Easy Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Slaw

Enjoy spicy shrimp tacos paired with a creamy, crunchy slaw – it’s a flavor explosion! Ready in under 30 minutes, you’ll love this 4-ingredient quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Some of my most popular recipes on the blog are taco recipes…

• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos for busy days
• Spicy Salmon Tacos for fish lovers
• Slow Cooker Carnitas for that authentic Tex-Mex meal
• Black Bean and Corn Salsa Tacos for a meatless meal
• Even Ground Beef Taco Meat – which you can stretch with hidden vegetables to help you make the most of every grocery dollar

I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of shrimp tacos sooner, but after a few test batches, they’ve quickly become one of my favorite taco meals!

SPICY SHRIMP TACOS RECIPE

One huge plus to making spicy shrimp tacos is that shrimp thaws REALLY fast. If you have a busy weekday and forget to pull something out for dinner to thaw, shrimp is your best friend.

Plus, shrimp is different. As much as we love chicken tacos and beef tacos and pork tacos, sometimes it all feels redundant…like we’re in a bit of a same ol’ same ol’ rut with our protein choices.

That’s where shrimp comes into play.

A spicy shrimp tacos recipe topped with a creamy slaw? Dinner ready in under 30 minutes? A flavor-packed meal with minimal ingredients that tastes better than take-out?!

Yes, please!

EASY SHRIMP TACO RECIPE INGREDIENTS

One of the reasons I love this shrimp taco recipe is because the ingredient list is super short – a whopping 4 ingredients:

• Shrimp. I like medium shrimp for tacos because they’re small enough to fit into one bite but big enough to not disappear among the fun taco toppings. You want your shrimp to be peeled and deveined.
• Taco Seasoning. Homemade Taco Seasoning is MUCH more flavorful than store-bought taco seasoning (in my opinion), and it calls for spices you likely already have, like cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. If you only have store-bought, that will work.
• Ancho Chili Powder. Don’t skip this. It might not be a spice you typically keep on hand, but it’s 100% worth buying because it really gives that kick to make these the best shrimp tacos!
• Butter. For cooking the shrimp. You can use coconut oil or a nonstick pan too. (Skip the olive oil, it’s a little strong in flavor.)

Of course, no taco night is complete without these:

You need your requisite taco vehicle (warm tortillas):

• Corn Tortillas
• Flour Tortillas
• Hardshell tortillas

You need fun favorite toppings:

• Creamy Slaw
• Shredded cheese
• Lime Crema
• Diced tomato
• Pickled Red Onions
• Sour cream
• Chopped cilantro
• Mango Salsa
• Jalapeno, if you’re feeling spicy

And you need your easy side dishes:

• Cilantro Lime Rice or Spanish Rice
• Crock Pot Refried Beans
• Tortilla Chips and 5-Minute Guacamole

… but since every family is different, I’ll leave all those options up to you!

HOW TO MAKE EASY SHRIMP TACOS

You’ll want to have all of your taco stuff – tortillas, toppings, and sides – ready before you make this shrimp taco recipe. Shrimp cooks VERY fast!

Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp and the seasonings. Mix well.

Step 2: Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet or pan over medium-high heat.

Step 3: Cook shrimp in the melted butter until they begin to curl, are pink, and are no longer translucent – about 2 minutes. Flip the shrimp over to finish cooking on the other side for about 1-3 minutes. Don’t overcook the shrimp or they will be rubbery! Remove to a serving dish when they’re done.

EASY SHRIMP TACOS VS. PRAWNS TACOS

Both shrimp tacos and prawn tacos are AMAZING – and you can use shrimp and prawns interchangeably in shrimp taco recipes. Prawns are generally bigger and will require some prep beforehand (you can get shrimp de-shelled and de-veined, but you’ll likely have to peel and devein prawns yourself). Just plan your time accordingly!

CREAMY COLESLAW FOR SPICY SHRIMP TACOS

The creamy coleslaw that goes on top of these spicy shrimp tacos is so good, that I gave it its own home on the internet right here. But here’s the quick version:

1. Mix up some plain Greek Yogurt, Mayo, fresh lime juice, and garlic powder in a bowl.
2. Add super thinly shredded cabbage (or a bag of coleslaw mix MINUS the dressing) and toss really well.
3. Add julienned carrot (if you’re feeling fancy), season with salt and pepper, and taste. Add more lime juice if it needs zing, a pinch of salt if it’s boring, and yogurt if it’s not creamy enough. (I do recommend a 50/50 split of yogurt and mayo since mayo adds some of that undertone savory vibe.)
4. Set aside your cabbage slaw until ready to serve to let the flavors meld.

Psst! If you’re going to add salt, I highly recommend Ava Jane’s Kitchen. You may think all salt is created equal, but unfortunately, 90% of the salt produced around the world contains microplastics (gross, right?). Ava Jane’s Kitchen is an exception. Their salt is 100% microplastic-free, and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)

THE BEST SHRIMP TACOS RECIPE VARIATIONS

In my opinion, the best shrimp tacos are topped with an amazing creamy slaw. Here are some other fun variations too to switch up shrimp taco night:

• Shrimp. Experiment with different sizes of shrimp to see which you like best (jumbo, large, medium, small, salad shrimp, etc.)
• Vehicle. Make bowls with rice, salads with lettuce, or slightly char your tortillas on an open flame (YUM!). Homemade Corn Tortillas are our favorite.
• Salsas. Try Traditional Red Salsa, mild Salsa Verde, Mango Salsa, peach salsa, or pico de gallo
• Sauces. Lime Crema is my go-to for taco nights, but try sour cream, Greek Yogurt, Ranch Dressing, green goddess dressing, or even a creamy avocado dressing or Hot Sauce. There are lots of drizzle options for shrimp taco sauce!
• Cheese. Cotija cheese is traditional, but a Tex-Mex blend or pepper jack would also be delicious.
• Flair. Ingredients like Quick Pickled Onion, chopped cilantro, diced tomato, diced avocado, and sliced jalapeno sprinkled on top really kick the tacos up a notch. A squeeze of fresh lime wedges gives an extra bit of citrusy brightness to the shrimp tacos too!

SHRIMP TACOS WITH SLAW RECIPE FAQS

MORE TASTY WEEKNIGHT DINNER RECIPES

• Enchilada Casserole
• Blackened Salmon
• Spicy Salmon Tacos with Slaw
• Beef Tamale Pie
• Chicken Jalapeno Popper Casserole