Blackened Shrimp Tacos Recipe
The obsession with combining spicy seafood and creamy sauces began with these Blackened Fish Tacos and then evolved into the Blackened Shrimp Tacos that you see here.
There’s just something about the combination of flavors that make your taste buds want to dance!
Plus, from start to finish you can have everything prepped, cooked, and ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
Simply whisk together the blackening seasoning, sauté the shrimp, then serve in warm corn tortilla or flour tortillas with the most delicious cilantro lime sauce.
This shrimp taco recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Want to take them up another notch? Try mixing up this fish taco slaw recipe to serve with them, too!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Shrimp. Jumbo shrimp are used in this recipe. To keep it extra simple and easy, buy shrimp that has already been peeled, deveined, and has the tails removed. You can also use shrimp that have not been prepared. Just know that it will take another 20-30 minutes to peel, devein, and remove the tails. If possible, get fresh shrimp rather than frozen.
- Blackened seasoning. Make your own homemade blackened seasoning with easy spices you likely have on hand. Or, grab a bottle from the grocery store.
- Tortillas. Toasted corn tortillas are a delicious and healthy option. You can use white or yellow corn tortillas.
- Taco sauce. Homemade cilantro lime sauce made with Greek yogurt is the best for complementing the spicy blackened shrimp.
- Toppings. Use your favorite taco additions like sliced avocado, shredded cabbage, and cilantro.
How to Make Blackened Shrimp Tacos
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Season the Shrimp
Peel and devein the raw shrimp if needed. Set the prepared shrimp in a large bowl.
Carefully whisk together the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and pepper in a small or medium bowl.
Sprinkle the blackened seasoning blend over the shrimp.
2. Sauté the Shrimp
Add butter or oil to a large cast iron skillet or pan over medium heat.
Place half of the seasoned shrimp in the hot skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep them in a single layer. Repeat with remaining shrimp.
Learn more about how to make Blackened Shrimp for a main dish!
3. Make the Sauce
In the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Process until smooth.
4. Serve the Tacos
When you’re ready to dig in, add shrimp to warm corn tortillas. (For the best tortillas, slightly heat the corn tortillas with some coconut oil in a skillet.)
Top the Cajun shrimp tacos with the sauce along with some shredded red cabbage, avocado slices, and extra cilantro. You can also add sour cream, chopped green onions, diced red onion, or lime wedges.
FAQs
Peeled, deveined, and tail-removed jumbo shrimp makes for delicious and easy-to-make tacos.
Tartar sauce, cilantro lime sauce, avocado ranch, remoulade sauce, secret sauce, and ranch dressing all go well on shrimp tacos.
Rice, beans, corn, or coleslaw all pair wonderfully with shrimp tacos.
Taco seasoning, butter, garlic, and lime are all great shrimp seasoning options. For the best shrimp tacos, though, a blackened seasoning is perfect!
What to Serve with Spicy Shrimp Tacos?
These spicy shrimp tacos taste even better when paired with these other dishes.
Serve Cilantro Lime Rice or Instant Pot Mexican Rice and Instant Pot Black Beans on the side.
Of course, Baked Tortilla Chips with Homemade Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Roasted Tomato Salsa, or Fresh Mango Avocado Salsa are perfect for everyone.
Other Easy Taco Recipes
If you can’t get enough tacos, be sure to try one of these delicious recipes next.
- Migas Tacos
- Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Blackened Fish Tacos
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
- Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
- Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Barbacoa Tacos
- Beef Taco Skillet
- Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos
- Tacos al Pastor
- Steak Fajitas
- Baja Shrimp Tacos
- Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
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Blackened Shrimp Tacos Recipe
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Ingredients
Blackened Shrimp
- 1 ½ lbs. shrimp jumbo, deveined, tails removed
- 2 Tbsp. butter or olive oil
- 1 tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ⅛-¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- ¼ tsp. oregano dried
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
Cilantro Lime Sauce
- ½ cup Greek yogurt plain, dairy-free
- ⅓ cup cilantro
- 1 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- ¼ tsp. salt
Tacos & Toppings
- 8 corn tortillas or cauliflower rice*
- 1 cup red cabbage shredded
- 1 avocado cut into slices
- Cilantro
- See this recipe in Healthy Meal Plan #3
Instructions
- Season Shrimp: Place deveined shrimp in a large bowl. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle seasonings over shrimp and toss to combine.1 ½ lbs. shrimp, 1 tsp. paprika, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, ⅛-¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp. oregano, ¾ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. pepper
- Sauté Shrimp: Place butter or oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add half of the shrimp to the skillet. Cook shrimp for 3-4 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining shrimp.2 Tbsp. butter
- Make the Sauce: While shrimp are cooking add yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth.½ cup Greek yogurt, ⅓ cup cilantro, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, ¼ tsp. salt
- Serve shrimp in a toasted corn tortilla with cilantro-lime yogurt sauce, red cabbage, avocado, and additional cilantro.8 corn tortillas or cauliflower rice*, 1 cup red cabbage, 1 avocado, Cilantro
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Notes
To save even more time, shred the cabbage and prepare the sauce in advance.
Storage Directions:
Keep the prepared sauce and leftover cooked shrimp in separate airtight container in the refrigerator. Store for up to 3 days. Wait until serving to slice the avocado and toast the tortillas. To reheat, warm the shrimp in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. Freezing is not recommended.
Recipe Tips
- Go easy. Buy shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined.
- Get toasty. Warm your tortillas in a hot cast iron pan.
- Make it low-carb. Ditch the tortillas and serve the shrimp, sauce, and toppings over cauliflower rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I need to make these again. So good! I love all of the seasoning blend. Basically — Perfect!
Thank you so much, Mike!! The seasoning blend definitely gives these tacos a bit of flavor. Thanks for your comment and rating!!