Shrimp Tacos are the weeknight hero you didn't know you needed. With a tangy, sweet chili slaw and an avocado cotija crema that is just dreamy, they're just too good!
Try them tonight and they'll be on rotation from now on!
Let's get started!
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Picture this. It's been a long day. A long week. You need dinner, but you just don't feel like doing much. But, you're craving something full of fresh flavors and a simple method. The answer? These shrimp tacos.
It's a quick mix for tangy slaw. The avocado crema comes together in the blender. And, shrimp? They cook in mere minutes. This recipe could not be much quicker or easier. It couldn't be any tastier!
Key Ingredients
The Shrimp - I prefer using a frozen, easy-peel, deveined shrimp. Unless you live close to the coast, frozen is the way to go. The shell protects the shrimp from the freezer. When you're ready, just thaw and remove the shell. Super simple.
The Slaw - It's light and bright and crunchy and just wonderful. You can use whole cabbages or if you're in a pinch, a bag of coleslaw mix works wonderfully. Just a little lime, sweet chili sauce, green onions, and maple syrup finish it out.
The Crema - It's a creamy avocado sauce that ties everything together. It's so good you'll want to make a double batch.
Substitutions and Variations
Protein - If you don't want to use shrimp, use your favorite seafood or fish. You can also use chicken, steak, or pork. These tacos would be good with whatever you choose!
Tortillas - My recipes for Corn Tortillas or Flour Tortillas are both fantastic! Use your favorite!
Slaw - Play with the veggies in the slaw. You can even grab a bag of coleslaw mix to make this easier.
Spice - Add as much heat as you prefer. I love it, so I put it everywhere! Pickled jalapeños, serranos, chili flakes, oh my!
Cheese - If you can't find or don't have any cotija, queso fresco or feta would be fantastic. You can leave it out altogether and the sauce will still be great!
Cilantro - If you don't like it, just leave it out.
Tips and Tricks
If using corn tortillas, warm them before assembling your tacos. They can crack when cold.
Use a frozen, easy-peel, deveined shrimp for the best result. Unless you live on or near the coast, anything at the seafood counter has already been frozen and thawed.
Make the sauce and slaw at least an hour before serving to let the flavors get together.
If using sour cream instead of Mexican crema, the sauce can be pretty thick. Add a little milk or water to thin it out if desired.
I use a sweet chili sauce that isn't too sweet. Different brands can be quite sweet. Be mindful of the amounts of maple or honey added to the slaw.
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Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Equipment
- food processor or blender
Ingredients
Avocado Cotija Crema
- 1 avocado
- 2 green onions, rough chopped
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup cilantro, rough chopped
- ½ cup crema or sour cream
- ½ jalapeño, rough chopped adjust for your level of heat
- ¼ cup cotija cheese
- Juice of 2 limes
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Lime Vinaigrette Slaw
- 1 cup green cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 cup purple cabbage, thinly slice
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 3-4 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
- 2-3 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
- juice of 2 limes
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Shrimp
- 2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoon tajin
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne or red chili flakes
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- avocado oil
Instructions
Avocado Cotija Crema
- In a food processor, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Store in refrigerator until time to serve.
Lime Vinaigrette Slaw
- Toss everything to combine. Store in fridge until ready to serve.
Shrimp
- Toss shrimp in seasonings and spices.
- Sauté shrimp in little avocado oil over medium-high heat until just cooked through.
Assembly
- Pile shrimp onto tortilla of choice. Top with slaw and copious amounts of crema. Devour.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this recipe gluten-free?
As long as you use a corn tortilla instead of flour, you will not have to worry about the gluten!
How can I make this recipe dairy-free?
The only thing you would need to swap out is the sour cream/crema and cotija cheese in the sauce. You can use your favorite DF alternatives or simply leave it out altogether! Either way would be fantastic!
What is tajin?
Tajin is amazing. It's a tangy chili lime seasoning that can be used on almost anything. People use it to sprinkle on fruit, rim the tops of cocktail glasses, and it's a perfect addition to these shrimp tacos. If you don't have any, I highly recommend adding it to your spice pantry arsenal.
Don't have tajin? My taco seasoning recipe would work perfectly here.
Serving Ideas
Shrimp Tacos are kind of an all-in-one meal. However, this is the perfect opportunity to do a little chip and dip situation. My queso fundido recipe is just the thing to eat before shrimp tacos, during shrimp tacos, and after shrimp tacos.
And, if you want a fantastic salsa that would be so good with these tacos, try my Salsa Verde Recipe or my Pico De Gallo!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store leftovers separately in the fridge for up to 2 days. Because of the avocado and shrimp, this recipe doesn't stay good for long.
To reheat, slowly warm shrimp and corn tortillas covered with a damp paper towel. The trick is to warm the leftovers slowly.
I don't recommend freezing the leftovers. They just won't freeze and thaw out well.
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Shrimp Tacos recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok!
If you guys make this Shrimp Tacos, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
And, if you're in the mood for more great shrimp recipes just like this, you've got to try my Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas or my Shrimp Taco Bowls! They're so good and so very easy! For another fish taco situation, these Salmon Tacos are just incredible!
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