Let’s face it; dried-out shrimp is not going to be all that enjoyable. When your fry shrimp or put them on the grill, it is best to have some kind of a marinade to serve them with. As we all know, shrimp takes on flavor really easily. In fact, the flavor you can get from shrimp is just as good, if not better, than what you are going to get with something like chicken or beef. 

However, there is a secret to juicy and delicious shrimp. 

The shrimp marinade. 

We have put together a list of our favorite shrimp marinades to try. Although you can sometimes make these on your own, honestly, just purchasing the ingredients is sometimes more expensive than getting these ready-made marinades that are already put together for you. 

So here are the best shrimp marinade choices on the market!

Top Eight Best Shrimp Marinade 

The great thing about these marinades is that they are quite affordable and will last for a long time. If you happen to enjoy shrimp and eat it often, marinades will make it taste different each time. 

Best Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Marinade: Robert Rothschild Farm Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Gourmet Glaze and Finishing Sauce – Sweet and Spicy Marinade, Glaze or Dip – 12.7 Oz

The Robert Rothschild Farm Roasted Pineapple and Habanero Gourmet Glaze and Finishing Sauce is the best option if you are looking for a little bit of spice and a little bit of sweet in your next shrimp dish. The great thing about this particular shrimp marinade is that it will work as a finishing sauce in addition to the marinade.

If you are serving a group of people who like various flavors, having this type of marinade around allows everyone to get the exact flavor profile they are looking for.

  • Sweet and spicy
  • Can be used as a sauce for shrimp as well
  • Good for other dishes outside of shrimp

Best Shrimp Marinade Mix: McCormick Grill Mates Baja Citrus Marinade, 1 OZ (Pack – 3)

With a marinade mix, you won’t have to worry about storing a bottle of the mix; instead, these small packets can be put together whenever it is time to cook or grill shrimp. Citrus tends to be one of the best shrimp marinade choices out there. The way the citrus flavors combine with the raw shrimp can really help.

This Baja Citrus Grill Mates has a perfect mix of citrus flavor, garlic, and other spices. All you need to do is add a little oil and water, making a perfect marinade for shrimp.

  • Lower in price
  • Easy to use
  • Has a herb and citrus taste
  • Works well with chicken as well

Best Garlicky Shrimp Marinade: MINATOS Hawaiian Style Shrimp Marinade, 12 OZ

Hawaiin Style Marinades make for a perfect combination with grilled shrimp. The Minator Hawaiian Style Shrimp Marinade features oil, garlic salt, lemon juice, and a few other spices to kick up the heat. Could you make a marinade that is really similar to this? Sure, but it will probably never come out quite as good as the Minato’s. If you want your shrimp to pick up the flavor of the marinade, this is the best choice.

  • Simple ingredients
  • Good size bottle for the price
  • Really helps the shrimp to pick up the flavor

Best Korean Shrimp Marinade: Bulgogi Sauce Kalbi Marinade Spicy Korean BBQ We Rub You 15 oz (Pack of 1)

As we have mentioned, one of the best things about shrimp is that it so easily picks up the flavor of anything else you are serving. Our favorite Korean Shrim marinade is this Bulgogi Sauce. If you end up purchasing this sauce, trust us and make some white rice to serve with your shrimp. Pair it with almost any vegetable, and you will have a new weeknight meal that packs a ton of flavor.

  • Works really well with a variety of meats
  • Can help make a quick Korean meal
  • Spicy flavor, be ready for the kick
  • Pleny to last you through dozens of shrimp

Best Citrus Shrimp Marinade: Noble Made by The New Primal, Marinade And Cooking Sauce Citrus Herb, 12 Fl Oz

Shrimp and citrus flavors go hand in hand. Some people will make shrimp and only use a bit of lemon juice or lime juice as the marinade. Although you can get away with that, we highly recommend the combination put out by Noble Made and their Citrus Herb Cooking sauce. You will find that the combination of citrus and herbs is just right for a shrimp marinade; however, this works really well on chicken too.

  • Pineapple, lemon, ginger, very light tasting shrimp marinade
  • No trans fat or aritifical ingredients
  • No refined sugars
  • Simple recipe

Best Shrimp Scampi Marinades: Kelchner Shrimp Scampi Marinade & Sauce 12 fl. oz.

Shrimp Scampi is a favorite among many shrimp lovers. It often seems hard to get your shrimp scampi to taste quite as good as it does at your favorite seafood restaurant. Part of this could be because you don’t have the proper marinade and sauce. The Kelchner Shrimp Scampi and Sauce is the perfect mix between going out to eat and creating a perfect seafood meal at home. I recommend this sauce and shrimp over a bed of pasta.

  • Simple to use
  • Creates delicious shrimp scampi in half the time
  • Can be used on fish and scallops
  • Will make anyone look like a seafood chef

Best New Orleans Style Shrimp Marinades: Louisiana Fish Fry Shrimp BBQ Mix 1.5oz

If you are looking for a classic New Orleans-style shrimp taste, then the Louisiana Fish Fry Shrimp BBQ Mix is a great option to consider. This mix makes a sauce that we like to let our shrimp sit in for a bit and then grill them up. You will be able to use this on the entire fish fry, and it will make you feel as though you are spending some time in the deep south.

  • Need to add worcethshire sauce
  • Makes a sauce/marinade for shrimp
  • Easy to put together
  • Can create an entire seafood meal

Best Caribbean Shrimp Marinade: Lawry’s Caribbean Jerk with Papaya Juice Marinade, 12 fl oz

If you enjoy a Caribbean jerk seasoning, then the Lawry’s Caribbean Jerk with Papaya Juice is a perfect option for your shrimp. This shrimp marinade has a mix of juices, chilli pepper, and garlic. You will, without a doubt, notice the flavor that this shrimp marinade will transfer to your food. It is recommended to let the shrimp sit in the flavor for at least a 1/2 hour or so to make sure that it soaks up everything it should. recommend grilling shrimp marinated in Lawry’s Caribbean Jerk.

  • No high fructose corn syrup
  • No MSG
  • Great for grilling, baking or sauteing your shrimp
  • Shrimp will hold the flavor quite well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have a better idea of which shrimp marinades are the best on the market, let’s clear up a bit of the confusion that often comes with cooking shrimp.

How Long Do You Need To Marinade Shrimp?

Let your shrimp marinade for about 30 minutes. Anything more than this could start to change the texture of the shrimp, and it really won’t help them to gain any more flavor. It’s important to make sure that you take the shells off the shrimp when you marinate them so that the flavor is able to soak in. Maximizing flavor is key.

Can I Make My Own Shrimp Marinade?

Even though we gave you some of the best shrimp marinades on the market to make things easier, you can absolutely put together your own great shrimp marinade. Use ingredients like lemon, lime, spices, and oil to put together something that suits your taste profile.

Why Does Shrimp Get Rubbery?

Shrimp gets rubbery when it is overcooked. If you are worried about cooking your shrimp long enough, you often leave them in the heat too long, and it can cause a rubbery texture. There is not much you can do when you overcook shrimp, so watch them closely and try to ensure that this does not happen. I recommend checking one shrimp before you expect them to be done on a regular basis to avoid overcooking.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you feel a bit better about choosing a great shrimp marinade for your next meal. Shrimp is so easy to cook, and it can transform into almost any style of food. If you want Caribbean shrimp or New Orleans shrimp, all you need to do is change a few ingredients in the marinade. I have eaten a significant amount of marinated shrimp dinners. I can attest that shrimp scampi tops my list.