These Shrimp Tacos are loaded with perfectly seasoned shrimp, cilantro-lime slaw, and fresh avocado, all packed into a tortilla. These are the absolute best!
authorโs note
These Shrimp Tacos Are Becoming A Weekly Occurrence!
I whipped up a batch of my goโto cilantro lime sauce for another recipe and could not stop dipping chips into it. The creamy, zesty mix had โtaco slawโ written all over it, so I grabbed a bag of shredded cabbage, tossed in the sauce, and folded the slaw into warm tortillas with quickโseared shrimp.
One bite and I knew I had a winner. My kids polished off the first test batch before I even set the plates down, and my husband called dibs on the leftovers for work the next day.
Ingredients In Shrimp Tacos
| Component | What You Need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shrimp | 1โฏlb large raw shrimp, 45 count, peeled & deveined | Smaller shrimp work too; reduce cook time |
| Seasoning | Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper | Mix doubles as a quick rub |
| CilantroโLime Slaw | Shredded green cabbage, fresh cilantro, lime juice, a little sauce | Bagged slaw mix saves time |
| Taco Sauce | Greek yogurt, mayo, lime juice, garlic, pinch of cayenne | Blitz until smooth and creamy |
| Tortillas | Corn or small flour, warmed | Char over gas flame for extra flavor |
| Finishing Touches | Avocado slices or quick guacamole, extra lime wedges, cotija cheese (optional) | Mango salsa is a fun swap for the avocado |
How To Make Shrimp Tacos
- Shrimp: Toss shrimp with oil and spice mix. Let sit 15ย mins while you prep the rest.
- Blend Sauce: Add yogurt, mayo, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and cayenne to a mini blender. Pulse until silky and bright.
- Dress Slaw: Reserve half the sauce for drizzling. Toss the rest with shredded cabbage and a squeeze of lime. Chill.
- Sautรฉ: Heat a large skillet over mediumโhigh. Cook shrimp 2โ3ย minutes per side.
- Build Tacos: Fill warm tortillas with all the components and sauce.
Featured Comment
โI made these for my family for dinner tonight; and they gave them a 15 out of 10. This recipe is a keeper! 5 stars all the wayโ
โ Robin
Proย Tips for Perfect Shrimp Tacos
- Pat shrimp dry before seasoning so the spices stick.
- Stop cooking when the shrimp curl into a gentle C; a tight O means they are overcooked.
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or wrap in foil and heat in a 350โฏยฐF oven for 5โ7ย minutes.
- Double the sauceโit keeps three days and is great on salads or grilled veggies.
Storage
- Make Ahead: Make the sauce and put it in the fridge. It can stay there for 3 days. Marinate the shrimp and keep them in the fridge too, but only for 4-6 hours before cooking.
- Storage: Keep the spiced shrimp, chopped cabbage, and sauce in the fridge. Cut the avocado when youโre ready to eat. Tortillas should be kept in a cool spot or in the fridge if you want them to last longer.
What To Serve With Shrimp Tacos:
Healthy
Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe
Side Dishes
Roasted Vegetables
Appetizers
Elote
Salads
Italian Salad Recipe
Shrimp Tacos
Seasoned shrimp, zesty cilantro-lime slaw, and fresh avocado all wrapped up in a tortillaโthese Shrimp Tacos are ready in 30 minutes and perfect for a quick, flavorful meal!
Video
Equipment
- Small blender or food processor
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1 pound medium shrimp about 45 shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 teaspoon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or use additional olive oil
- 1 to 2 limes optional
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 large avocado thinly sliced
- Corn tortillas or flour tortillas
- Cooking spray optional
Instructionsย
Shrimp
- Pat both sides of the shrimp dry. Toss in a large bowl with garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (up to 8 hours). In a large pan, melt butter and remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
- Cook shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Add shrimp in a single layer and sautรฉ until they just turn pink, flipping halfway, 2โ4 minutes total depending on their size. Remove from heat and set on a cutting board. Cut off the tails. If desired, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to the shrimp.
Cilantro-Lime Sauce
- Zest and juice limes to get 1 teaspoon zest and 4 tablespoons juice. In a small blender or mini food processor, combine all the sauce ingredients. Add salt and pepper (or to taste) and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust to preference. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Assemble Tacos
- Remove 1/2 cup of cilantro-lime sauce and toss it with the shredded green cabbage to combine.
- Optional: Spray tortillas (both sides) with cooking spray and grill on the stovetop over an open flame until slightly charred. Alternatively, warm tortillas in the microwave, covered with a damp paper towel.
- Fill tortillas with a generous serving of slaw, shrimp, and fresh avocado. Drizzle more sauce on top and serve with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Note: Nutritional information includes corn tortillas.
Storage: Store the spiced shrimp, chopped cabbage, and sauce in the fridge. Cut the avocado when youโre ready to assemble.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 476mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Variations
Switch Things Up
- Mango Shrimpย Tacos: Swap avocado for a spoonful of fresh mango salsa.
- Spicy Version: Add ยฝโฏtsp cayenne to the spice mix or stir chipotle in adobo into the sauce.
- Grilled Shrimp Tacos: Skewer the seasoned shrimp and grill 2โฏminutes per side.
Quick Tip
Next try these chicken tacos, vegetarian tacos, Asian tacos, or quinoa tacos.
I cannot wait to make these, & i think Iโll add adobo sauce to the Cilantro Sauce, butโฆ how much do you recommend? 1 tsp? 1 Tbsp?
Yay! I canโt wait to hear what you think! Iโd start small with the adobo depending on your spice preferences and go from there!
My husband and I really enjoyed the shrimp tacos. The balance in that sauce was perfect with the crispy slaw and shrimp. Thank you so much!
Iโm so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Mary!
Very good!! Please note: the sauce lasted 5 days in our fridge: drizzled over blackened salmon, used as a dip for tacos, & then as a salad dressing for a Mexican Caesar Salad (day 5, still creamy & flavorful!!) FYI
Thank you so much for sharing, Kathy!
Oh my goddess Chelsea, I have got to try the shrimp tacos. Thank you so much for all of your recipes and all that you do. I love everything I try โค๏ธ
Iโm so excited for you to try these!
Not typically a fish/shrimp taco lover but made these and WOW, I am now! I added a smidge of agave to the sauce, as I like a tiny bit of sweet with my savory, and it was amazing! I also mixed the sauce with the slaw and liked that better than just a drizzle topping. But GREAT recipe! Thanks!
Yay! I am so happy to hear this! Thanks Carolyn!
I made these for my family for dinner tonight; and they gave them a 15 out of 10. This recipe
is a keeper!
5 stars all the way
Yay! The best compliment ever! Thanks so much for your comment Robin! ๐
Made these for dinner tonight and they were delicious. Followed the recipe and made no changes. The whole family liked them, so something new to add to my rotation!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Cat! ๐
A year later and they are officially now a part of my regular meal rotation. My entire family loves them too. I serve with rice and corn which I cut off the cob and saute until slightly charred. Yum!
Iโm so thrilled to hear this! Thanks for sharing!
These were AMAZING! I used bagged coleslaw so I didnโt have to shred any cabbage for a short cut
Love that shortcut! Thanks for sharing Laci! ๐
This was delicious and fairly easy to make. I used my immersion blender for the cilantro sauce which made it quick and easy.
Delish! So happy to hear this! Thanks Anne! ๐