This Cilantro Lime Shrimp Recipe bursts with amazing fresh flavors and takes just minutes to make! After a quick marinade (less than 10 minutes), cook it on the grill or in a skillet. Done! 

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.

Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe with cilantro and a wooden spoon

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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.

Why This Cilantro Lime Shrimp Recipe Works

  • Easy – Just mix the marinade ingredients and cook. It doesn’t get any easier than that.
  • So Many Ways to Serve! – We include directions on how to grill or sauté the shrimp. Then you can use them to top rice, fill tortillas, add to salads and so much more!
  • Quick weeknight meal – The whole recipe takes less than 15 minutes from beginning to end., so it’s perfect for busy weeknights, and summer weekends alike.
  • Fresh ingredients – I feel great serving my family this dish made with all fresh ingredients. It’s light and citrusy–the perfect crowd-pleasing dish!

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
ingredients for grilled seafood dish with olive oil, lime juice, pepper, salt, lime, garlic, cilantro, and paprika

Pro Tip:

If you don’t prefer cilantro, try substituting it with chives or green onions. The flavor will be different, but still delicious! In a pinch, you can also substitute lime with lemon juice.

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.

Pro Tip:

Be sure to cook the cilantro lime shrimp within 10 minutes of stirring into the marinade. If marinaded too long, the lime juice will start to ‘cook’ the shrimp and can cause them to become rubbery.

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.

Grilled Cilantro Lime shrimp on a skillet plate with a wooden spoon

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!

Make-Ahead

Cilantro Lime Shrimp keep well for a few days. Try adding chilled leftover shrimp to salads, in our favorite Ceviche recipe, or use them for Shrimp Cakes!

  • 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.
plate of sautéed cilantro lime shrimp with a fork and lime wedges

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!

More Easy Shrimp Recipes

Once you try this simple Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe, we know you’ll love these other easy shrimp recipes.

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Recipe

5 from 12 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe in a pan with a wooden spoon
Impress everyone with this easy shrimp recipe that’s bursting with fresh summer flavor. This recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make and you’ll wish you made a double batch because it’s THAT good! Whether you choose the grill or the skillet, this Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 servings
  • 1 lb large shrimp, 21-25 ct, peeled and deveined
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 Tbsp lime juice, plus more to serve
  • 1 Tbsp cilantro, finely chopped, plus more to serve
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground paprika
  • 1/2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges for serving, optional

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and honey, and stir together to combine. Add the shrimp and stir to coat.
  • To Sauté: Preheat a large non-stick, non-reactive skillet over medium/high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil to the pan and once the pan is hot, add the shrimp in a single layer and sauté for 1-2 minutes per side or just until cooked through.
  • To Grill the Shrimp: Start by preheating the grill to medium/high heat and soak wooden skewers for 10 minutes to ensure they won’t burn on the grill. Oil the grates to prevent sticking. Combine the shrimp with the marinade then skewer them. Grill for 1-2 minutes per side or just until cooked through.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste, and then immediately transfer the shrimp to a serving dish to prevent overcooking. Garnish with more cilantro if desired and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

Notes

You’ll want to cook right away after the shrimp is combined with the cilantro lime marinade. Do not marinate for longer than 10 minutes or the shrimp will turn rubbery from the lime juice.

Nutrition Per Serving

153kcal Calories4g Carbs16g Protein8g Fat1g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat5g Monounsaturated Fat0.01g Trans Fat143mg Cholesterol788mg Sodium145mg Potassium0.2g Fiber2g Sugar337IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C65mg Calcium0.4mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Cilantro Lime Shrimp Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
153
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
143
mg
48
%
Sodium
 
788
mg
34
%
Potassium
 
145
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
4
g
1
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
16
g
32
%
Vitamin A
 
337
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
65
mg
7
%
Iron
 
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: cilantro lime shrimp, cilantro lime shrimp recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 153
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

5 from 12 votes

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • John Lerno
    October 18, 2024

    All your recipes looks so good I have to try them all I’m new and it is late in Belgium but tomorrow is another day thank you again 🙏 ❤️.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 18, 2024

      Hi John! I hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

  • David Criswell Sr
    October 1, 2024

    I made this for my bbq/ football game and it turned out great and so did the crockpot carnitas. Everyone loved both of them 🤙

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 1, 2024

      I’m so happy this was a hit, David! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • David Criswell Sr.
    October 1, 2024

    Muchas Gracias Natasha my bbq/football party was a blast and everyone loved your shrimp recipe and so did I 🤙 oh yeah the crockpot carnitas were also great 😊

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 2, 2024

      That’s wonderful to hear, David! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Barb C
    September 8, 2024

    Usually when I make a new recipe I follow it as it’s written then figure out what I need to do to make it better (for me). This is perfect as is and just might be the best shrimp I’ve ever had! Thank you, Natasha.

    Reply

  • David R. Nettles
    September 3, 2024

    Made this and grilled the shrimp. Absolutely great!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 3, 2024

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, David!

      Reply

  • Bernadette Thomas
    September 2, 2024

    You are Amazing! Easy, practical and delicious recipes! I will be ordering your cookbook!

    Reply

  • Cherie
    September 2, 2024

    We are a land locked state. Fresh shrimp is difficult to find. What should I use instead?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 2, 2024

      Hi Cherie, we are also, so we purchase the best option our local stores provide. I wish I could be more helpful with local options you may have, I recommend speaking to your meat/ seafood counter associates.

      Reply

  • Mariel
    August 3, 2024

    Oh no! I can’t put a picture? Well your pic is better than mine anyway. OMG it was so so good. I ate some for lunch and will eat the rest for dinner in a tortilla. My hubby doesn’t really like shrimp but he kept eating it 🥺😤😊. My son couldn’t eat it because it had cilantro and like many people, cilantro tastes like soap. It’s no joke, it’s a health issue.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 3, 2024

      I’m so glad it was enjoyed, Mariel! You can tag me on Instagram or Facebook. #natashaskitchen

      Reply

  • Margie
    August 1, 2024

    Absolutely delicious! Thank you for such an easy and scrumptious recipe! We will make this again soon!!! I just made it tonight and my husband and I loved it!!

    Reply

  • Lulu
    August 1, 2024

    The cilantro shrimp recipe looks delicious. I will try it this weekend. I ‘m sure my family would love this! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 1, 2024

      I hope they do!

      Reply

  • Barbara
    July 30, 2024

    Hi Natasha! This was so delicious. I tripled the recipe. Only 4 of us, but included my ravenous son and grandson. I ended up baking the shrimp in the oven since my pan would not have been big enough to sautee in a single layer. Everyone loved it. I served with sushi rice and added diced carrots to the rice and also steamed broccoli for a side. I think my grandson was disappointed that there wasn’t more. Delicious!

    Reply

  • Ella Surrette
    July 26, 2024

    It was awesome..the only issue I had was using frozen shrimp instead of fresh. I let them totally thaw in fridge overnight and a day. There was a lot of liquid, which I drained. I then patted them dry, but when they started cooking more liquid came out! So, took them out of pan after about 5 minutes and let the marinade reduce…poured over shrimp and they were still good. Only fresh ones next time, though. Marinade is sooooo good!

    Reply

  • Trudy
    July 1, 2024

    This is almost the same as my own recipe!! It is so awesome on the grill!!

    Reply

  • R
    April 27, 2024

    Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it out! What a great, healthy recipe.

    Reply

  • Sara T
    April 27, 2024

    My whole family LOVED this recipe! And I loved it even more because it’s so easy to make! Thank you.

    Reply

  • Sha
    April 27, 2024

    This was a hit! Tried it today and my family instantly liked it! Full of flavor and incredibly delicious!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 27, 2024

      HI Sha, I am so happy to hear that your family enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for the great review.

      Reply

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