This honey garlic shrimp marinade comes together in 5 minutes and only needs 15 minutes of marinating time before hitting the grill or stovetop. The honey caramelizes as the shrimp cook, giving you a sticky, flavorful glaze without any extra steps. Toss the cooked shrimp with reserved marinade and a pat of butter, and dinner is ready in 30 minutes flat!

Close-up overhead shot of a white bowl with servings forks and cooked shrimp topped with fresh chopped herbs and lemon wedge. Bowl is surrounded by a striped towel and bowls of lemon wedges and chopped herbs.

5 star review

“Delicious! Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins and I am always looking for a new way to cook it. This marinade was so good and I will definitely be cooking this one again.”

– Darlene
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The Perfect Shrimp Marinade for Grilling, Pasta and More

Let’s be real, most of us don’t have tons of time to prepare elaborate meals every night. But that doesn’t mean we have to resort to basic, boring food night after night.  As a healthy habits expert, I’m here to encourage you that you can absolutely have fresh, drool-worthy meals every night of the week without a ton of effort or time, thanks to quick and easy marinades that can be made ahead and totally elevate any protein. 

And if you’re extra crunched for time, seafood marinades are the best last minute dinner ideas since seafood only needs a short marinade time (hello sticky glazed salmon marinade). That’s where this simple, mouth-watering garlic marinated shrimp comes into play! I almost always have a pound of frozen shrimp and simple marinade ingredients on hand, so easy dinners like this one can come together in a matter of minutes. This 5-ingredient marinade infuses raw shrimp with garlicky, sweet, umami flavors in just 15 minutes, and brown sugar gives it an addicting caramelization when grilled or sautéed.

Then, to take the shrimp to the next level, we’re tossing the cooked shrimp with reserved marinade, fresh herbs, and a pat of butter for a delicious mouthfeel without adding too much fat (is your mouth watering yet?). Serve alongside some rice or crusty bread to soak up all the scrumptious juices, and you’ll have an effortless, occasion-worthy meal in no time! On that note, my shrimp and orzo skillet is another quick shrimp dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes and pairs well with the same bold flavors.

Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make an Easy Shrimp Marinade

Jump to Recipe Instructions
Overhead shot of the following ingredients: fresh herbs, butter, oil, minced garlic, chili flakes, lemonds, soy sauce, brown sugar, and shrimp.
Gather ingredients.
Overhead shot of a glass bowl with soy sauce, oil, garlic, and chili flakes. Bowl is surrounded by lemon halves and fresh herbs.
Combine marinade ingredients.
Overhead shot of whisking soy sauce, oil, garlic, and chili flakes in a glass bowl. Bowl is surrounded by lemon halves and fresh herbs.
Whisk marinade.
Overhead shot of a glass bowl with brown sauce and a smaller glass bowl with brown sauce. Bowls are surrounded by lemon halves and fresh herbs.
Reserve 2 tablespoons of marinade.
Overhead shot of a white baking dish with raw shrimp covered in sauce. Dish is surrounded by fresh herbs, lemon halves, and a jar of brown sauce.
Marinate shrimp.
Overhead shot of large white bowl with grilled shrimp. Bowl is surrounded by fresh herbs and lemon halves and bowls of chopped herbs, lemon wedges, brown sauce, and butter.
Grill or saute shrimp.
Overhead shot of a white bowl with grilled shrimp topped with fresh chopped herbs and butter. Bowl is surrounded by fresh herbs and bowls of lemon wedges and chopped herbs.
Toss with herbs, reserved marinade, & butter.
Overhead shot of a white plate with a fork and white rice topped with cooked shrimp, herbs, and a lemon wedge. Plate is surrounded by a striped towel, fresh herbs, and bowls of cooked shrimp and lemon wedges.
Serve with desired sides.

Testing Notes for Perfect Marinated Shrimp

  • Soy Sauce: Add such a lovely depth of flavor. Substitute tamari for gluten free.
  • Honey: gives a glaze once the shrimp is cooked and balances all the savory and salty flavors without being too sweet. I also like using brown sugar from time to time in place of the honey.
  • Fresh Garlic: Since there are so few ingredients, I highly recommend using fresh garlic.
  • Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are not essential, but they definitely elevate the dish. Use your favorite soft herb or a mix of a few.
Overhead shot of large white bowl with grilled shrimp topped with chopped herbs. Bowl is surrounded by lemon halves, fresh herbs, and bowls of chopped herbs and lemon wedges.
Overhead shot of a white plate with a fork and white rice topped with cooked shrimp, herbs, and a lemon wedge. Plate is surrounded by a striped towel, fresh herbs and a bowl of lemon wedges.
Close-up overhead shot of a white bowl with servings forks and cooked shrimp topped with fresh chopped herbs and lemon wedge. Bowl is surrounded by a striped towel and bowls of lemon wedges and chopped herbs.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Shrimp Marinade (Honey Garlic)

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Marinade Time: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
This honey garlic shrimp marinade is sweet, savory, and ready in 30 minutes total. Perfect for grilling or the stovetop with just 5 ingredients.
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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 ½ tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, defrosted if previously frozen)

To Add at the End

  • 1 tablespoon butter

Equipment

Instructions 

Make the Marinade

  • Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until smooth.

Marinate the Shrimp

  • Pat the shrimp dry. Set aside 2 tablespoons marinade. Add the remaining marinade along with the shrimp to a 1-gallon zip-top bag or baking dish.
  • Toss the shrimp to coat, then press as much air out of the bag (if using) as possible, or cover with plastic wrap (if using a baking dish). Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 3 hours, tossing occasionally.

Grill the Shrimp

  • Heat a grill or grill pan to medium high heat. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and shake to remove any excess. Discard the marinade. Grill the shrimp 2-3 minutes per side, or until opaque and just cooked through.
  • Toss with butter and reserved 2 tablespoons marinade, top with herbs, and serve.

Saute the Shrimp

  • Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and shake to remove any excess. Discard the marinade. Add 2 teaspoons of oil to the skillet, then saute 4-6 minutes, until the shrimp are opaque and just cooked through, flipping once.
  • Toss with butter and reserved 2 tablespoons marinade, top with herbs, and serve.

Notes

  • Optional: serve with chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or green onion.
  • For gluten free: use gluten-free tamari.
  • For dairy free: Use plant-based butter.
  • For grilled shrimp with pasta: double the marinade, set half the doubled amount aside, and toss with cooked pasta of choice. Serve with shrimp on top.
Course: Appetizer, dinner, Main Course, Marinade
Cuisine: American, Asian, Mediterranean

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 4), Calories: 198kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 150mg, Sodium: 621mg, Potassium: 184mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 329IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition disclaimer
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