These Shrimp Tacos are loaded with plump, juicy shrimp, crunchy cabbage, cotija cheese, and the best garlic-lime crema shrimp taco sauce that will win you over. They are served over toasted corn tortillas, making them authentic, delicious, and naturally gluten-free. Go ahead and make a double batch – you’ll thank me later!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Helpful Reader Review
“My husband made these for us tonight and they were absolutely delicious—from the seasonings to the sauce, every bite was amazing and he followed the recipe to a T. These were the best shrimp tacos ever… Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!” – Nancy ★★★★★
Shrimp Tacos Video Tutorial
Discover how I prepare these delicious Shrimp Tacos with a sensational garlic-lime crema shrimp taco sauce. Don’t miss my tips on heating the tortillas for an authentic crunch.
Easy Shrimp Tacos Recipe
These easy shrimp tacos have been a favorite in my house for years! My kids love them, my husband loves them, and I love them–a winning recipe! They’re also perfect for entertaining and we have hosted many shrimp taco parties over the years. I love all the fresh toppings and the perfectly seasoned shrimp. Read on to see my trick for getting an authentic crunch on the corn tortillas–it takes these shrimp tacos from good to restaurant-quality delicious!
The mouthwatering Shrimp Taco Sauce makes these Shrimp Tacos the BEST! It comes together fast and has an irresistible garlic-lime spin. It’s the same sauce we use on our famous Fish Tacos and Fish Taco Bowls. I like to make double and then use it on everything–from Pan-Seared Steak to Air Fryer Potatoes.
Ingredients for Shrimp Tacos
These easy shrimp tacos come in three parts: the seasoned shrimp, the toppings, and that irresistible shrimp taco sauce.
- Shrimp – We used large 21-25 count thawed shrimp, but the medium (26-30 count) or even small shrimp (31-35 count) would work well. Keep in mind that smaller shrimp will cook faster. Season the shrimp with a simple combo of garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
- Cheese – Cotija is the traditional Mexican cheese for tacos. I found cotija at the grocery store next to the refrigerated tortillas. You can substitute feta, queso fresco, or Mexican blend cheese.
- Other Toppings – red cabbage (or try green cabbage or a coleslaw blend), avocado, red onion, and cilantro are our go-to toppings for tacos. Readers have also suggested jalapeños, pickled red onion, sautéed red peppers, and Pico de Gallo.
- Tortillas – Corn tortillas make the most authentic Mexican tacos and my personal preference is white corn tortillas. They’re also naturally gluten-free. You can also use small flour tortillas if that is what you have on hand.
Shrimp Taco Sauce Ingredients
- Sour cream and Mayonnaise – The basis of the crema sauce. Readers have reported swapping the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt, but I love the tang and richness from the sour cream.
- Fresh lime juice – squeeze 1 medium lime for a bit of sour freshness
- Garlic powder – I prefer garlic powder over fresh for a smoother sauce.
- Sriracha sauce – Adds just a touch of spice. If you love spicy shrimp tacos, add more sriracha hot sauce to taste.
How to Make Shrimp Tacos
It takes minutes to make these delicious shrimp tacos! We marinate and cook the shrimp, whip up a bit of crema sauce, and load on the toppings. The completed dish is a masterpiece–almost too good to eat!
- Make the taco sauce – Whisk all the crema ingredients and set aside for the flavors to meld.
Pro Tip:
You could serve the Garlic-lime crema sauce with a spoon, or snip the corner of a zip-top bag to drizzle, but my favorite way to serve it is out of a squeeze bottle because it makes me feel like I’m dining out.
- Prep the toppings – Slice the red cabbage and limes, dice the avocado and red onion, and then chop the cilantro.
- Season the Shrimp – Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels, add the seasonings and garlic, and stir together.
- Cook the Shrimp – Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high. Add the shrimp in a single layer and saute for a minute or two on each side until cooked through (they will be opaque with some pink on the outside). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Toast Tortillas – see below for options, whether you’re using a gas stove, griddle or skillet.
- Serve Shrimp Tacos – Setting up a taco bar is my favorite way to serve shrimp tacos so everyone gets exactly what they like.
How to Heat Tortillas for Tacos
I love the flavor of slightly charred tortillas. Here’s how to acheive that with a big batch or small batch of tortillas.
- Over a Gas Stove Flame – We love this method for authentic, lightly charred edges. Toast the tortilla directly over a medium/low open flame on a gas stove. Use tongs to rotate the tortilla every 5 seconds. Flip as soon as the tortilla is lightly blackened on the edges, and repeat with the second side. Keep your eye on that tortilla and adjust the flame as needed because it can burn quickly.
- Toast Tortillas in the Oven – Arrange the tortillas in a single layer on a sturdy baking sheet and set under the broiler, about 6-8 inches from the heat source and broil for 2 minutes or until you see browned spots on the tortillas.
- On a Griddle or cast iron skillet – Preheat a dry griddle or skillet to medium-high heat. Add tortillas in a single layer and toast for 15-30 seconds per side until golden brown in some spots on each side.
Helpful Reader Review
“Amazing! Every part was perfect and we love the way you heat the tortillas. So authentic tasting. We didn’t have Cotija cheese but they were perfect. Next time we will add it and they will be even better, if that is possible!” – Alane ★★★★★
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Shrimp tacos are easy to make ahead! Store each element separately in air-tight containers and combine when ready to serve. Toast the tortillas just before serving for the best flavor.
- To Refrigerate: Allow cooked shrimp to cool, and then store for up to 4 days. Crema will last for up to a week in the fridge.
- Freezing: Flash freeze the cooled shrimp by placing it on a baking dish for an hour until frozen, then store it in a zip-top bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The crema shrimp taco sauce doesn’t freeze well.
- To Reheat: thaw in the fridge overnight, then saute the shrimp until warm in a low-heat pan. Be careful not to overcook.
My easy Shrimp Tacos recipe with garlic-lime crema shrimp taco sauce will change the way you eat tacos! The juicy seasoned shrimp, toasted tortillas, crisp veggies, and tangy crema sauce combine to make an irresistibly delicious meal. I know you will love this recipe as much as I do!
Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
Shrimp Taco Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 Tbsp lime juice, squeezed from 1 medium lime
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp Sriracha sauce, or to taste
Shrimp Taco Toppings:
- 8 white corn tortillas, (small, 6” diameter), or Hard Taco Shells
- 1/2 small purple cabbage, 2 cups shredded
- 1 large avocado, pitted, peeled, and diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 4 oz Cotija cheese, (1 cup grated on a box grater)
- 1/4 bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped
- 1 lime , cut into 8 wedges
For the Shrimp:
- 1 lb shrimp (medium or large), raw
- 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Make the Shrimp Taco Sauce – In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients and set aside for the flavors to meld. Transfer to a squeeze bottle if desired.
- Prep the Toppings – Thinly slice cabbage, dice the avocado, finely dice the red onion, and coarsely chop the cilantro. Arrange toppings in small bowls for easy serving.
- Season the Shrimp – Thaw and pat dry the shrimp with paper towels and place in a medium bowl. Add seasonings and garlic and stir to combine.
- Cook the Shrimp – Place a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and add shrimp in a single layer. Sauté 1-2 minutes per side or just until cooked through. As soon as they are cooked through (white inside with some pink and red accents outside), transfer to a serving platter and set aside to cool.
- Heat the Tortillas – You can toast the tortillas over a gas flame, on a griddle or in a skillet**.
- To Serve – Build tacos by arranging toppings and shrimp over each toasted tortilla. Serve drizzled with the taco sauce.
Notes
- Gas Stove: Toast tortillas one at a time over an open gas stovetop flame on medium/low heat (about 10 seconds per side) until lightly charred on the edges.
- Toast Tortillas in the Oven: Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and broil about 6-8 inches from the heat source for 2 minutes or until you see browned spots on the tortillas.
- Heat a griddle or cast iron skillet to medium-high heat and toast tortillas for 15-30 seconds on each side or until golden. No oil needed.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Love Tacos? Try these Taco Recipes Next
Once you fall in love with these easy Shrimp Tacos, you have to try these other superstar Taco Recipes:
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Beef Bulgogi Tacos
- Carne Asada Street Tacos
- Breakfast Tacos
- Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
- Taco Salad
- Taco Soup
- Chicken Taquitos
Made this tonight. Delicious!! The sauce makes this. Will be making this again soon. Used low carb tortillas to keep it Keto
Made these for the first time and they were so delicious!! The sauce makes it tasty as well as the crunchy cabbage.
This was delicious. I didn’t change anything. Don’t skip the sauce!
Can you use the shrimp recipe for the fish taco recipe .
Thanks
Hi there, I have a different recipe for Fish Tacos
I just posted how awesome these are but I wanted to say I used Costco organic corn tortillas. They are they best!
This was so amazing! It was a great meal. I was so grumpy today. This out me in B a great mood!😁
I came for the sauce and it did not disappoint. Saved for the future because it’s definitely a keeper!
Thanks for your great feedback Jojo!
Made this tonight and it was very good!! This recipe is definitely a keeper. But that’s nothing new because every recipe I’ve made of yours is delicious!
Thank you so much!
Is this an 8-serving recipe? The calories indicate per serving, but I did not see the serving size listed.
Hi Crystal! Yes, this serves 8 tacos and the nutrition facts are per serving.
Love this, and make it repeatedly. I do use ‘wild caught fully cooked shrimp meat’, which is essentially teeny tiny shrimp, thawing 1/4 pound per person, then covering them with Emeril’s Southwest Seasoning (which I always make plenty of, to have on hand in the spice cupboard). They’ll only need a minute or two in an oiled pan to be ready.
You were right!! The sauce is just incredible. The whole meal was fantastic. Thank you
Hi Natasha
Is there something that I can replace the cumin with? Thank you.
Hi Elena! Common substitutes are coriander, chili powder, taco seasoning, paprika, even curry powder. Feel free to experiment with different flavors.
Amazing! Every part was perfect and we love the way you heat the tortillas. So authentic tasting. We didn’t have Cotija cheese but they were perfect. Next time we will add it and they will be even better, if that is possible!
I don’t have cotija cheese. Is it essential in this recipe? Any substitutes? Thank you!
Hi Dina! We love the addition of the cheese but you can omit. They’ll still be great!
I didn’t have cotija cheese either so I tried crumbled goat cheese. Mild like cotija and worked great for a substitute.
Very nice and light. The only thing that I changed was the sauce. I used chipotle adobo sauce instead of Sriracha sauce.
Sounds good! Thak you for sharing, glad that you love it!
Such a great shrimp taco recipe!! Good as is! We added a little extra Sriracha to the taco sauce to add a little more spice!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Savana!
Wow wow wow! Fantastic recipe. This was delicious. Best shrimp tacos my family has ever had. If I had more shrimp , I would make it again tonight.
We really loved this recipe! Truly delightful. This is going to be a regular go to meal from here on in. I’ll have to take a look at some of your other recipes. Thank you Natasha
I’m so glad you all loved it, Michelle! That’s so great! I hope you get to try more of my recipes very soon! Thank you for your wonderful review!
Super easy, and super fun. Great tasting finger food for the whole family. My daughter love making her tacos to match her taste
Great to hear that, Jamie! Thanks a lot for sharing.
Made these tacos for myself and it was a delicious treat for this momma solo lunch!
I’m so glad you loved the recipe, Candice!