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Grill and Chill Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktail gets a makeover on this easy, savory, grill and chill shrimp cocktail recipe

Traeger Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail

Grilled Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

We made this easy shrimp cocktail on our pellet grill, but any type of grill would work here. I prefer my pellet grills because I think wood fire does magical things to seafood, and shrimp especially, but don’t let the lack of a pellet grill keep you from making this. 

It is amazing. 

Large raw shrimp are seasoned simply with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper, and then grilled until they are pink. Next, they hit the fridge to chill for a couple of hours before being served up with your favorite cocktail sauce, like this easy 4-ingredient cocktail sauce from Wonky Wonderful or this delicious homemade cocktail sauce from My Forking Life. 

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Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail

Grill and Chill Shrimp Cocktail Shopping List

  • 1 pound jumbo shrimp
  • salt
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • olive oil
  • cocktail sauce

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Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail

How to make easy grilled shrimp cocktail

  1. Buy the big shrimp. The bigger they are, the more likely you are to NOT overcook them. 
  2. Don’t overcook them. Overcooked shrimp is rubbery and not a thing that anyone is going to be writing home about. Even jumbo shrimp will be done in 10 minutes or less, in most cases. 
  3. Make sure there is time to chill. Shrimp for shrimp cocktail needs to be cold, so don’t skip that part!

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Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail

Why should you grill raw shrimp instead of just buying cooked shrimp?

The wood fire of the pellet grill really does a good job of adding a subtle smoke flavor to seafood, but the key to good shrimp is to make sure you are only COOKING it once.

If you want a touch of smoke on your shrimp, buying the pre-cooked variety can lead to rubbery, less-than-ideal shrimp as a finished product.

If you are cooking the shrimp at all, or even eating them warmed at all, I always suggest buying raw shrimp for the highest potential for a good outcome. Save the pre-cooked shrimp for dishes where you’ll be serving them cold like a traditional shrimp cocktail, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail, or a Shrimp Salad.

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Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail

How to store leftover grill and chill shrimp cocktail

If you have any leftover, you can store it covered tightly in the fridge for 2-3 days, max. You can also easily repurpose this shrimp into a great topping on a homemade Caesar salad, or put them on top of a bed of freshly cooked pasta and then pour some hot homemade alfredo sauce on top for a great shrimp alfredo!

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Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail
Yield: 6 servings

Pellet Grill & Chill Shrimp Cocktail

Seafood Cocktail Board

Delicious shrimp cocktail made with pellet grilled shrimp that has been chilled and served up with a healthy amount of horseradish sauce.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound uncooked U-20 shrimp
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat your pellet grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Place your shrimp into a medium bowl and rinse thoroughly.
  3. Put them onto paper towels, and pat dry.
  4. Put the shrimp back into the bowl and add all the dry ingredients and the olive oil.
  5. Mix by tossing the shrimp in the bowl until they are evenly coated.
  6. Place the shrimp directly onto the pre-heated grill surface.
  7. Close the lid to the grill and let cook for 10 minutes.
  8. Pull the shrimp from the grill and spread them onto a cookie sheet.
  9. Chill for one hour before serving with cocktail sauce.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 43Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 511mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g

Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.

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Nicole Johnson

Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.

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