Grilled Shrimp Pineapple Skewers (Printable)

Juicy shrimp and pineapple combined with bright cilantro-lime for a fresh, grilled summer dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Produce

02 - 2 cups fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
03 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
04 - 1 small red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

→ Marinade

08 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
09 - Zest and juice of 2 limes
10 - 1 tablespoon honey
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

15 - Extra lime wedges
16 - Additional chopped cilantro

# How To:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime zest and juice, honey, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic, cilantro, and jalapeño to create the marinade mixture.
02 - Add the shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.
03 - Thread shrimp, pineapple, bell pepper, and red onion onto skewers, alternating ingredients for optimal color and flavor distribution.
04 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
05 - Grill skewers for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once, until shrimp are opaque and cooked through and vegetables are lightly charred.
06 - Remove skewers from grill and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cilantro-lime marinade does all the heavy lifting while you prep, making you look like you planned this masterpiece.
  • Shrimp cook so fast that you're eating in under 15 minutes, perfect when hunger strikes suddenly.
  • Sweet pineapple and smoky grill marks create a flavor contrast that keeps people reaching for more.
02 -
  • Shrimp goes from perfectly cooked to rubbery in about 30 seconds, so pull them off the grill the moment they're opaque inside—no guessing, just look.
  • Marinating longer than 20 minutes means the lime juice actually starts to cure the shrimp, which sounds fancy but tastes mushy and defeats the purpose.
03 -
  • Save some of the marinade before you add the shrimp, then brush it on the skewers as they grill for an extra flavor hit and glossy finish.
  • Room-temperature shrimp cook more evenly than cold ones straight from the fridge, so pull them out 10 minutes before grilling if you remember.
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