These Shrimp Tacos with perfectly seasoned shrimp with cilantro-lime slaw and fresh avocado are all packed in a tortilla — these are the absolute best!
Next try these chicken tacos (a reader favorite!), these Vegetarian Tacos, these Asian Tacos, or these Quinoa Tacos.
Shrimp Tacos
While these stand on their own pretty well, here are a couple of quick side dish ideas:
What to serve with these tacos:
- Cucumber Salad
- Caprese Salad
- Roasted Vegetables (or just Roasted Brussel Sprouts)
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Italian Salad
Storage
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
- 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 you’re ready to eat. Tortillas should be kept in a cool spot or in the fridge if you want them to last longer.
More Easy Seafood Dishes:
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- One Pan Fish and Chips (Reader Favorite!)
- Sweet Honey Garlic Shrimp
Shrimp Tacos
Equipment
- Large pan
- 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
Instructions
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.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was good. My boyfriend couldn’t stop talking about how much he liked it
So glad to hear it! ๐
Delicious recipe! Directions were easy to follow once I read through the whole thing. I will make it again. Entire family liked it.
So glad to hear that! Thank you ๐
This is a fabulous recipe! Iโve made it several times. We love fish tacos and Iโve have made this with shrimp and also with mahi-mahi on a George Foreman indoor grill. The sauce, to me, is addictive. I serve the tacos with the slaw, rice and black beans on the side. Today I made pineapple salsa too. So good! Wouldnโt change a thing.
Sounds delicious with a pineapple salsa — yum! Thank you Cathy ๐
This was sooo good. The sauce was amazing. I used pickled jalepeรฑos and it was perfect!
Yay! So glad to hear that ๐ Thank you Maddie!
Sounds really good, will be trying this recipe. Question — how long will the mayo sour cream dressing last in the fridge?
about 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge!
These shrimp tacos are fantastic!!! A very easy recipe to follow and such a great meal! Different too! I am definitely going to make these for my son and daughter-in-law when they visit me in a week. I haven’t seen them in over a year, and they are expecting their first baby, my first grandchild, they are going to love these shrimp tacos! Thanks for such a wonderful recipe we can all enjoy from now on!!!!!!!!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed these shrimp tacos! Thank you for the comment ๐
Loveddddd ittttt!!!!!
Yay!! Thanks for the comment ๐
My sister made this for me and I have to admit – they were SO GOOD!!!!! I have been craving them for 2 days now and will be making them again this weekend. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this AMAZING recipe
Yay!! LOVE hearing this ๐ So glad you enjoyed these tacos!
Such a great meal! I realized last minute I didn’t have sour cream so just substituted with 1/4 cup full fat Greek yogurt!
I’m so glad you enjoyed and made the yogurt work! Thanks Steff! ๐
I did this too. It was really good
Best shrimp tacos ever! Sauce is great!
Score! Thanks Monique! ๐