Easy, smokey shrimp grilled on a cedar wood plank with sweet garlic flavors. Making Cedar Plank Shrimp is very easy and it infuses the shrimp with an amazing smokey aroma. This shrimp recipe only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and cook but make sure to soak the cedar plank first.
Seafood cooked on a cedar plank always comes out amazing. Try my Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce and Honey Ginger Cedar Plank Salmon.
CEDAR PLANK SHRIMP
Wood adds amazing flavors to grilled food, whether it’s wood chips added to the coals or grilling meats and seafood on a cedar plank. Smoked infused fish and shrimp has an amazing subtle flavor, and the aroma that will be fill you backyard is surreal.
I’m a sucker for the burning wood aroma so infusing smokey flavors of wood into food is heavenly. Making seafood on a cedar plank is pretty much my favorite way to cook it because it’s so easy and the flavors of wood is subtle enough not to interfere with flavors of sauce or seasoning. Instead, it adds a little smokiness and enhances all other flavors.
Did I mention just how easy it is to grill on a cedar plank? As long as you can remember to soak the plank for a couple of hours first, you are golden. Shrimp takes only a few minutes to cook on the cedar plank and comes out juicy and full of flavor.
In addition to great flavor, cedar plank also protects the shrimp from direct heat so it’s not as easy to overcook as if the shrimp were placed directly on the grill.
HOW TO GRILL ON CEDAR WOOD PLANK
First, make sure to choose the right cedar plank. When buying the planks, get the the ones that are meant for cooking food, so you would most likely be looking at the grilling section of the store.
The most important step is to soak the cedar plank before grilling on it. Most cedar planks will have instructions that state that it needs to be soaked for at least 30 minutes. Even though minimum 30 minutes is recommended, I recommend to soak it for 1-2 hours. I noticed a little more burning when it’s only been soaked for 30 minutes.
To soak, place cedar planks into a roasting pan big enough to easily fit the planks. Add water to cover the cedar planks completely and place something heavy on top of the planks to keep it submerged.
Start preparing the coals and grill about 20 minutes before you’re ready to cook. Once the coals are ashed over and grill is preheated, place soaked cedar planks on the grill and leave them for about 10 minutes to heat through.
Once the cedar planks are heated, it’s time to add the shrimp (or any other seafood). Place shrimp on the hot cedar planks and try not to overcrowd them.
Close the grill lid and let it cook until done and opaque.
HOW LONG TO COOK SHRIMP
Cooking time for shrimp varies based on size and if you keep shells on or not. Of course, jumbo shrimp will take a bit longer to cook than small shrimp, and shrimp in shells will take longer than shrimp without shells.
Rule of thumb is that shrimp is done when it turns pink and opaque.
Grilled on a cedar plank, smaller shrimp will take about 4 minutes on each side and jumbo shrimp will take about 6 minutes of each side. If you will be leaving the shells on, add another 2-4 minutes to cooking time. You are looking for pink color on and inside the shell.
Note: If deciding to leave the shells on, the shrimp will not be cleaned out. Personally, I always prefer to clean out the shrimp and devein it but some people prefer not to. It can be a personal decisions.
SOME MORE RECIPES TO TRY
Grilled Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers
Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken Wings
Grilled Salmon in Butter Sauce
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Cedar Plank Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 lime juice only
- salt
- about 2 cedar planks depending on size
Instructions
- Place cedar planks into a roasting pan big enough to easily fit the planks. Add water to cover the cedar planks completely and place something on top of the planks to keep it submerged.
- Soak cedar planks in water for 1-2 hours.
- Start preparing the coals and grill about 20 minutes before you’re ready to cook.
- Peel and devein shrimp if needed. Place shrimp in a bowl and mix it with sugar, lime juice, pressed garlic, and salt.
- Place soaked cedar planks on the grill and leave them for about 10 minutes to heat through.
- Drain off excess liquid off the shrimp and place shrimp on the hot cedar planks, try not to overcrowd them.
- Close the grill lid and let it cook. Smaller shrimp will take about 4 minutes on each side and jumbo shrimp will take about 6 minutes on each side. Try not to open the grill lid too much besides flipping the shrimp. Shrimp are done when pink and completely opaque.
Notes
Nutrition
Brenda says
We love grilling seafood on cedar planks, what a great recipe! Thank you so much for featuring my grilled margarita shrimp.