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.

Overhead image of the Shrimp 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:

Overhead image of the ready-to-eat Shrimp Tacos.

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:

4.92 from 101 votes

Shrimp Tacos

Seasoned shrimp, zesty cilantro-lime slaw, and fresh avocado all wrapped up in a tortillaโ€”these Shrimp Tacos are ready in 30 minutes and perfect for a quick, flavorful meal!
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 small tacos (serves 4)

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

Cilantro Lime Sauce

  • 2 limes
  • 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 teaspoon
  • 1/2 of a large bunch of cilantro 1 cup loosely packed
  • 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped jalapeรฑo remove seeds for less spice
  • 1/2 cup mayo regular, full fat
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

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, 2โ€“4 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 Note: Nutritional information includes corn tortillas.
Storage: Store the spiced shrimp, chopped cabbage, and sauce in the fridge. Cut the avocado when youโ€™re ready to assemble.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 476mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

 

Perfectly seasoned shrimp with cilantro-lime slaw and fresh avocado all packed in a tortilla. These shrimp tacos can be ready in 30 minutes or less! (Plus, prep ahead tips!) via chelseasmessyapron.com #shrimp #taco #easy #quick #healthy #fast #recipe #meal #cilantro #lime #avocado #guacamole #tacos

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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4.92 from 101 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




234 Comments

  1. Becky Hardin says:

    5 stars
    The perfect tacos that everyone will love.

  2. Courtney says:

    5 stars
    So easy and delicious – these are our favorite shrimp tacos!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’m sooo happy you love these! Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Katerina says:

    Oh my goodness, these look amazing!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      You’ll love it!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Toni says:

    5 stars
    I love shrimp tacos and this is really one of the best I’ve ever tried!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Thanks soo much! I’m soo happy you love these! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Alli says:

    5 stars
    This is my husbands favorite recipe. He keeps asking me to make it. So good. Thank you.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’m sooo happy to hear this!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks so much!

  6. Mia says:

    5 stars
    Love it love it love it!! I made it as soon as I saw it! And even the fam enjoyed and devoured all of it! Thanks for sharing.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’m so happy you guys all loved this!! Thanks for your comment! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Joy says:

    5 stars
    These were so refreshing and different. Most of my family loved them, my youngest doesnโ€™t like shrimp. So I decided to shred some grilled chicken and toss in the same spices for him this time. Hopefully itโ€™ll be as good as the shrimp ones are for the rest of us,

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I am sooo happy you guys loved this!! Smart move with the chicken, I’m sure he loved it! Thanks for sharing! ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Marilyn says:

    5 stars
    So so yummy! So easy and delicious. I marinated the shrimp all day. So flavorful! Thank you!!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      I’m soo glad you enjoyed! Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Barb says:

    5 stars
    Love the shrimp tacos and so did my husband. The cilantro lime sauce is one of my favorites. Thanks for a great recipe! Will be making them again

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Yay!! I’m soo glad you guys enjoyed! Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Jeanne says:

    5 stars
    These tacos were outstanding!! Served with cilantro lime rice – YUM!!!!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      So happy to hear it! Thanks Jeanne! ?