Cilantro Lime Shrimp Recipe

The cilantro lime marinade is already a hit in our Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe, but the sautéed or grilled shrimp cook up faster and taste so much like summer. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Easy Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Cilantro Lime Shrimp is one of our favorite Mexican-inspired meals, along with Easy Taco Soup, Fish Tacos, and Chicken Fajitas. It makes the best rice bowls, shrimp salad, tacos, and wraps, and you’ll love the fresh flavors from the cilantro lime marinade.

Ingredients

This grilled shrimp recipe features our popular cilantro lime shrimp marinade, made with a few easy-to-find, fresh ingredients.

Shrimp – I prefer fresh large shrimp (20-25 count) that have been peeled and deveined, but you can also use frozen shrimp as well. If using frozen, thaw the shrimp in a cold water bath for 30 minutes, drain well and pat dry before marinating. Cilantro Lime Marinade – olive oil, lime juice (from 1 lime), cilantro, salt, pepper, paprika, and honey Garnish – include lime wedges and more chopped cilantro for serving, if desired

How to Make Cilantro Lime Shrimp

This versatile shrimp recipe can be grilled, like our Grilled Shrimp Skewers, or sautéed in a pan, try both ways and let us know which you prefer in the comments.

Mix the Marinade – In a medium bowl, mix the marinade ingredients. Less than 10 minutes before cooking,* add the shrimp to the bowl and toss to cover. To Sauté – Heat a large non-stick, non-reactive skillet on medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp in a single layer for 1-2 minutes per side. Cook in batches if necessary to be sure not to crowd the pan. To Grill – Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 10 minutes. Then preheat the grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates to prevent sticking. Skewer the marinaded shrimp and then cook the skewers for 1-2 minutes or until they are just cooked. Serve – Once just cooked through, remove from the heat immediately. See our suggestions for how to serve the shrimp below.

How do you know when shrimp is fully cooked?

Shrimp cooks very quickly on a hot skillet, just 1-2 minutes per side, so be careful not to overcook them. Once a shrimp is done, immediately remove it from the pan so it doesn’t overcook and become rubbery. Here’s what to look for:

The shrimp have finished cooking when they are opaque, pink, or orange in color, and make a “c” shape. Undercooked shrimp may look translucent and more loosely curled, while overdone shrimp are more of an “o” shape.

Can I Cook this Recipe in the Oven?

Sure! You can cook the shrimp in the oven like in our Baked Honey Cajun Shrimp Recipe. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet for 8-10 minutes at 450°F.

Can I Cook Cilantro Lime Shrimp in the Air Fryer?

I am a big fan of Air Fryer recipes because it cuts the cooking time in half. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook marinated cilantro lime shrimp in a single layer for 5 minutes, or until cooked through. You may need to cook them in batches.

How to Serve Cilantro Lime Shrimp

These flavorful shrimp taste great in so many dishes! These are a few of our favorites. Don’t forget the sliced avocado, Homemade Salsa, and Guacamole for dipping and topping!

Stuffed into Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos In quesadillas with homemade Flour Tortillas, Pico de Gallo, and sour cream Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Served in Shrimp Cobb Salad, Taco Salad, or our Chickpea Salad Spooned over Cooked Rice Topping Creamy Mashed Potatoes Mixed into Quinoa Paired with Roasted veggies

This tasty 15-minute Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe is so versatile and crowd-pleasing. You’ll love the incredible flavor of the shrimp after sautéing or grilling. It truly tastes like summer!

To Refrigerate: Once cool, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, according to the USDA. To Reheat: Sauté the shrimp on a very low heat setting just until heated through. Be careful not to overcook them at this point or they will be tough.