I absolutely love sharing recipes that bring restaurant-quality flavors right to your kitchen, and these Spicy Shrimp Tacos are a perfect example. As someone who’s made these countless times for both quick weeknight dinners and casual gatherings, I can tell you they’re a guaranteed hit. The combination of perfectly seasoned shrimp, creamy slaw, and a kick of heat creates that irresistible balance of flavors that’ll have everyone reaching for seconds.
Why You’ll Love These Tacos
What makes these spicy shrimp tacos special is their versatility. You can dial the heat up or down, prep most components ahead of time, and even customize toppings to please picky eaters. Plus, they come together in just 20 minutes – perfect for those busy evenings when you want something delicious but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.
Ingredients
For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Slaw:
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons mayo
- 1 tablespoon honey
For Assembly:
- 8-10 corn tortillas
- 1 avocado, sliced
- Lime wedges
- Hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Start by mixing all the spices for the shrimp in a bowl. Pat your shrimp dry with paper towels (this helps the seasoning stick better) and toss them with the spice mixture.
- While the shrimp marinates for a few minutes, make your slaw by combining the cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, mayo, and honey in a bowl. Give it a good toss and set aside.
- Heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the shrimp and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side until they’re pink and slightly charred. Don’t overcook them – nobody likes rubbery shrimp!
- While the shrimp cooks, warm your tortillas. I like to char mine slightly over an open flame on my gas stove, but you can also wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven.
- Now comes the fun part – assembly! Layer your warm tortillas with the creamy slaw, add the spicy shrimp, top with avocado slices, and finish with a squeeze of lime.
Time and Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4-5 (2 tacos per person)
Why This Recipe Works
The magic of these spicy shrimp tacos lies in their perfect balance. The heat from the seasoned shrimp is cooled by the creamy slaw, while the fresh lime and cilantro add brightness. The quick cooking time means the shrimp stays tender, and the simple ingredient list makes this doable any night of the week. I’ve found that even folks who aren’t big seafood fans end up loving these tacos – they’re just that good!
Pro tip: If you’re serving a crowd, set up a taco bar with all the components and let everyone build their own. It’s fun, interactive, and ensures everyone gets exactly what they want in their tacos. And don’t forget the extra lime wedges – that final squeeze of citrus really makes all the flavors pop!
Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons mayo
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 8-10 corn tortillas
- 1 avocado sliced
- Lime wedges
- Hot sauce optional
Instructions
- Mix all the spices for the shrimp in a bowl. Pat shrimp dry and toss with the spice mixture.
- Make slaw by combining cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, mayo, and honey. Toss and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Warm tortillas.
- Layer tortillas with slaw, shrimp, avocado, and lime.
