Easy BBQ Glaze Recipe for Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Easy BBQ Glaze Recipe for Grilled Shrimp Skewers

If you've only ever used BBQ sauce on chicken or ribs, you're leaving one of the grill's best proteins completely underserved. An easy BBQ glaze recipe built around pepper jelly is the fastest way to transform a pound of shrimp into the most talked-about thing at any cookout. We're talking caramelized, sticky, slightly charred edges with a sweet heat kick in every bite — and it takes about 15 minutes start to finish.

Why Shrimp Is the Perfect Canvas for an Easy BBQ Glaze Recipe

Shrimp cook fast — which means the glaze has to work fast too. Unlike a thick BBQ sauce that needs long cook times to set, a pepper jelly glaze locks on almost instantly when it hits the heat. The natural fruit pectin caramelizes in seconds, giving shrimp that lacquered competition-style finish without any fuss. Shrimp also absorbs flavor incredibly well, so even a single coat of glaze punches way above its weight.

The other advantage: shrimp skewers are endlessly versatile. Thread them with chunks of bell pepper, red onion, or pineapple and you've got a full meal on a stick. The easy BBQ glaze recipe below works on all of it.

What You Need

  • 1.5 lbs large shrimp (16/20 count), peeled and deveined
  • 1 jar Peach Habanero Spread — BBQ Pepper Jelly Glaze
  • Skewers (metal or soaked wooden)
  • Olive oil, salt, black pepper
  • Optional add-ons: bell pepper chunks, red onion, pineapple, zucchini

Easy BBQ Glaze Recipe: Step-by-Step

  1. Prep the shrimp. Pat dry and toss with olive oil, salt, and a crack of black pepper. Thread onto skewers, alternating with any vegetables or pineapple you're using.
  2. Heat the grill. Get it ripping hot — medium-high, around 400–450°F. Shrimp need direct heat and a fast cook.
  3. Grill the first side. Place skewers over direct heat and grill 2 minutes untouched. You want grill marks and the shrimp just starting to turn pink at the edges.
  4. Flip and glaze. Flip the skewers and immediately brush a generous coat of Peach Habanero Spread on the cooked side. Let it cook 90 seconds.
  5. Flip and glaze again. Flip once more, brush the second side, and cook another 60–90 seconds. The glaze should be bubbling and caramelized at the edges.
  6. Pull immediately. Shrimp are done when they curl into a loose C-shape and the glaze is set. Don't wait for a J-curl — that's overcooked.

Total grill time: 5–6 minutes. That's the beauty of this easy BBQ glaze recipe — the whole thing from skewers to table is under 20 minutes.

Flavor Variations to Try

The Peach Habanero is the crowd-pleasing pick — the fruit sweetness plays perfectly against the char. But this easy BBQ glaze recipe works with the whole lineup:

  • Garlic forward and savory? Swap in Garlic Pepper Spread for a more herb-and-savory profile that's incredible with lemon squeezed over the top.
  • Big heat seekers: Red Hot Spread gives a slow-building burn that layers beautifully with the natural sweetness of grilled shrimp.
  • Want to try all three? THE BBQ Boost 3-Pack Bundle is the easiest way to test different flavor profiles across your next few cookouts.

Tips for the Best Glazed Shrimp Skewers

Dry your shrimp. Moisture is the enemy of caramelization. Pat them completely dry before oiling and skewering — wet shrimp steam instead of sear.

Don't crowd the skewer. Leave a small gap between each piece so heat circulates evenly. Packed skewers trap steam and the glaze won't set properly.

Apply glaze off direct flame. If your grill is running super hot, slide the skewers to a slightly cooler zone right after glazing so the sugar doesn't burn before it caramelizes.

Double-dip. Two coats always beats one. The first coat forms a base, the second coat gives you the glossy, sticky finish that makes the skewers look as good as they taste.

Ready to Glaze Something Tonight?

This easy BBQ glaze recipe works on any protein, but shrimp skewers are the fastest proof of concept. Once you see how quickly a pepper jelly glaze locks on and caramelizes, you'll be reaching for it on everything else too. Pick up your first jar at Smoky Mountain Spread and give your grill something worth firing up for.

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