Shrimp Tacos

 

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Easy, kickin’, and topped with a fresh, crunchy slaw, these are the best Shrimp Tacos you’ll ever eat, promise! The shrimp are plump and juicy, the taco sauce is cool and creamy, and the combo inside of a tortilla is something you’ll TACO-’bout, long after the meal is cooked.

Shrimp tacos are here to spice up your weeknight dinner menu.

Not only is this shrimp taco recipe worth making for dinner tonight, but it’s also worth putting up with my bad jokes!

• The sautéed shrimp in these tacos cooks in fewer than five minutes, which by my calculation is just enough time to pour yourself a Skinny Margarita if you move very very quickly.
• They’re a refreshing alternative protein. I love Shredded Chicken Tacos and Steak Tacos as much as the next person, but it’s nice to throw shrimp into the mix to keep things exciting.

I don’t like to make promises I can’t keep, so I don’t speak lightly when I say these are the best shrimp tacos.

The shrimp? Juicy and splendidly spiced. The prep work? Absolutely minimal—perfect for beginning cooks. The finishing touches? Well, let’s just say you might be licking the creamy sauce off the spoon.

Ingredients and Substitutions

You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.

• Shrimp. While fresh shrimp are delicious, the majority of the time, I purchase raw, frozen shrimp, which are usually less expensive. Unless you live near the ocean, often the “fresh” shrimp in the grocery store case arrived frozen in the first place. Plus, you can purchase frozen shrimp already peeled, saving valuable time!
• Spices. Chili powder, chipotle chili powder, cumin, and salt make the shrimp pop! These shrimp seasonings make the tacos smoky, earthy, and a little spicy.
• Taco Sauce. With olive oil, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, and fresh lime juice, this Greek yogurt sauce is cool, creamy, and zippy. The jalapeño adds a hint of spice too.
• Slaw. No mayo here! Instead, this recipe swaps Greek yogurt. (For the slaw, I used a “super” blend of prebagged shredded cabbage, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. If you prefer your shrimp tacos with cabbage only, that is a perfectly tasty swap. For cabbage slicing tips, see Sautéed Cabbage.)
• Tortillas. You can use flour or corn tortillas, so pick your favorite and be sure to warm them up. This small extra step makes all the difference! You can heat the tortillas over a gas stove, in a skillet, or (in a pinch) the microwave.
• Toppings. Jazz up your tacos with avocado, chopped cilatro, chopped white onion, or other toppings of your choice.

• More about Using Frozen Shrimp

  • For easy shrimp taco recipes using frozen shrimp, you can thaw the shrimp in your refrigerator overnight, or if you forget (guilty!), you can quickly thaw them by running them under cool water.
  • While frozen shrimp are not the best choice if you’ll be eating shrimp cocktail, it’s perfect for recipes where the shrimp are being jazzed up with spices (hi, Shrimp Pad Thai) or fresh ingredients like garlic (check out Garlic Shrimp with Quinoa and Garlic Shrimp Pasta).

  Step-By-Step Instructions

  

  

  

  

  Season the Shrimp (photo 1). Place shrimp in a large bowl with the oil and spices, tossing to coat.

  Make the Taco Sauce (photo 2). Use a food processor or a blender. This will double as the dressing for the slaw.

  Make the Slaw (photo 3). Place the cabbage in a bowl, then toss it with part of the sauce. (While not mandatory, marinating in the fridge for a while makes the flavors even better.)

  Sauté the Shrimp (photo 4). Don’t overcook it! As soon as they curl and are firm to the touch, they are ready to eat.

  Serve. Pile inside tortillas. Don’t forget your favorite toppings. ENJOY!

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  Recipe Variations

  • Grilled Shrimp Tacos. Thread the shrimp onto skewers, then cook on an outdoor or indoor grill (see this Grilled Shrimp recipe for cooking tips).
  • Shrimp Taco Bowls. Instead of a tortilla, serve your bowls with rice, or use quinoa like these Burrito Bowls do.
  • Shrimp Taco Salad. Use the shrimp instead of ground meat in this delicious Taco Salad, or add them to Mexican Salad.

  • What to Pair with Shrimp Tacos

    • Cornbread. Mexican Cornbread and Jalapeno Cornbread make a fun, tasty, and unique pairing with tacos.
    • Beans and Rice. Make your own Instant Pot Refried Beans or Instant Pot Black Beans, then check out How to Cook Brown Rice on the stove.
    • Tex-Mex Favorites. Don’t forget the Best Guacamole (also delish in Shrimp Guacamole Bites) and a Spicy Margarita!