Healthy Grilled Shrimp in Foil

My Healthy Grilled Shrimp In Foil recipe is a fast and fresh seafood dinner.  Filled with Old Bay seasoned shrimp, red potatoes, zucchini, lemon, and fresh herbs, this shrimp dinner idea is reminiscent of a classic Low Country Shrimp Boil but with a healthy twist.

Do you love cooking in foil packets? You should also try my Grilled Zucchini in Foil, Grilled Asparagus in Foil, and Cheesy Grilled Potatoes in Foil.

Grilled Shrimp In Foil Recipe

Grilled Shrimp in Foil is the perfect healthy shrimp recipe.  As a pescatarian, I'm drawn to seafood dishes almost immediately, and this one is one of my favorites.  The summer season has me craving shrimp and shellfish that I can make a home.  I went to work and came up with a healthier, pescatarian twist (no sausage!) on a low-country shrimp bowl.

This recipe starts with sweet shrimp, seasoned with Old Bay.  Like a low country boil, I added potatoes, lemon, and garlic.  To make this healthy and pescatarian-friendly, I swapped out the sausage for yummy zucchini.

The flavor is incredible and comes from classic Old Bay seasoning, garlic, lemon, and fresh parsley.  You don't even miss the fat with those flavors. The entire healthy Grilled Shrimp in Foil recipe is only 8 simple ingredients!

Why You'll Love this Grilled Shrimp in Foil...

• Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets or Grilled Shrimp In Foil are THE BEST way to cook and enjoy shrimp, not only in the summer but year-round.  These taste so good!
• You can put these pretty little packets on the grill, over a campfire, OR in the oven.  Even in the winter or in bad weather, you can easily make this dinner.
• The best part about making the shrimp in the foil is that there is little to no cleanup, and everyone can eat out of their own fun packets.
• My version doesn't have sausage or butter, but that keeps it light and healthy, making it an easy weekday meal.
• To add some extra vitamins, I added some green zucchini to the packet, making it a well-rounded meal without adding anything else.  The simplicity of the shrimp, potatoes, and zucchini shines.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Grilled Shrimp in Foil recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Fresh Shrimp: You'll want large raw shrimp that are peeled with the tails on or off for this shrimp foil packets recipe.  I like the tails for a pretty presentation, but it's easier to eat without them.
• Red Potatoes: Red potatoes are great in this recipe.  I like to buy the mini ones, but you can buy the standard size and cut them into smaller pieces.  You'll want the pieces to be uniform in size and around ½ inch thick.
• Zucchini: A traditional low-country boil has sausage, but as a pescatarian, I don't eat that.  To make these Grilled Shrimp in Foil pescatarian-friendly, I swapped zucchini for the sausage.  It adds color, vitamins, and rounds out the meal.
• Old Bay: I love how Old Bay pairs with shrimp.  It's the traditional flavor you get in a low-country boil or shrimp boil.
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds a lot of yummy flavor to this dish.  You can also use garlic powder or cloves garlic.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice brings out the flavors in the seafood and vegetables.
• Olive Oil: I used olive oil to keep this dish light, but you can also use a small amount of butter.
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions to make this Grilled Shrimp in Foil recipe, but the full detailed, printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

1. Preheat the outdoor grill or oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave the potatoes for 5-6 minutes or until they are just turning tender.  They will finish cooking in the foil, so they don't need to be completely ready.
3. While that's cooking, pull out two large pieces of aluminum foil that are about 18 inches long and spray cooking spray in the center.
4. Stack half the potatoes, zucchini, shrimp, and garlic in the middle of each piece of foil.   Drizzle with the olive oil, half the lemon, Old Bay, salt, and pepper.  Carefully toss.
5. Fold each shrimp foil packet by pulling up the sides and folding the top.  Then seal over the ends to make a sealed pouch.
6. Place on the grill and cook for around 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes and zucchini are tender.
7. Open the packets and serve with fresh chopped parsley, an additional sprinkle of Old Bay, and a lemon wedge.

Tips & Tricks

• The only catch is that you do need to pre-cook the potatoes in the microwave for a few minutes before they go in the foil packets. I tried cooking this many ways without that extra step, and none of them worked. So make sure you look at the instructions.
• It's best to find raw shrimp for this recipe and not pre-cooked.  The pre-cooked food would get overcooked in the foil packets.
• You can also easily make these in the oven.  Follow the same instructions, just heat the oven to 425 degrees instead of the grill.

Grilled Shrimp in Foil Variations

I love this Grilled Shrimp in Foil as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Mix up the Vegetables: You can add different vegetables to this, like corn, corn on the cob, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, green beans, onions, or asparagus.  So many different veggies are good in this.
• Make it Spicy: Add a pinch or more of red pepper flakes to the foil pack.
• Mix up the Spices: You can swap out the Old Bay for other spice blends like my Cajun Spices, Blackened Seasoning, or Italian Spice Mix.
• Make on the Campfire: To make these over a campfire, place the foil packets over indirect heat.  Since the temperature is more variable, check and make sure everything is cooked after 10-15 minutes.

FAQ

Store any leftovers of the Grilled Shrimp in Foil in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Can I grill frozen shrimp?

I always thaw my shrimp before cooking.  It's a very simple process.  You can either move the shrimp to the fridge overnight or put them in a colander and rinse them with cool water until they are thawed.

How can you tell if shrimp are cooked?

Shrimp are cooked with they turn pink and just start to curl.  They cook fast, and overcooked shrimp can be chewy, so don't overcook them.

Can you make the packets ahead of time?

You can even make the packets ahead of time and have them ready when 6 o'clock rolls around or guests arrive.

How long do you grill shrimp in foil?

Shrimp cooks very fast!  It only takes about 10 minutes to cook these shrimp packets on the grill.

I LOVE This Grilled Shrimp In Foil!

This Grilled Shrimp in Foil reminds me of the most delicious Low Country Boil at home.  This fast, simple, and healthy meal is one you will not be able to resist making on repeat and is the perfect easy grilled shrimp recipe.  Plus, you will love the easy clean-up.  This is an amazing meal that's a breeze to cook.

As always, I'd love for you to try it yourself and let me know what you think.

Serving Suggestions:

This dish is actually a complete meal in the packet, BUT it would also go well with some additional side dishes like rice or a green salad.  Here are some ideas for other fresh and healthy summer recipes to round out a menu.

• Watermelon Blueberry & Feta Salad
• Avocado Caprese Salad
• Marinated Cherry Salad
• Healthy Coleslaw
• Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese
• Healthy Blueberry Crisp
• Crock Pot Peach Cobbler

More Healthy Shrimp Recipes:

• Crab Stuffed Shrimp
• Cajun Shrimp Alfredo
• Cajun Shrimp and Rice
• Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp
• Shrimp Nachos
• Shrimp Pineapple Kabobs
• Fresh & Healthy Shrimp Salsa
• Honey Lime Shrimp Skewers
• Cajun Shrimp Burger
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Teriyaki
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
• Shrimp Lettuce Tacos with Mango Salsa

If you make this Grilled Shrimp in Foil recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Healthy Grilled Shrimp in Foil

Julie Wunder

My Healthy Grilled Shrimp In Foil recipe is a fast and fresh seafood dinner.  Filled with Old Bay seasoned shrimp, red potatoes, zucchini, lemon, and fresh herbs this shrimp dinner idea is reminiscent of a classic Low Country Shrimp Boil but with a healthy twist.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 2 servings

Calories 274 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ½ pound baby potatoes, cut in ½ inch pieces
• 1 small zucchini, halved and sliced about ¼ inch thick
• ½ pound raw large or jumbo shrimp
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon old bay
• 2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
• salt and pepper
• cooking spray
• Garnish: more lemon, more Old Bay

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven or grill to 425 degrees.
• In a large microwave safe bowl, microwave potatoes for 5-6 minutes until just tender They will finish cooking in the foil..
• Pull out two large pieces of foil... about 18 inches long and spray cooking spray in the center.
• Stack half of the potatoes, zucchini, shrimp, and garlic in the middle of each piece of the foil.
• Drizzle each side with olive oil, half of the lemon, salt, pepper, and the old bay. Carefully toss.
• Fold each foil packet by pulling the sides up and folding and then sealing the ends.
• Place on the grill or on a cookie sheet in the oven.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes and zucchini are tender.
• Open packets and serve with the fresh chopped parsley, additional Old Bay and addition lemon wedges!

Notes

Serve With

Serve this grilled shrimp in foil with a side salad.

 

Make Ahead

You can make these ahead of time and store in the fridge until you are ready to cook.

 

Storage and Leftovers

After cooking the shrimp they will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 274kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 27gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 286mgSodium: 897mgPotassium: 898mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 222IUVitamin C: 74mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Healthy Grilled Shrimp in Foil

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

Pin for later...