Go Back
+ servings
Print

Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Amazing Spicy Shrimp Tacos are made with tender spicy shrimp, most delicious cilantro lime sauce and all the taco fix-ins. One of the BEST shrimp tacos recipe!
Course Tacos
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword best shrimp tacos recipe, shrimp tacos with cilantro lime sauce, slaw for shrimp taco, spicy shrimp tacos, spicy shrimp tacos recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings 8 Tacos
Calories 210kcal
Author Maria Doss

Ingredients

Spicy Shrimp

  • 1 pound shrimp peeled, deveined, tails removed and patted dry
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder more if desired
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Slaw for Shrimp tacos

  • 4 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1 medium carrot julienned
  • ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • few sliced jalapeños optional
  • 2 teaspoons honey

Additional ingredients

  • Cilantro lime sauce
  • 8 corn tortillas
  • 2 tomatoes chopped
  • chopped cilantro
  • sliced jalapeno
  • lime wedges

Instructions

  • Make Spicy Shrimp
    1. In a medium bowl, toss shrimp along with all spices (except vegetable oil), until well coated. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. (If pressed for time, then go ahead with cooking shrimp right away).
  • 2. Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet, until moderately hot. Add half the shrimp in a single layer, cook for about 2-3 minute, turn over and cook for another minute or two or until cooked through. Remove onto a plate and repeat process with remaining shrimp.
  • Make Slaw for Shrimp Tacos
    In a large bowl, toss all slaw ingredients along with ¼ cup cilantro lime sauce.
  • Warm tortillas
    Turn your gas burner to medium-low and using tongs, place tortilla, one at a time, directly over the flame. As soon as it starts to brown, give a quick flip to color the other side and then take off heat. Alternatively, you can cook tortillas in a cast iron skillet - Place tortilla in a hot cast iron skillet, for about 15 to 30 seconds on each side. You want to look few browned or darkened spots on both sides. Keep them warm wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.
  • Assemble Spicy Shrimp TacosTop a tortilla with slaw, spicy shrimp, a generous drizzle of cilantro lime sauce, chopped tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeños slices.

Notes

Make it gluten-free – Use gluten-free corn tortillas and please make sure that all other ingredients used are gluten free as well.
Make it SPICIER – You can turn up the heat by making following adjustments : Increase cayenne in the spicy shrimp / Add more jalapeños in the sauce recipe / Add more chopped jalapeños in the slaw / Top with as much sliced jalapeños as desired.
Make it less SPICY– You can reduce the heat by making following adjustments : Decrease or skip cayenne in the spicy shrimp / Use less jalapeños in the sauce recipe / Skip jalapeños in the slaw
Let shrimp marinade at least for 15 minutes ( or up to 2 hours in the fridge)
Don’t overcook shrimp. Cook just until shrimp is curled into a C.
Toss slaw with sauce just before serving. If left longer, slaw tends to loose its crunchiness.
Use only corn tortillas and not flour tortillas.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 752mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g