Grilled BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells

It’s not that I needed any more cookware (or grillware). But I couldn’t help myself when I came across stainless steel oyster shells. I love seafood, and I figured hey, I really need to learn more seafood recipes, so why not get some shells and get to it?! Well, by golly these shells are just fun to cook in and I’ve found myself making super-awesome dishes, like these grilled BBQ shrimp in oyster shells. The shrimp cook up perfectly. And oh, the sauce. The sauce is just insane. The shrimp soak up some of that great buttery herby flavor. The rest of the soakin’ is up to you. Pick up the shell and drink it up, or dip a piece of nice crusty bread in it for a few seconds to sop it up. Man, it’s great!

Grilled BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells

If you like a bit of a kick, add just a pinch (a small pinch) of red pepper flake on top of the shrimp just before grilling (I use my trusty Weber grill!). Don’t go crazy with it, the stars of the show are the perfectly cooked shrimp and fantastic sauce.

Don’t make the mistake I made and only purchase 12 stainless steel oyster shells. Everything I’ve made in them has been so yummy that I’ve always found myself craving more. And for more I’d need more shells. So get extra and you won’t be in the same boat.

Also try my crabmeat stuff oyster shells.

Grilled BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells
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5 from 1 vote

Grilled BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells

Well, by golly these shells are just fun to cook in and I’ve found myself making super-awesome dishes, like these grilled BBQ shrimp. The shrimp cook up perfectly.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, grilled, oyster shells, shrimp
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 82kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Note: You can make the butter mix in a small saucepan on your grill or on your indoor stovetop, whichever you prefer.
  • Peel and devein the shrimp. Leave the tail shells on if desired.
  • Fire up your outdoor grill for direct cooking over high heat.
  • Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. And remaining ingredients except shells. Stir.
  • Bring mixture to a slow simmer and let simmer until reduced by half, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Place 2 shrimp into each SOS shell. Place the shells on the grill. Cook until the shrimp begin to turn pink on the outside, 4-5 minutes. Baste each shell with 1 tablespoon of the seasoned butter mixture.
  • Caution: The butter will flame up when added, which gives the shrimp a smoky flavor. Cook just until the shrimp are done, 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 502mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Sometimes it’s the little things. I bought 12 stainless steel oyster shells the other day and ever since I can’t stop cooking with them. I initially made these BBQ shrimp in oyster shells on my gas grill. We enjoyed them so much that I next made them on my Char-Broil Big Easy. Getting a dozen shells on the Big Easy is a bit tricky but I got it to work and the shrimp were delicious! (If you don’t have two Bunk Bed baskets, or even one, that’s ok! Just use the basket that comes with the Big Easy and cook four shells at a time!).

BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells on the Char-Broil Big Easy

The broth that the BBQ shrimp cooks in in the oyster shells on the Char-Broil Big Easy is what adds such tremendous flavor to the shrimp. As an added bonus, you’re left with a good bit of the broth in the bottom of the shells after you devour the shrimp. That broth is absolutely crazy good for soppin’, so grab a few slices of grilled French bread and get to dippin’!

Loading the Char-Broil Big Easy

You can fit 4 oyster shells per ‘level’ in the Big Easy. The bottom level is the bottom of the standard basket that comes with the Big Easy. You’ll want to add the shells, the shrimp and the butter mixture to that level before continuing on to the next.

Then, add a Bunk Bed Basket, latching it so it’s just above the bottom level. Add 4 shells to that level, the shrimp and butter mixture. Finally, you need to add one more Bunk Bed Basket. That’s trickier because it’s easy to knock the bottom basket lose and onto the shrimp below. I take the bunk bed basket and insert it at a bit of an angle. I turn it so that the latches on the sides fit in between the latches on the first bunk bed basket (at a 90 degree angle to them). Then I latch it, add shells, shrimp and butter.

Unloading the Char-Broil Big Easy

Removing the shells is a little tricky too. I found that they cooled pretty quickly and I was able to remove them by grabbing them along the edges with my hands without burning myself, all the while being super duper careful that I didn’t tilt them and get super hot butter on myself! You might want to grab some heat-proof gloves or long tongs (with good rubber grippy tips!) instead. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!

You can use this same approach to make my fantastic Cajun shrimp in oyster shells. Also try my bacon-wrapped Big Easy shrimp.

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells on the Char-Broil Big Easy
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells on the Char-Broil Big Easy

BBQ Shrimp in Oyster Shells on the Char-Broil Big Easy are so good you'll find yourself eating making them again and again!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, oyster shells, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 167kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel and devein the shrimp. Leave the tail shells on if desired.
  • Fire up your Big Easy. You can fit 4 oyster shells in the Big Easy basket. To cook all 12 at the same time you'll need 2 Big Easy bunk bed baskets. See my notes on how to use them.
  • Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. And remaining ingredients except shells. Stir.
  • Bring mixture to a slow simmer and let simmer until reduced by half, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Working one basket at a time, add 4 oyster shells to the Big Easy. Add two shrimp into each SOS shell and add a tablespoon of the butter mixture.
  • Place the shells into the Big Easy baskets grill. Cook until the shrimp begin to turn pink on the outside, 7-8 minutes.
  • Carefully remove the shells from the basket. I found that they cool to the touch pretty quickly (but the Big Easy baskets DO NOT!) so I just grabbed them on the sides with my hands. You might want to use grill gloves or good tongs.

Notes

You can fit two Big Easy Bunk Bed baskets into the Big Easy, but you have to be careful doing it. Adding the first one is easy, just insert it into the basket and secure the two latches to the sides of the basket. Adding the second basket is trickier. You have to insert it at a slight angle, then you can turn it flat. The latches will be at 90 degree angles to the first basket (i.e. in the gaps between the first one’s latches). I recommend that you try inserting the baskets a few times before doing it for real.

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 292mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 114IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.