15 Minutes Shrimp Tacos

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Need a quick and simple dinner recipe for tonight? Try these easy Shrimp Tacos! Full of awesome Mexican flavor, they only take 15 minutes to put together and are easily customizable to suit everyone’s tastes!

Suitable for gluten free diets. Weight Watchers Points included.

three shrimp tacos served on a plate

Getting lunch or dinner on the table can be challenging sometimes when life gets super busy. But with these easy Shrimp Tacos, your life will be muuuuuch easier! These tacos are so flavorful and really only require 15 minutes to make. #easydinnerforthewin

You only need 3 basic ingredients – aka shrimp, taco mix, and tortillas. Throw ’em in a hot skillet, Air Fryer or on the grill and you are good to go.

Recipe Link : 10 Minute Blackened Shrimp.

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Best part is, these seafood tacos are easily customizable so everyone can have their own “perfect taco!” Variations include swapping out and adding different vegetable toppings or using whatever spices you have in your pantry instead of taco mix.

the completed shrimp tacos recipe ready to serve

YOU WILL LOVE THIS BECAUSE

  • Can be made with fresh or frozen shrimp.
  • They are easy to make ahead and meal prep-friendly.
  • Super easy to double or triple the recipe.
  • Great for Mexican night, date night, and whenever seafood cravings hit.

Tools Needed

So, go on and grab your everyday ingredients and let’s get to work on these tacos.

How To Make Shrimp Tacos at Home 

  1. Dry the shrimp and place in a mixing bowl.
  2. Add the olive oil and taco seasoning to the shrimp and mix until well coated.
  3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Add the shrimp and cook for  2-3 minutes on each side until the shrimp is cooked through.
  5. Warm tortillas according to package instructions.
  6. Assemble tortillas with cabbage, cooked shrimp, and desired toppings and sriracha mayo.
image collage showing the steps for making shrimp tacos

How To Make These In the Air Fryer

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 F (180C).
  2. Dry the shrimp and place in a mixing bowl.
  3. Add the olive oil and taco seasoning to the shrimp and mix until well coated.
  4. Cook for 5-8 mins, turning shrimp halfway through. Since air fryer temperatures can vary, start with less time and then add more as needed.
  5. Warm tortillas according to package instructions.
  6. Assemble tortillas with cabbage, cooked shrimp, and desired toppings and sriracha mayo.

To Make These On The Grill

  • Preheat the grill or barbecue to medium.
  • Oil the grill plate (make sure to use an oil approved for your dietary considerations).
  • Place shrimp on a griddle on the hot barbecue or grill.
  • Cook for 2-3 mins on each side until they are cooked through.

Tips

  • Drying the shrimp before cooking helps remove excess water and improve the texture.
  • Buying shrimp that’s already been peeled and deveined will save you lots of prep time in the kitchen.
  • Make sure frozen shrimp is fully thawed before cooking to avoid uneven cook rates as well as having excess water in the pan which will boil the shrimp instead of frying.
  • Avoid crowding the skillet as that contributes to the shrimp getting “boiled” and not fried. Cook in two batches if necessary. 
  • It’s important to not overcook shrimp. Once it has turned opaque, the shrimp is done.
  • Feel Free To make Shrimp Taco Skewers instead.
  • You can use frozen or fresh defrosted shrimp – see further below on how to use them.

Meal Prep And Prep Ahead

Prep Ahead – Yeap, these shrimp recipe is a great meal prep solution. You can absolutely make this ahead of time and store for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

How To Use For Meals – in addition to making tacos, you can serve this shrimp as an appetizer or snack. Or use them as suggested below:

Variations

Blackened Shrimp Tacos

My favorite variation on this recipe is blackened shrimp tacos. To make, simply substitute the taco seasoning for 1 1/2 tablespoon of blackening seasoning and swap in some of this easy homemade remoulade sauce for the sriracha mayo. Trust me when I say you gotta try it!!!

top down view of a jar filled with remoulade sauce with a spoon inside

Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Like to bring the heat? To make a spicier version, add a bit of cayenne pepper to the seasoning.

FAQ’s

Can You Make Shrimp Tacos with Frozen Shrimp?

Yep. You can use frozen shrimp in this easy shrimp taco recipe. To defrost your frozen shrimp, simply follow one of these two methods:

Overnight Defrost Option

  • Add frozen shrimp to a bowl.
  • Cover the bowl and put in your refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
  • Remove from fridge and drain any water from the shrimp before using.

Quick Defrost Option:

  • Place the frozen shrimp in a colander or large bowl.
  • Run cold tap water over the shrimp, mixing the shrimp every few minutes to ensure they thaw evenly.
  • Depending on the size, the shrimp will be thawed in 10 -15 minutes. Strain the water completely before cooking.
a plate filled with shrimp tacos

Serving Suggestions

More Taco Recipes

Weight Watchers Points

There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my easy Shrimp Taco recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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three shrimp tacos served on a plate
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

15 Minute Shrimp Tacos

This Easy Shrimp Tacos recipe is a quick and simple dinner that the whole family will love!
Prep Time8 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Servings: 4
Calories: 342kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

for the shrimp

  • 1 lb. fresh or defrosted frozen shrimp peeled, deveined and tails removed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil plus 2 teaspoons extra for frying
  • 1 1/2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • Or, make your own taco seasoning by combining: 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp smoked paprika and sea salt flakes, to taste.

for the sriracha mayo

  • ½ cup sriracha sauce
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 minced garlic clove or 1/3 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • sea salt flakes to taste

for the tacos

  • 2-3 cup shredded lettuce and cabbage can mix in some other greens like spinach
  • 8 corn tortillas
  • lime wedges
  • Optional toppings – avocado, chopped cilantro, jalapeños, shredded cheese

Instructions

To Make On The Stovetop

  • Dry shrimp and place in a mixing bowl.
  • Add spices and oil and mix until well coated.
  • Heat oil a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp are cooked through.
  • Warm tortillas according to package instructions.
  • Make the sriracha mayo by adding all ingredients to mixing bowl and stirring until combined
  • Assemble tacos by filling each tortilla with shredded lettuce and cabbage, cooked shrimp, desired toppings and the sriracha mayo.

To Make In The Air Fryer

  • Preheat the air fryer to 350F / 180C.
  • Dry the shrimp and place in a mixing bowl.
  • Add the olive oil and taco seasoning to the shrimp and mix until well coated.
  • Cook for 5-8 mins, turning shrimp halfway through. Since air fryer temperatures can vary, start with less time and then add more as needed.
  • Warm tortillas according to package instructions.
  • Assemble tortillas with cabbage, cooked shrimp, and desired toppings and sriracha mayo.

To Make On The Grill

  • Preheat the grill or barbecue to medium.
  • Oil the grill plate (make sure to use an oil approved for your dietary considerations).
  • Place shrimp on a griddle on the hot barbecue or grill.
  • Cook for 2-3 mins on each side until they are cooked through.
  • Warm the tortillas according to package instructions.
  • Assemble tacos by adding cabbage, cooked shrimp, desired toppings, and sriracha mayo to the tortillas.
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Notes

Tips

  • Drying the shrimp before cooking helps remove excess water and improve the texture.
  • Buying shrimp that’s already been peeled and deveined will save you lots of prep time in the kitchen.
  • Make sure frozen shrimp is fully thawed before cooking to avoid uneven cook rates as well as having excess water in the pan which will boil the shrimp instead of frying.
  • Avoid crowding the skillet as that contributes to the shrimp getting “boiled” and not fried. Cook in two batches if necessary. 
  • It’s important to not overcook shrimp. Once it has turned opaque, the shrimp is done.

Serving Suggestions

Weight Watchers Points

There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of these shrimp tacos.

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 290mg | Sodium: 2003mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 314IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 3mg

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Our family is all about shrimp! I love this quick easy recipe for yummy shrimp tacos!

  2. 5 stars
    Shrimp tacos are the best, and these look perfectly seasoned!! Fabulous recipe.

  3. 5 stars
    Shrimp tacos are my favorite. Your siracha mayo looks like the perfect addition to a fresh shrimp taco.