🦐 Garlic Herb Grilled Giant Prawns: The Ultimate Showstopper Seafood Recipe 🌿🧄🔥

A Feast of Flavor for Every Occasion

There’s something undeniably magical about summer evenings: the smell of smoky grills in the air, laughter drifting from backyard gatherings, and the promise of something mouthwateringly delicious sizzling over open flames. That’s the perfect setting for this Garlic Herb Grilled Giant Prawns recipe — a dish that’s both rustic and refined, simple yet luxurious. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner al fresco, hosting a festive holiday seafood spread, or just treating yourself to a gourmet weekend meal, this recipe delivers on all fronts.

Inspired by Mediterranean coastal cooking and flavored with the fresh essence of garlic, lemon, herbs, and butter, these giant prawns are a celebration of the sea and the art of grilling. If you’re ready to level up your seafood game and wow your guests, keep reading — this is the recipe you’ve been searching for.

🧾 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✅ Fast and Impressive: Ready in under 30 minutes, yet looks and tastes like a chef’s special.
✅ Flavor Explosion: Garlicky, buttery, lemony, and herby — every bite is packed with bright, bold flavors.
✅ Perfect for Grilling Season: An ideal choice for cookouts, BBQs, and patio dinners.
✅ Healthier Indulgence: High in protein and low in carbs — seafood lovers rejoice!

🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

Let’s talk about what goes into these Garlic Herb Grilled Giant Prawns. The ingredients are simple but carefully chosen to enhance the natural sweetness and texture of the prawns.

For the Prawns:

8 giant prawns, shells on and split open lengthwise
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Lemon wedges, for serving

For the Garlic Herb Butter:

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
3 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp dried Italian herbs (or a mix of dried oregano and thyme)

🔥 Tip: Want an extra punch of heat? Add a pinch of red chili flakes to the butter mixture!

🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Prawns

Start by giving the prawns a good rinse under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Then, using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, carefully split each prawn along the back without detaching the shell completely. This “butterfly” technique not only helps the prawns cook evenly but also creates a pocket for the flavorful garlic herb butter.

Don’t forget to remove the vein (intestinal tract) — it’s not harmful but does affect the texture and appearance.

🧼 Pro Tip: Keep the shells on! They protect the delicate meat during grilling and help infuse the dish with extra seafood flavor.

2. Make the Garlic Herb Butter

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. This is the flavor bomb that transforms these prawns into a five-star dish.

🍋 The lemon zest adds brightness, while the herbs and garlic give it that irresistible depth.

3. Grill to Perfection

Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (around 375–400°F / 190–200°C). Make sure the grates are clean and lightly oiled to prevent sticking.

Place the prawns shell-side down on the hot grill. This protects the meat from direct heat while allowing it to absorb the smoky flavors.

Grill for about 4–5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2–3 minutes, basting generously with the remaining garlic herb butter. You’ll know they’re done when the shells turn a vibrant orange-red and the meat becomes opaque and firm to the touch.

🧈 Basting is key: It adds flavor and prevents the prawns from drying out.

4. Serve in Style

Once off the grill, arrange the prawns on a long white rectangular platter (presentation matters!). Drizzle with any remaining garlic herb butter, and sprinkle with more chopped parsley for a burst of color.

Add lemon wedges on the side and serve immediately, while they’re still hot, juicy, and glistening with garlicky herb butter.

📸 Instagram-worthy: Snap a photo of your platter before serving — these prawns are that photogenic!

🌿 Pairing Ideas: What to Serve With Grilled Giant Prawns

To turn this into a complete meal, here are some delicious sides and drinks to pair with your prawns:

Side Dishes:

Grilled Asparagus or Zucchini – Lightly charred and drizzled with olive oil
Garlic Butter Rice or Couscous – Soaks up the extra juices perfectly
Crisp Green Salad – Arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a lemon vinaigrette
Crusty Artisan Bread – To mop up every drop of garlic herb butter

Drinks:

🥂 Chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
🍋 Sparkling Lemonade with Mint
🍹 Citrus Mojito or Classic Margarita

🌎 Global Flavors, Local Ingredients

This recipe is inspired by Mediterranean and Italian coastal cuisine, where seafood is often simply grilled and dressed with olive oil, herbs, and citrus. It’s a cooking philosophy that honors the natural beauty of fresh ingredients — and that’s exactly what we’re doing here.

You don’t need to live near the sea to enjoy ocean-fresh flavors. Many grocery stores and seafood markets now carry frozen or fresh giant prawns, including Argentinian red shrimp, tiger prawns, or even langoustines. Just make sure they’re raw and shell-on for the best results.

🌊 Sustainability Tip: Choose wild-caught or sustainably farmed prawns when possible. Look for certifications like MSC or ASC.

💡 Expert Tips for Success

Don’t overcook – Giant prawns cook fast. Remove them from the grill as soon as the flesh turns opaque.
Use a seafood brush – This helps you apply the garlic herb butter more evenly during grilling.
Marinate briefly – For extra flavor, you can let the prawns sit in the garlic herb butter for 15 minutes before grilling.
Indoor grilling? Use a cast-iron grill pan or broil them in the oven on high heat.

🔁 Make It Your Own: Variations and Substitutions

Looking to mix it up? Here are a few creative takes on the recipe:

🌶️ Spicy Cajun Style: Add 1 tsp Cajun seasoning or smoked paprika to the butter mixture.
🧀 Parmesan Crust: Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan after grilling.
🥥 Tropical Twist: Swap lemon for lime and add chopped cilantro and coconut milk to the butter mix.
🧄 Extra Garlicky Version: Double the garlic (no such thing as too much, right?).

📦 Storage and Leftovers

Grilled prawns are best enjoyed fresh off the grill, but if you do have leftovers:

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat gently in a skillet with a little butter or olive oil.
Use leftovers in seafood pasta, salads, or even tacos!

❄️ Not recommended for freezing once cooked — the texture may suffer.

🗣️ Join the Conversation!

Have you tried this Garlic Herb Grilled Giant Prawns recipe?
Did you serve it at a special event, a date night, or just because it’s Tuesday?

👇 Share your experience in the comments below!
📸 Tag us on Instagram with your prawn platters using #SeafoodSundays or #GarlicHerbPrawns for a chance to be featured.

📌 Recipe Card: Quick Reference

Garlic Herb Grilled Giant Prawns 🦐🌿🧄

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 8 min
Total Time: 23 min
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

8 giant prawns, shells on and split
4 tbsp butter, melted
3 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon