This Grilled Shrimp Bowl is the perfect answer to your search for a healthy, vibrant, and incredibly easy meal. Packed with flavor and fresh ingredients, it’s a dish that works equally well for a quick weeknight dinner or a delicious meal prep solution for the week. If you’re craving a light yet satisfying meal that doesn’t compromise on taste, you’ve found it.
We’ll walk you through everything from the simple shrimp marinade to the zesty cilantro lime dressing that ties it all together. Get ready to create a restaurant-quality bowl in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Shrimp Bowl Recipe
This isn’t just another recipe; it’s a blueprint for your new favorite meal. Here’s why this dish stands out:
- Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of smoky grilled shrimp, fresh vegetables, and a bright, zesty dressing creates a perfect harmony of flavors.
- Highly Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic starting point. You can easily swap the base, add your favorite veggies, or try a different sauce. It’s a great way to use up what you have in the fridge.
- Healthy & Nutritious: Loaded with lean protein from the shrimp and vitamins from the fresh vegetables, this bowl is a meal you can feel good about eating.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: All the components can be prepared ahead of time. Just assemble when you’re ready to eat for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner. For other great meal-prep ideas, check out our High-Protein Cheeseburger Bowls.
The Key Ingredients for Your Shrimp Bowl
The magic of this bowl lies in its fresh, simple components. Here’s what you’ll need to bring it all together.
For the Grilled Shrimp
- Shrimp: One pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined. Fresh or frozen works great, just make sure they are fully thawed.
- Olive Oil: The base of our simple marinade.
- Garlic: Freshly minced for the best flavor.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a beautiful color and smoky depth.
- Cumin: Provides a warm, earthy note.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
For the Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Olive Oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil works best.
- Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed is a must!
- Cilantro: The star of the show, providing fresh, citrusy flavor.
- Honey or Maple Syrup: Just a touch to balance the acidity.
- Garlic: One small clove, minced.
Bowl Components
- Base: We’re using quinoa, but brown rice, white rice, or even mixed greens work perfectly.
- Black Beans: Canned, rinsed, and drained.
- Corn: Fresh, frozen, or canned will do. Grilling it adds a fantastic smoky flavor.
- Avocado: Sliced or diced for a creamy texture.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced for a sharp, crunchy bite.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Halved for bursts of sweetness.
How to Make the Perfect Grilled Shrimp Bowl
Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and satisfying meal. We’ll break it down from marinating the shrimp to assembling the final bowl.
Step 1: Marinate the Shrimp
In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp, olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until the shrimp are evenly coated. Let them marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature. You can also do this ahead of time and let them marinate in the refrigerator for up to an hour.
Step 2: Prepare the Dressing
While the shrimp marinates, prepare the cilantro lime dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, honey, and minced garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 3: Grill the Shrimp
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If you’re using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning. Thread the marinated shrimp onto the skewers. Grill for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. They cook quickly, so keep a close eye on them!
Step 4: Assemble Your Bowl
Now for the fun part! Start by adding a layer of your chosen base (quinoa, rice, etc.) to the bottom of each bowl. Top with the grilled shrimp, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and sliced red onion. Drizzle generously with the cilantro lime dressing. For a similar dish with a different protein, you might enjoy our Grilled Steak Bowl.
Tips for a Next-Level Shrimp Bowl
- Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: This is the most important tip! Shrimp cook in just a few minutes. As soon as they turn pink and curl into a ‘C’ shape, they’re done.
- Grill Your Veggies: For extra smoky flavor, try grilling your corn and even your red onions before adding them to the bowl.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the shrimp marinade or a finely chopped jalapeño to the dressing for a little heat.
Customizations and Variations
One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:
- Change the Protein: This bowl is also fantastic with grilled chicken, steak, or even a firm fish like halibut.
- Add More Veggies: Bell peppers, chopped mango, or radishes would all be excellent additions.
- Switch up the Sauce: Try a creamy chipotle sauce, a spicy mango salsa, or a simple avocado crema. If you love avocado and shrimp together, be sure to check out our Shrimp and Avocado Bowls.
Yes, this bowl is excellent for meal prep. You can cook the shrimp and quinoa, chop the vegetables, and mix the dressing ahead of time. Store each component in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Assemble the bowl just before eating for the best results.
Shrimp cook very quickly! For large shrimp, grill for 2-3 minutes per side over medium-high heat. They are done when they turn pink and opaque and curl into a ‘C’ shape. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become tough.
Absolutely. This bowl is a well-balanced meal, rich in lean protein from the shrimp, healthy fats from the avocado and olive oil, and complex carbohydrates and fiber from the quinoa and vegetables. It’s a nutritious and satisfying dish.
A great, simple marinade for grilled shrimp consists of olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. This combination adds a smoky and savory flavor that complements the sweetness of the shrimp perfectly.
You can add a wide variety of vegetables to this bowl! Grilled bell peppers, chopped cucumbers, shredded carrots, radishes, or even edamame would all be delicious additions. Feel free to use what you have on hand.
Yes, this bowl is excellent for meal prep. You can cook the shrimp and quinoa, chop the vegetables, and mix the dressing ahead of time. Store each component in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Assemble the bowl just before eating for the best results.
Shrimp cook very quickly! For large shrimp, grill for 2-3 minutes per side over medium-high heat. They are done when they turn pink and opaque and curl into a ‘C’ shape. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become tough.
Absolutely. This bowl is a well-balanced meal, rich in lean protein from the shrimp, healthy fats from the avocado and olive oil, and complex carbohydrates and fiber from the quinoa and vegetables. It’s a nutritious and satisfying dish.
A great, simple marinade for grilled shrimp consists of olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. This combination adds a smoky and savory flavor that complements the sweetness of the shrimp perfectly.
You can add a wide variety of vegetables to this bowl! Grilled bell peppers, chopped cucumbers, shredded carrots, radishes, or even edamame would all be delicious additions. Feel free to use what you have on hand.
The Perfect Recipe
This Grilled Shrimp Bowl is more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of fresh flavors and healthy eating. It’s a recipe you’ll come back to again and again for its simplicity and delicious results. We hope you enjoy making and eating it as much as we do!
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Grilled Shrimp Bowl: Healthy, Flavorful & Easy
This Grilled Shrimp Bowl is the perfect healthy, vibrant, and easy meal. Packed with flavor from a simple marinade and a zesty cilantro lime dressing, it's perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine shrimp, 2 tbsp olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, honey, and 1 minced garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat grill to medium-high. Thread shrimp onto skewers. Grill for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and opaque.
- Divide the cooked quinoa or rice among four bowls. Top with grilled shrimp, black beans, corn, avocado, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.
- Drizzle generously with the cilantro lime dressing and serve immediately.
Notes
Don't Overcook the Shrimp: Remove shrimp from the grill as soon as they turn pink and opaque to keep them tender.
Meal Prep: Store all components in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wait to slice the avocado until just before serving.
Grilled Shrimp Bowl: Healthy, Flavorful & Easy
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine shrimp, 2 tbsp olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, honey, and 1 minced garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat grill to medium-high. Thread shrimp onto skewers. Grill for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and opaque.
- Divide the cooked quinoa or rice among four bowls. Top with grilled shrimp, black beans, corn, avocado, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.
- Drizzle generously with the cilantro lime dressing and serve immediately.
Notes
Meal Prep: Store all components in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wait to slice the avocado until just before serving.
