Grilled Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs is a recipe that is easy to put together. They require very few ingredients and work, but their presence can make anyone drool. It’s perfect for the upcoming holidays, for the park, or for your backyard family gathering.
Table of Contents
- What are Hawaiian Kabobs?
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- How to Prep Skewers Before Grilling?
- Key Ingredients
- How to Make Grilled Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
- Substitutions and Variations
- What Can I Serve Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs With?
- How to Store Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
- More Recipes You'll Enjoy
- Recipe Card
- Grilled Hawaiian Shrimp Kabob (with Pineapple)
- Comments
Freshly squeezed pineapple juice glaze makes the kabobs taste incredibly delicious and savory at the same time. Serve with rice, potatoes, pasta, quinoa, or whatever side dish your heart desires. Enjoy this little taste of the island at home!
The bright, tropical flavor of pineapple pairs perfectly with the shrimp. The glaze is super easy to make and imparts a delicious flavor that’s unbeatable. I’m sure if you try this recipe once, you’ll want to make it again and again!
What are Hawaiian Kabobs?
Let’s first start with what a Kabob is. Kabobs are originally from the Middle East and are made using cut pieces of meat, laced onto skewers, and then grilled over fire or coal.
This is also what makes kabobs so fun and easy to make because you can lace onto them anything that would normally fall through the grill grate. That’s why shrimps are one of the best options!
When it comes to Hawaiian Kabobs, they are delicious pieces of meat marinated or glazed with a pineapple-based mixture and then grilled to perfection!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This is, by far, the most delicious Hawaiian Shrimp Kabob recipe you’ll ever try! But not only that, but it’s also incredibly easy to make with simple steps you have to follow.
Firstly, you don’t even need to marinate your shrimp! My recipe calls for a delicious pineapple glaze that adds all the flavor without the need for making a separate marinade. It’ll add all the flavor of a regular marinade without the added time!
Secondly, it’s really quick to make. You only need 10 minutes to prep everything and less than 10 more minutes to cook it. That means in overall, less than 20 minutes you can have this delicious meal on your dinner table!
And lastly, you’ll get incredibly delicious, deep flavors that will leave you amazed. The recipe is super simple, but the flavors are bold every single time. It’s subtle enough for even the kids to enjoy it, but bold enough that the adults will as well!
This recipe is healthy too! With no soy sauce or other high-sodium ingredients, you’re going to get a delicious flavor but with fewer overall calories. Trust me, you’re going to fall in love with this one!
How to Prep Skewers Before Grilling?
Prepping your skewers is a step many people miss, but it can make a big difference!
If you’re using metal skewers, you don’t need to do anything to prep them. Just give them a quick wash before lacing the shrimp on them.
But if you’re going for bamboo or wood skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before you use them. If possible, soak them overnight for the best results!
The reason why we do is that bamboo skewers can catch fire or burn while grilling. Leaving them in water allows water to soak up, and the moisture from it will prevent any burning or breakage while you use them during grilling.
Since it takes a while for the water to soak into them, doing it overnight is best. But a minimum of 30 minutes can work too if you’re in a bit of a time crunch.
So, don’t forget to soak your skewers before using them in this recipe!
Key Ingredients
Making these delicious skewers is incredibly easy, and you need very simple ingredients for it. Here’s everything you’ll need to make these Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs at home:
- Large Shrimp: This is the star of our recipe. You can go for fresh raw shrimp or frozen ones, since both will give you a delicious flavor.
- Pineapple: You’ll need one pineapple to make the glaze we’ll use in this recipe, as well as for the pineapple chunks we’ll lace onto the skewers. Pineapple gives it a beautifully tropical yet savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the shrimp.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is a great thickening agent that will give you the perfect consistency when making the glaze, but without taking away from its flavor.
- Honey: We’ll use some raw organic honey to slightly sweeten our glaze and make the flavors pop even more.
- Salt and black pepper: You’ll need some salt and pepper to season your skewers to the right level according to your personal preference.
- Skewers: You can go for metal skewers or bamboo ones. I’m using bamboo skewers that are 11 ¾ inches long.
Oven/Grill mat (optional): You can also use an oven and grill mat if you prefer. I like using it to prevent the shrimp and pineapple from sticking to the grill grates, but this is optional.
Additions (optional): In addition to pineapple chunks, you can also add mushrooms, cubed red bell pepper, or slices of zucchini.
How to Make Grilled Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
This is seriously one of the easiest recipes that has the most incredible flavor ever. Here’s what you need to do to make them step by step:
How to Prep Shrimp and Pineapple
If using frozen shrimp, place the shrimp into a medium glass bowl and fill it with cold water so that the shrimp can thaw.
While shrimps are thawing, rinse and chop the pineapple.
Set aside ¾ of the chopped pineapple chunks to lace onto the wooden skewers and the rest ½ of the pineapple for making the delicious pineapple glaze.
Next, rinse the shrimp and season them with salt and pepper to taste.
Now thread the shrimp and pineapple chunks onto bamboo skewers and set aside until ready to grill.
How to Make Pineapple Glaze
Time to make our delicious pineapple glaze! Place ¼ of the pineapple into a food processor. Process for a minute, and then transfer the pineapple puree into cheesecloth.
Squeeze the juice out into a small pot. You should have about ½ cup of freshly squeezed juice. Add cornstarch and honey to the juice.
Place this juice mixture onto the stovetop in a small saucepan, whisk to combine, and bring it to a boil, constantly stirring.
Remove the saucepan from the stove as soon as you see the first few boiling bubbles; otherwise, the glaze will be overcooked.
How to Grill Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
Time to grill these delicious Hawaiian Kabobs! Start by heating the grill to 350°F.
Place an oven mat on top of the grill grates. This is optional, but I prefer using a mat to prevent shrimp and pineapple from sticking to the grill grates.
Place shrimp skewers onto the grill and grill them for 5 minutes.
Flip the skewers over. Using a silicon brush, glaze the shrimp skewers. Use only half of the glaze amount and reserve the other half for the glazing on the other side of the skewers. Let it grill for an additional 4 minutes.
Remove the skewers from the grill and place them with the glazed side down. Glaze the unglazed side of the skewers.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a grill at home, you can follow these steps on a grill pan by heating it to medium-high heat. Just repeat all the steps I mentioned above.
Your tasty Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs are ready to be served!
Substitutions and Variations
This recipe is incredibly easy to follow and gives great results every single time. Here are some variation ideas you can try to change things up:
Lace vegetables: If you want some extra veggies on your plate, you can add some cubed bell peppers onto the skewers since they go great with the flavors of this dish. Red onion is another one you can add since the slightly sweet flavor of both bell peppers and red onions will go great with your Hawaiian kabobs.
Chicken kebabs: To adapt this recipe to use chicken instead, you can use some skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts and follow the steps as mentioned in the recipe. You might have to increase the grilling time to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through. But I also have a different Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs recipe that I believe you'll love!
What Can I Serve Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs With?
These Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs go great with some mashed potatoes or potato salad. You can also serve it on the side of some delicious white rice for a full meal that’s filling and tasty! These kabobs also go great with some corn on the cob!
How to Store Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
You can place leftover Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To reheat your Shrimp Kabobs, lightly brush them with some olive oil and place them in a preheated oven at 325°F for 5 to 7 minutes.
I don’t recommend freezing your Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs, as it will affect the texture of your pineapples and take away from it. Since this is an incredibly easy recipe to make, I recommend making it fresh and storing leftovers in the fridge.
Recipe Card
Grilled Hawaiian Shrimp Kabob (with Pineapple)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. raw shrimp
- 1 large pineapple
- 1 tbsp. cornstarch
- 2 tbsp. raw organic honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Bamboo 11 ¾” long skewers
- Oven mat (optional)
Instructions
How to Prep Shrimp and Pineapple
- If using frozen shrimp, place shrimp into a large glass bowl and fill it with cold water so that the shrimp can thaw.
- While shrimps are thawing rinse and chop the pineapple.
- Set aside ¾ of the chopped pineapple chunks to lace onto the skewers and the rest ½ of the pineapple for making the delicious pineapple glaze.
- Next, rinse the shrimp and season it with salt and pepper to taste.
- Now thread the shrimp and pineapple chunks onto bamboo skewers and set aside until ready to grill.
How to Make Pineapple Glaze
- Time to make our delicious pineapple glaze! Place ¼ of the pineapple into a food processor. Process for a minute and then transfer the pineapple puree into cheesecloth.
- Squeeze the juice out into a small pot. You should have about ½ cup of freshly squeezed juice. Add cornstarch and honey to the juice.
- Place this juice mixture onto the stovetop in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil constantly stirring.
- Remove the saucepan from the stove as soon as you see the first few boiling bubbles otherwise, the glaze will be overcooked.
How to Grill Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
- Time to grill these delicious Hawaiian Kabobs! Start by heating the grill to 350 F.
- Place an oven mat on top of the grill grates. This is optional, but I prefer using a mat to prevent shrimp and pineapple from sticking to the grill grates.
- Place shrimp skewers onto the grill and grill it for 5 minutes.
- Flip the skewers over. Using a silicon brush glaze the shrimp skewers. Use only half of the glaze amount and reserve the other half for the glazing on the other side of the skewers. Let it grill for an additional 4 minutes.
- Remove the skewers from the grill and place them with the glazed side down. Glaze the unglazed side of the skewers.
- Alternatively, if you don’t have a grill at home, you can follow these steps on a grill pan by heating it to medium-high heat. Just repeat all the steps I mentioned above.
Notes
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