Last Updated on February 3, 2023 by Sabrina Currie
After tasting whole grilled prawns in Thailand, I was hooked. Grilling them in their shell keeps them juicy and tender while adding tons of amazing flavor. A simple baste of garlic and parsley butter makes these easy grilled spot prawns with garlic butter my go-to when it's spot prawn season!
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THE PRAWN CEREMONY
My brother, Tavis, and I spent a few seasons deck handing. We ceremoniously ate the first raw prawns of each season first thing each season before then cooking up a feast.
As I travelled, I loved to try seafood everywhere I went. In Thailand, I ate many prawns...and they were always whole, in the shell. Once I tasted them, there was no going back. Grilling prawns this way is as easy as it gets, and I guarantee they'll be the best tasting, juicy shrimp you've ever eaten.
For more delicious shrimp and prawn recipes, check out Creamy Prawn Chowder, 35+ Best Recipes For Spot Prawns, Thai Prawn Salad With Mango, Prawns In Tomato Fennel Broth, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail and Shrimp Salad Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce.
Recipe Ingredients
The most important, and main ingredient you need for this recipe is fresh prawns or shrimp. All the other ingredients can be modified. Cooking prawns on the outdoor grill is my favorite way to cook them 🙂
- Prawns - When in season, spot prawns can't be beat. If you can't get spot prawns, any other large, whole shrimp are a great option. Larger shrimp work best but if you only have small shrimp (or prawn tails), you can thread them onto bamboo skewers so they don't fall through the grill grates. You can cook shelled shrimp this way too. Naked shrimp tails will cook very fast, only needing ½-1 minute per side.
- Butter - Besides the fresh prawns, butter is the best part so choose a quality butter. Salted or unsalted are both fine, just adjust the amount of salt accordingly when seasoning your garlic butter mixture.
- Seasoning - This recipe calls for crushed garlic, chopped parsley, lemon juice and a few dashes of hot sauce to bring it all to life. Serve these up with lemon wedges so everyone can add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice to their bbq shrimp. Other fresh herbs like chopped thyme, tarragon, dill or cilantro (with lime juice instead of lemon) are also good flavor variations. If you want your shrimp recipe extra spicy, you can add a half teaspoon of hot pepper flakes to the butter and olive oil before melting. (No parsley? Check out The Best Herbs To Substitute For Parsley.)
See recipe card for quantities.
Check Out My Shrimp Cookbook!
Love shrimp? You can get my new mini shrimp ecookbook online. 10 quick and easy shrimp and prawn recipes with a photo of every one.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Just a few easy step and you'll have the best tasting grilled prawns you've ever tasted!
NOTE: When you're ready to start, preheat gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. A very hot grill cooks these bad boys up fast without overcooking them.
Step 1. In a glass measuring cup or small saucepan, add butter, olive oil, parsley, garlic and lemon juice.
Heat until melted on the stove (in saucepan) or in the microwave (in glass measuring cup) until the lemon garlic butter sauce is melted together.
Stir together and season with kosher salt, black pepper and hot sauce. Be generous with the salt as it will be brushed thinly over all the prawns.
Step 2. Grab a tray and put jumbo prawns or shrimp, melted garlic butter, basting brush, tongs and a serving platter on it. Having everything right beside the grill will help prevent any overcooking because these will cook in just mere minutes.
Place prawns on the grill grates, then baste with garlic butter and close lid for 1 minute. Open, flip prawns with tongs and baste again then close lid for 1 more minute.
Step 3. Open lid and check prawns, removing any that are opaque through and let remaining prawns cook just until opaque. Depending on the heat of your grill, this shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes. Once all prawns are on the platter, drizzle remaining butter mixture over and serve immediately with some crusty bread for mopping up the garlic butter. Yum!
Step 4. If you are grilling prawn tails, they will cook in less time than whole prawns. 1 to 1 ½ minutes per side is all they will need.
If cooking shelled prawns, they will cook in 1-2 minutes total.
Top Tip: Cook the prawns minimally to avoid overcooking and serve them outside on a picnic table covered in newspaper for easy cleanup.
Expert Tips
The best advice I can give when grilling shrimp or prawns is to buy the best, fresh prawns you can find. If they aren't in season or not available, choose flash frozen spot prawns, side striped shrimp, tiger prawns or any other jumbo shrimp that look good. Coastal areas around the world have various types of shrimp. Choosing local usually means getting the best quality.
Recipe FAQs
Yes...and no. Pacific spot prawns belong to the shrimp family. However the creatures called prawns (grown in fresh water) in many other countries are similar to, but biologically different from shrimp. For info on spot prawns, check out our government fisheries page. For info on the difference between true prawns and large shrimp, check out this article in Eater.com.
You can do either. Whole, shell on prawns will take approximately 5 minutes. Tails in shell will take slightly less and shelled prawns will cook in 1-2 minutes depending on the heat of your barbecue or grill. For easier handling on the grill, you can use bamboo or metal skewers to grill shrimp.
Yes! Although this recipe bastes them with butter and olive oil, most of the fat drips off, leaving delicious taste without the calories. Shrimp and prawns are very nutritious and make a delicious healthy meal. Prawns are low in calories and high in protein. Additionally, they have substantial amounts of B vitamins, omega-3's and minerals like zinc, iron, magnesium and iodine.
Related Recipes
If you love easy recipes like I do, check out these other delicious seafood dishes.
If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.
Also check out my FREE PRINTABLE meal planner to make menu planning and grocery shopping a breeze and my shopping guide. And if you like this recipe, I would love it if you give it a star rating in the recipe card.
Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
📖 Recipe
Easy Grilled Prawns With Garlic And Parsley Butter
Ingredients
- 1 lb Fresh Spot Prawns Fresh whole prawns or fresh tails or thawed prawn tails.
- ¼ c Butter
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoon Parsley, Finely Chopped
- 1 clove Garlic, Minced
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice, Fresh Squeezed
- 3-6 drops Hot Sauce
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat gas or charcoal grill to medium high.
- In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, melt butter with olive oil, parsley, garlic and lemon juice in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Stir together and season with salt, pepper and hot sauce. Be generous with the salt as it will be brushed thinly over all the prawns.
- Organize your prawns, melted garlic butter, basting brush and a plate to put cooked prawns on beside the grill. Place prawns on the grill then baste with garlic butter and close lid for 1 minute. Open and flip prawns and baste again then close lid for 1 more minute.
- Open lid and check prawns, removing any that are opaque through and let remaining cook until just opaque. Depending on the heat of your grill, this shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes. Once all prawns are on plate, drizzle remaining butter mixture over and serve immediately.
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