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This Spicy Shrimp Taco Recipe makes the best meal or snack. Tender bite-size shrimp, crunchy cabbage, and spicy sauce come together in just minutes and disappear even faster!
Featured with this recipe
- Quick, Tasty, and Perfect for Busy Weeknights
- Easy Shrimp Taco Ingredients
- How to Make Spicy Shrimp Tacos in 10 Minutes
- Tips for Making the Best Shrimp Tacos
- Toppings to Add
- Seasonings to Use
- Homemade Seafood Taco Sauce
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing Shrimp Tacos
- What Goes Well With Shrimp Tacos?
- How to Make Spicy Shrimp Tacos
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Quick, Tasty, and Perfect for Busy Weeknights
This spicy shrimp taco recipe is in the permanent recipe rotation at my house. They are so easy to throw together on a busy weeknight or as an after-school snack for my kids, and my husband asks for them all the time. The plump shrimp cooks up in no time, and you can add any toppings you like!
Shrimp is not always everyone’s favorite, but making them into tacos helps with the texture and makes the shrimp taste even better! If your kids are squeamish about seafood, I suggest you start with these shrimp tacos. They’ll love the mild taste of the shrimp. These tacos are versatile, fast, and oh-so-yummy!
Easy Shrimp Taco Ingredients
Shrimp tacos are so easy to make and come together in no time! Shrimp is a decadent choice that is perfect for tacos – simple to cook up, has an amazing taste and texture, and pairs well with a wide range of spices and toppings. I like to combine the shrimp with the following ingredients to create one of my favorite taco dinners:
- Olive oil – Cook the shrimp in a hot skillet with oil. This will give the shrimp that pretty pink/opaque coloring.
- Shrimp – Use small to medium shrimp that is uncooked, deveined, peeled, and tails removed. You can often buy these in the frozen seafood section of your grocery store.
- Cajun seasoning – This cooks into the shrimp, adding little heat and a lot of sweet and savory flavor.
- Corn tortillas – For an extra added touch, place the corn tortillas in a skillet over medium-high heat and warm them, to make them softer and easier to use.
- Cabbage – It is easiest to use pre-shredded cabbage. The cabbage adds a nice crispy texture and helps reduce the spicy heat in the tacos. It is like a slaw.
- Sriracha – Adds more flavor and spice. Perfect for kicking up the heat a little more!
- Cilantro – Garnish on top for extra color and fresh flavor.
- Limes – Squeeze fresh lime juice over top of the tacos. The lime zest balances the ingredients together.
How to Make Spicy Shrimp Tacos in 10 Minutes
Make your taco Tuesday even better with these easy shrimp tacos! Just cook the shrimp, layer the tacos, and within ten minutes you can have your favorite dinner ready to enjoy!
- Prepare shrimp – Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. While the oil is heating, place the shrimp in a bowl and toss it with Cajun seasoning.
- Cook shrimp – When the oil is hot, add a single layer of shrimp. Cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until the shrimp is pink, opaque, and cooked through.
- Layer – Place shredded cabbage on the tortillas and top with cooked shrimp, creamy Sriracha, and cilantro. Serve with sliced limes.
Tips for Making the Best Shrimp Tacos
Here are a few tips for creating the best shrimp tacos:
- Tortillas – Use corn tortillas, flour tortillas, GF tortillas, or a lettuce wrap to make these tacos just the way you like them!
- Soften your tortillas – You can do this by heating them in a pan or by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving them for 10-15 seconds. I prefer heating them in the pan I am using to cook shrimp. I heat the tortillas up before adding the oil.
- Shrimp – If you buy frozen shrimp, just be sure to thaw before cooking (this may add an extra 2-3 minutes of time). Always be sure to rinse your thawed shrimp and pat it dry before cooking.
- Cooking shrimp – Add the shrimp to the pan and only turn them once. No need to stir them around– you want them to be evenly cooked and the best way to do this is by cooking them for a minute or two on each side.
- Spicy shrimp – If you can’t get enough spice, bring on the heat by adding chili powder, cayenne pepper, or jalapeños.
Toppings to Add
The beauty of these shrimp tacos is how much you can dress them up or down, depending on your mood or your family’s preferences. Lay out a spread of toppings for everyone to create their own perfect taco!
- Coleslaw – Make homemade coleslaw or buy the pre-shredded cabbage from the store to save on time.
- Cheese – Use your favorite cheese or experiment around to see what works best for you. My go-to is Queso fresco (or cotija cheese). I also like to use Mexican blend, cheddar cheese, or Monterey jack cheese.
- Avocado – Use avocado to make fresh homemade guacamole to spread, or slice avocados for a delicious addition.
- Vegetables – Canned corn, black beans, chopped fresh onions, or any of your favorite vegetables.
- Fruit – Pineapple and mango, cut and sliced, to add on top of the tacos. This gives it a light, refreshing, and fruity flavor with lots of fun colors.
Seasonings to Use
Since shrimp has such a mild flavor, I love to kick up the heat in this recipe with Cajun or Creole seasoning. I use Tony Chachere’s seasoning because I think it has tremendous flavor and just the right amount of heat. Regular taco seasoning tastes delicious too if that’s what you have on hand.
Homemade Seafood Taco Sauce
For the sake of ease, I use creamy Sriracha from the grocery store. If you don’t have any on hand, it is super easy to make! Just combine about ⅓ cup mayonnaise with as much Sriracha as you think you can handle, and a little squeeze of lime. If you want to make it a little creamier, add sour cream until it reaches the consistency you like.
“These are awesome! My family gobbled them up as fast as I could make them! I love how ridiculously easy they are! Thanks!”
-Beth
Frequently Asked Questions
YES! As with any recipe, just double-check the seasonings. In this case, because the shrimp taco recipe calls for corn tortillas and the shrimp isn’t breaded, you are good to go!
Cutting carbs or wanting to make these healthier? Use butter lettuce instead of tortillas in this shrimp taco recipe and turn them into a lettuce wrap. You’ll love the extra crunch!
Storing Shrimp Tacos
Separate all the ingredients into individual bags and airtight containers, and place them (except for the corn tortillas) in the refrigerator. Store for four to five days. The tortillas will stay safe in the pantry at room temperature or cooler. Assemble when ready to eat, and reheat them in the microwave or oven.
What Goes Well With Shrimp Tacos?
Serve one of these delicious side dishes alongside your shrimp tacos, to make a satisfying and filling meal:
Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice
Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
Mexican Street Corn
Black Bean Soup
Mexican Corn Cake
Homemade Refried Beans
How to Make Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces medium shrimp uncooked, peeled, deveined (see notes above)
- Cajun seasoning to taste
- 6 corn tortillas softened
- 2 cups cabbage shredded
- creamy Sriracha to taste
- cilantro chopped, to taste
- 2 limes sliced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. While the oil is heating, place the shrimp in a bowl and toss it with Cajun seasoning.
- When the oil is hot, add shrimp. Cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until shrimp is pink, opaque, and cooked through.
- Place shredded cabbage on tortillas and top with cooked shrimp, creamy Sriracha, and cilantro. Serve with sliced limes.
This is one of the easiest and fastest taco to put together. This is one recipe that should be on everyone’s favorite recipe folder. 🙂
These delicious shrimp tacos were so easy to make! Our whole family loved them. This recipe’s a keeper!
Yum! I love how easy and simple this is to make 🙂 And the flavors are great as well – perfect for a weeknight meal.
Love your idea to add Creole seasoning. These tacos look phenom. Exactly what I need for grill season!
These are awesome! My family gobbled them up as fast as I could make them! I love how ridiculously easy they are! Thanks!