use leftover shrimp for meal prep. The leftovers go great tossed in pasta, salads or wraps
- Cook time will vary depending on the size of your shrimp. If you use medium shrimp, reduce smoke time to 20 minutes
- Serve in wraps, salads, pastas, or in tacos as pictured with pico, avocado and Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo
Nutrition Facts:
- Serving Size: 10 shrimp
- Calories: 114
- Fat: .3 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 28 g
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Lydia says
Soooo delish!
Julie says
These were amazing! We did 2.5 lbs and everyone ate every single one! Definitely a keeper