This Quick and Easy Cedar Plank Grilled Shrimp can be prepared with 3 different flavors: BBQ, Cilantro Lime, and Sweet Chili. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
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I love to make seafood on the grill! I’m a fan of grilling just about anything to be honest. With shrimp you typically have to make them into skewers or use a grill basket in order to BBQ them.
Hello cedar planking! I find using a plank is a little faster and more convenient than threading the shrimp onto skewers, but I love both methods.
What is the Cedar Plank For? What Does it Do?
Plank grilling uses a wooden board that is placed directly on the grill to provide deep, wood-smoked flavor. Dare I say it’s better than using wood chips because the food you are cooking on it comes into direct contact with the wooden plank?
Some stores will sell a variety of flavored planks like maple, apple, etc. Most stores that sell grilling supplies will have cedar planks. You can grab them here on Amazon or somewhere like Costco. They are the most common.
What Type of Shrimp to Use
Shrimp can be found at the grocery store in a few different ways. There is raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc.
I never use pre-cooked shrimp. There is an obvious difference in taste due to the lack of quality. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp. Raw shrimp only takes minutes to make, just buy it raw.
Always look for deveined, that’s my preference. The black vein that runs along the back of the shrimp is the digestive intestinal tract. Is this shrimp poop, yes.
You can buy it with the vein and remove it using a sharp paring knife to make a slit along the back and lift out the vein with the tip of the knife.
Buy large shrimp. Baby shrimp are meant to go in things like soups.
How to Season the Shrimp
I have 3 methods and flavors you can use, BBQ, Cilantro Lime, and Sweet Chili.
I love to use my Homemade BBQ Rub for the BBQ Flavor. You will need:
- Brown Sweetener or Brown Sugar
- Chili Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
For Cilantro Lime you will need:
- Olive Oil
- Cilantro
- Lime Juice
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Pepper
For Sweet Chili you will need:
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Lime Juice
- Salt
- Pepper
Soak the Cedar Plank Before You Use it
This step is important. If you place a dry plank on the grill grates, the flames and direct contact will likely cause a fire. Give yourself an hour of time to soak the plank first. It should be recently soaked.
Grill Temperature
Getting to know your grill is important. Most modern and newer grills will display the temperature. For this dish, 350 degrees and medium heat is optimal.
If you don’t have a temperature dial you can do a hand test to see if the grill has reached medium-high. You can read more about How to Check the Temperature of Your Grill here.
How to Grill Cedar Plank Shrimp
Detailed instructions and measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom, of the post.
- Season the shrimp with spices.
- Add the shrimp to the pre-soaked plank.
- Grill.
How Long to Cook it/How to Tell When it’s Done
Raw and frozen shrimp are a translucent gray. When it’s cooked, it should be an opaque white with some pink and bright red accents. This is the best indicator of whether or not shrimp is fully cooked.
When shrimp cooks, the muscle contracts, so the shrimp shrinks and curls. I find that it’s perfectly cooked when it has a C shape. I remove the shrimp from heat immediately when it reaches this shape. Often, if it reaches an O shape, and completely curls in, it will taste overcooked.
Will the Wood Catch on Fire?
You should watch for occasional flare-ups, but if you have soaked the plank in water it will prevent fire.
Can You Reuse the Plank?
Sometimes…it will depend on the condition of the plank after you have used it. Sometimes the plank will completely char, especially if you have grilled in on high heat for quite some time.
It’s easy to just scrap it and grab a new one. I like to get mine in bulk for this reason.
Can You Use the Plank in the Oven?
Yes, you can bake the plank and shrimp on 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes or until cooked.
How to Reheat
I like to use the air fryer, 350 degrees for a few minutes until warm. You can use the microwave. I’m typically not a fan of the texture it gives off.
Freezer Tips
You can freeze the cooked shrimp for up to 3 months.
Pair This Shrimp With These Side Dishes
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Southern Baked Beans
Southern Coleslaw
Southern Potato Salad
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Easy Spaghetti Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
How to Grill Chicken Wings
More Shrimp and Seafood Recipes
Shrimp and Crab Quiche
Shrimp Pho Noodle Soup
Healthy Chicken and Shrimp Pad Thai
Seafood Shrimp Chili
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Buffalo Shrimp
Shrimp Po Boy
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Baked Crab Legs
Seafood Stuffed Pasta Shells
Jerk Shrimp Recipe
Cedar Plank Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh shrimp Shells removed and deveined. I remove the tails, this is optional.
Use any of the flavors below. The servings noted are for 1 pound of shrimp. You can divide the servings in half, thirds etc if needed.
Homemade BBQ Rub
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar or sweetener
Cilantro Lime
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice This is typically the juice of 1 lime.
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepperto taste
Sweet Chili
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice This is typically 1/2 a lime.
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak your cedar plank in water for at least one hour before using it. Ensure it’s completely submerged in water.
- Preheat grill to medium heat (350 degrees).
BBQ Shrimp
- Place the shrimp on the cedar plank. Rub the olive oil over the shrimp and season with the spices.
- Grill the shrimp for 5-6 minutes on each side or until cooked.
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- Add the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a small bowl and stir.
- Add the shrimp to a separate bowl or container. Drizzle the cilantro lime marinade over the shrimp. I like reserve 20% of the marinade to coat over the cooked shrimp for extra flavor.
- Grill the shrimp for 5-6 minutes on each side or until cooked.
Sweet Chili Shrimp
- Add the sweet chili sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to a small bowl and stir.
- Add the shrimp to a separate bowl or container. Drizzle the sweet chili marinade over the shrimp. I like to reserve 20% of the marinade to coat over the cooked shrimp for extra flavor.
- Grill the shrimp for 5-6 minutes on each side or until cooked.
Video
Notes
- For a little more smoky, grilled flavor you can add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the shrimp.
- You can use any seasoning or BBQ rub you wish.
- Using olive oil adds flavor and helps the spices adhere to the shrimp. You can also use avocado oil.
- Raw and frozen shrimp are translucent gray. When it’s cooked, it should be an opaque white with some pink and bright red accents. This is the best indicator of whether or not shrimp is fully cooked.
- When shrimp cooks, the muscle contracts, so the shrimp shrinks and curls. I find that it’s perfectly cooked when it has a C shape. I remove the shrimp from heat immediately when it reaches this shape. Often, if it reaches an O shape, and completely curls in, it will taste overcooked.
- Soaking the cedar plank is important. If you place a dry plank on the grill grates, the flames and direct contact will likely cause a fire. Give yourself an hour of time to soak the plank first. It should be recently soaked.
- Macros assume BBQ Shrimp. Feel free to use the macro calculator of your choice to calculate the macros using the branded ingredients you personally use to prepare the recipe.
Maggie
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
I made these last night (cilantro lime version) and they were freakin incredible. Easy to make, quick to cook and DELICIOUS. Adding to my list of fave recipes!
staysnatched
Thursday 2nd of September 2021
Yay! I'm so glad to hear that!