Spicy Shrimp Tacos are juicy and packed with flavor. Quick and easy dinner recipe that is ready to eat in less than 15 minutes!
For many years I avoided making shrimp tacos because I thought they would be more time-consuming and complicated than regular ground beef tacos. I recently found this recipe and was surprised to find out that shrimp tacos can be made in less than 15 minutes!
SPICY SHRIMP TACOS
These delicious tacos can be made with fresh or frozen shrimp. The shrimp are combined with cayenne pepper, paprika, minced garlic, salt, and lime juice. Cook for just a few minutes in a skillet and then add some fresh cilantro before serving. Place the shrimp mixture in a tortilla and serve with diced avocado, onion, diced tomato, sour cream, cheese, and whatever other toppings you’d like.
Ingredients in Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp – You will need a pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined. I prefer to use fresh shrimp, but frozen works great too as long as you thaw it before adding to the other ingredients.
Olive oil – A little bit of olive oil is needed to cook the shrimp. You can use avocado oil or a different kind of oil if you prefer.
Cayenne pepper and paprika – Both of these spices add a little kick to the tacos! You can reduce the amounts if you prefer a more mild flavor.
Garlic – You will need one clove of garlic, minced. To save time, you can use minced garlic from a jar. If you use garlic from a jar, you will need about a teaspoon.
Salt – Just a tiny bit of salt helps all of the other flavors to pop.
Lime juice – You can use freshly squeezed lime juice or the kind from a bottle. They both work great!
Cilantro – A little bit of chopped cilantro adds a lot of flavor!
Tortillas – Flour tortillas work great, but you can absolutely use corn tortillas if you prefer.
Garnish – Use any or all of your favorite taco toppings. Avocado, red onion, fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and shredded cheese are all fantastic options.
How to make Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Prepare the shrimp
If the shrimp are frozen, rinse them under cold water to thaw. Pat them dry with paper towels.
In a large bowl, mix the shrimp with cayenne pepper, paprika, minced garlic, salt, and lime juice. Stir until all of the shrimp are well-coated. If you have some extra time, place the bowl in the refrigerator and let the shrimp marinate for 30-60 minutes before cooking. If you’re in a hurry, you can cook them right away!
Cook the shrimp
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for about 3-4 minutes, or until the shrimp turns to an opaque pink color.
Once the shrimp are cooked, remove the skillet from the heat.
Add 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro to the cooked shrimp in the skillet. Stir well to combine with the shrimp juices and flavors.
Assembling the Tacos:
Heat the tortillas in a skillet or microwave until they are warm and flexible.
Place a portion of the cooked shrimp in the center of each tortilla.
Add whatever toppings you’d like. We love sliced avocado, chopped red onion, additional fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce over the shrimp. A dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheese are both perfect on top!
Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound of shrimp
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of lime juice
- 1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro chopped
- 4 flour tortillas taco-sized
- Garnish avocado, red onion, fresh cilantro, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, shredded cheese
Instructions
Prepare the shrimp:
- If the shrimp are frozen, rinse them under cold water to thaw. Pat them dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, mix the shrimp with cayenne pepper, paprika, minced garlic, salt, and lime juice. Stir until all of the shrimp are well-coated. If you have some extra time, place the bowl in the refrigerator and let the shrimp marinate for 30-60 minutes before cooking. If you’re in a hurry, you can cook them right away!
Cook the shrimp
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for about 3-4 minutes, or until the shrimp turns to an opaque pink color.
- Once the shrimp are cooked, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro to the cooked shrimp in the skillet. Stir well to combine with the shrimp juices and flavors.
Assembling the Tacos:
- Heat the tortillas in a skillet or microwave until they are warm and flexible.
- Place a portion of the cooked shrimp in the center of each tortilla.
- Add whatever toppings you’d like. We love sliced avocado, chopped red onion, additional fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce over the shrimp. A dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheese are both perfect on top!
Nutrition
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What type of shrimp to use in shrimp tacos?
Prefer fresh shrimp if possible. If using frozen shrimp, make sure to fully thaw them before cooking.
Can you make shrimp tacos spicier?
Adjust the amounts of spices according to your preference for spiciness. If you like it spicier, you can increase the amount of cayenne pepper. If you want shrimp tacos without the spice, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper. You can also serve the tacos with hot sauce or a spicy salsa if you like more spice!
How to cook shrimp perfectly?
Shrimp are ready when they turn pink and become opaque. Avoid overcooking the shrimp as they can become rubbery and lose their juiciness.
How to store leftover shrimp
If you have leftover cooked shrimp, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 1-2 days.
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MEXICAN FOOD RECIPES!
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Enchiladas
- Navajo Tacos
- Mexican Chicken Lasagna
- Easy Slow Cooker Sweet Pork
- Mexican Chicken Alfredo Bake
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
- Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip
- Mexican Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Cheesy Salsa Dip
- Easy Blender Salsa
- Easy Salsa Chicken
- Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Easy Taco Calzones
- Creamy Salsa Verde
- Cheesy Green Chile Bean Dip
Spicy Shrimp Tacos are juicy and packed with flavor. Quick and easy dinner recipe that is ready to eat in less than 15 minutes!
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