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These Easy Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos with cabbage slaw are fast, easy and the BEST shrimp tacos you have ever had!
Looking for the best shrimp taco recipe? You found it.
The holidays are coming and that means a million things to do and not enough time to do it. This is why I wanted to share this super easy shrimp taco recipe with you. Over the last few years since I first published this recipe, this has become a family favorite that we rely on again and again for a quick and healthy dinner – and what is better than healthy tacos!?! The lime cabbage slaw adds a nice cool crunch to these Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos to balance out the heat from the chili. I hear back from my readers again and again that this is their favorite shrimp taco recipe.
For those nights when I am asking “what should I make for dinner?” this is always a reliable recipe – especially if you have frozen shrimp on hand. It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish and they taste delicious.
What kind of shrimp to buy for shrimp tacos
I use frozen, tail-on, raw shrimp. This is the best kind; super easy to store and very delicious. Side benefit: No cleaning required.
What are the different sizes of shrimp?
Here in the USA, shrimp is packaged and sold in “count per pound” quantities. So, those numbers you see on packages like “21-25” are the approximate number of shrimp per one pound. Sometimes the shrimp is also labeled as small, medium, large, etc. 21-25 is jumbo. 26-30 is extra large. 51-60 is small.
How to thaw frozen shrimp
The best and healthiest method is to thaw the shrimp in the fridge over night.
In a pinch? Place the frozen shrimp in a colander into the sink under running cold water. That’s it.
I like to keep frozen shrimp on hand because it takes almost no time to thaw and cook them. Â On nights where I have nothing planned for dinner at 5pm I can pull them out of the freezer and thaw them under running water in just a few minutes.
How to make shrimp tacos
These chili lime shrimp tacos are so quick and easy. The shrimp get a 15 minute marinade with some lime zest, garlic, and spices.  While they are marinating, toss together a quick slaw, chop up a ripe avocado, warm some tortillas. Then the shrimp gets a quick sear and dinner is ready. Boom.
I like to use the small corn tortillas here, and I found that they hold up better if you use two tortillas layered for one taco. Â They also hold up better if they are warmed up. Â I warmed them up in a skillet, flipping a few times. Â We gave a few of them a spritz of cooking oil before they hit the skillet and that gave them a nice texture. Â If you have a gas stove you can quickly warm them over the flame (carefully!). Â You can even FRY them which tastes delicious, but it is an extra step so I didn’t do it for this quick dinner.
How to make lime slaw for shrimp tacos
The lime slaw for these shrimp tacos is the perfect compliment. And it is so easy. I often buy a bag of shredded cabbage to save time, then just toss it with lime juice and a little salt. I added some jalapeno to add a little heat to the slaw.
Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 24 large raw shrimp peeled
- 16 small corn tortillas
- 4 cups shredded cabbage
- 1/4 jalapeño finely minced (about 1/2 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves pressed or finely minced
- 1 lime zested and juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- kosher salt
- 1 avocado diced
- salsa for serving
Instructions
- Combine the shrimp in a bowl with olive oil, lime zest, minced garlic, paprika, chili powder, red pepper flake and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.
- Toss the cabbage with jalapeno, 1 tablespoon of lime juice and a pinch of salt, set aside.
- Warm tortillas in a skillet over low heat, flipping occasionally.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. When hot, pour the shrimp in. Sear on one side for 1-2 minutes, flip and sear on the other side until pink all the way through and no longer opaque, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- To assemble tacos, layer two tortillas on top of each other. top with lime slaw, a few shrimp, and some avocado. Top with some salsa and a squeeze of fresh lime.
Video
Notes
You can use more or less jalapeno to taste. I didn't want the slaw to be very spicy so I only used a little bit.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Meghan, I love all your taco recipes so much! Looking forward to making this recipe tomorrow!
Hi Jessica – yay, can’t wait to hear what you think!
I made this tonight and it was sooooo good! I added cilantro to the slaw and instead of free sha va ca doo (hehe) I bought some guacamole and it was soooo good!
So happy you loved them Kayla!
Thanks so much for the awesome recipe! This was perfect for feeding hubby quickly after a 16 hour long day of work, (didn’t take so long that he might fall asleep waiting) and still brought praise afterward for the great taste! In my book, that makes you a 5star resource in the future as well; it’s so hard to find new ways of fixing things in a manner that Mr. Picky will enjoy, but thanks to your teriffic taco recipe, I’ve succeeded today! Putting this in my go to bookmark list of recipes, and tonight I’m going to browse any others you’ve shared… I enjoyed his pleased surprise today so much, I want more! Thanks again 🙂
Hi Robin! I am so happy to hear that! Thank you!
This is my new go-to shrimp taco recipe. So so so good! Thank you!
Yay! So happy you love it!
Sounds so good. Will be trying today.
Wonderful! Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Hi Meghan, awesome shrimp taco recipe. thanks 🙂
So glad you loved it Jessica!
I love these shrimp tacos! I love the new nutrition info too.
So nice to have some healthy tacos, right?
Love these tacos but need to know the nutritional facts for these yummy tacos.
Hi Karla, I’ve just updated the post with the nutrition facts.
Been wanting to try shrimp tacos for a while. Great, easy recipe!! Will be making these more often.
Hi Sherri – I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
I had a similar chili lime shrimp tacos at a restaurant recently and found myself craving it and wondering if I could recreate it today.
Hi Bella, I hope these hit the spot. Thanks for your comment!
Wow! My partner wanted shrimp tacos for dinner but I didn’t know a recipe. A quick google search popped up your recipe for chili lime shrimp tacos. These were DELICIOUS! We loved them. He told me to immediately bookmark the page for the next shrimp taco dinner. There were no leftovers from this dinner!
Thank you!
Loved the marinade!! I didn’t make the slaw, I served the tacos with a black bean and corn salsa instead, just for personal preference. The tacos were a huge hit!
Sounds like it has so much flavor! I’ve always got avocado on top!
Definitely your Chili lime shrimp tacos are awesomeness! This is a great recipe, as you know I made it a short while ago and it was lovely, in fact have made it again since. Thanks for sharing Meghan!
Hi Jill! Thanks so much, I’m so glad you love them!
Just made these for lunch with frozen shrimp. They were so good. I added a little shiracha after assembling the tacos. I skipped the jalapeño since I forgot when shopping. Already thinking about when I’m going to make again. Thanks!!!
Hi Jody, I’m so glad you loved them! Adding the sriracha is a great idea!
Those veggies looks great!
I’m late to the game, but just cruised over to this recipe and had to say it looks absolutely delicious and your photos are gorgeous! Also I really wish I had seen this before I tried to take some taco photos this weekend…because I’m noticing your neat trick of using limes to prop up the tacos! Genius! ?
Haha, thank you Liz! Necessity is the mother of invention 🙂 I do have some special taco holders now, but I still think I like how they look better this way!
omg sooo good yum thank you
Thank you Claudette, I’m so glad you love them!
Just made these for dinner, but put them on salad instead of tacos (mostly because I made them on a whim, tacos are always better!). Sooooooo good! And really easy!
Definitely gonna make again, in tacos next time with the lime slaw
Oh YAY! I’m so glad that you you loved them Michelle!
Meghan….pictures of these tacos are wonderful and the recipe sounds yummy . HOWEVER….why, for Pete’s sake, and while I’m at it …for Amy’s, Bill’s, Nancy’s and Homer’s sake show these delish looking tacos with the tails of the shrimp still on. Sorta nasty eating, but then maybe some people like eating shrimp tails. Just put frozen shrimp in a colander, run lukewarm water over them and simply pull the tails off…leaving you with a whole shrimp….or look at it his way…even more yummy shrimp in each taco!
Hi Mike, thank you for taking the time to comment and for your nice words about my photos. As far as the shrimp tails, it is just a matter of personal preference. I like to cook the shrimp with the tails on because they tend to hold their shape better, and I serve them with the tails on because I think they are prettier that way. We remove the tails before eating the tacos. Although you are right, there are some people who do like to eat the tails. Of course, you can feel free to remove the tails before cooking and serving if you would prefer to do so.
That’s what I would do. Remove the tails before cooking. Thanks for explaining your reasoning. Thanks for the recipe.
Hope you enjoy it!
Can you serve the tacos cold if storing the shrimp leftovers in the fridge?
Hi, I’m sure that would be fine!