Grilled Shrimp Tacos Recipe

Grilled Shrimp Tacos is a quick and easy dinner idea. Shrimp is seasoned and grilled on skewers then added to warm tortillas for a tasty meal.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos topped with avocado salsa on a plate

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Shrimp is an easy fish to cook on the grill. It just takes a few minutes and the shrimp comes out flavorful and cooked to perfection. This shrimp taco recipe is the perfect twist on Taco Tuesday night.

Shrimp Tacos are light, refreshing and seasoned to perfection. Adding the fresh red cabbage and the cotija cheese makes for an amazing weeknight meal.

If you love shrimp recipes, you might also like Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe or Grilled Shrimp Scampi Recipe.

What Type of Shrimp do you use?
Ingredients:
Variations Ideas:
Step by Step Instructions:
How to Make Avocado Salsa:
How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp:
What to Serve with Shrimp Tacos:
Other Ways to Serve Grilled Shrimp:
Expert Tips:
Frequently Asked Questions:
More Grilled Seafood Recipes:
More Easy Taco Recipes
Grilled Shrimp Tacos Recipe

What Type of Shrimp do you use?

The perfect shrimp to grill is the large, jumbo or colossal size shrimp. We buy the shrimp that is already peeled and deveined. But you can grill shrimp with the peel on. I like to keep things easy, so I look for the shrimp that is already peeled.

We prefer to buy shrimp that is uncooked, but you can also heat cooked shrimp on the grill. This recipe can be made with raw or pre-cooked shrimp. If you use pre-cook shrimp, cook the shrimp for 1-2 minutes per side to heat them through.

Ingredients:

For the Marinade:

Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
Olive Oil
Chili Powder
Cumin
Garlic Powder
Lime, juiced

For the Avocado Salsa:

Ripe Avocado, diced
Red Onion, diced
Jalapeño, deseeded and diced
Cilantro, finely chopped
Lime, juiced
Olive Oil
Garlic Salt
Pepper

For the Tacos:

Wooden Skewers
Flour Tortillas (6 inch)
Red Cabbage, chopped
Crumbled Cojita Cheese (or Feta)

For the full list of ingredients and recipe, scroll to the bottom to see the recipe card.

Variations Ideas:

Shrimp – We used already cooked shrimp, but you can cook raw shrimp for this recipe. If using frozen shrimp, make sure to thaw shrimp before cooking.
Salsa – We love topping these grilled tacos with a nice and refreshing salsa. Feel free to make a pineapple salsa or a mango salsa for added flavor.
Spicy Shrimp Tacos – Feel free to change the seasoning and add in cayenne pepper for a spicy taste.
Seasoning – You can also change the seasoning to your preference. A great addition is paprika or oregano for added flavor.

Step by Step Instructions:

Step 1 – Combine Marinade Ingredients – In a large bowl, add the shrimp. Then toss in the marinade while the grill is preheating. Refrigerator until ready to serve.

Step 2 – Prepare Grill – Preheat the grill over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees F).

Step 3 – Add shrimp skewers on grill – Place the shrimp on the wooden skewers and grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side. Cook until the shrimp is cooked through.

Step 4 – Make Avocado Salsa – In a separate bowl, combine all the avocado salsa ingredients.
Step 5 – Assemble Shrimp Tacos – Then it’s time to assemble the tacos. Warm the tortillas by heating them in the microwave or place them on the grill for a few seconds to heat them through.
Step 6 – Add Toppings – Place cabbage on the bottom of each tortilla. Top it with the shrimp, avocado salad and cheese. We love topping with sour cream and salsa.
Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve warm and then enjoy.

How to Make Avocado Salsa:

We love making this Avocado Salsa. It is not only perfect on these Grilled Shrimp Tacos but you can use it over many different meats. We even use it as a dip. It is so light and refreshing that it what makes these Grilled Shrimp Tacos so tasty.

Add the following ingredients in a medium bowl and combine:

Ripe Avocado
Diced Red Onion
Diced Jalapeño
Fresh Cilantro
Lime Wedges
Olive Oil
Garlic
Salt
Pepper

These ingredients can be changed to what you have on hand. We have even added in some chopped jalapeno’s for some extra spice.

How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp:

When making this recipe, you can use fresh shrimp that you get at the meat counter or purchase frozen shrimp. If you purchase frozen shrimp, make sure to let it thaw before cooking. It will take about 20 minutes to thaw out.

To let it thaw, place shrimp in a colander and let it run cold water until thaw. You can also put the frozen shrimp bag in the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.

What to Serve with Shrimp Tacos:

There are so many sides to serve with these shrimp tacos. These are our favorites:

Crock Pot Mexican Queso
Homemade Salsa Recipe
Spanish Rice Recipe
Refried Beans or Black Beans

Other Ways to Serve Grilled Shrimp:

Grilled Shrimp is a delicious dinner option. Not only does it taste amazing but it cooks very quickly. You can have this on the table in literally minutes.

When we grill out Shrimp we like to give our kids different ways to eat it. Here are some of our favorite:

Low Carb Option – You can make grilled shrimp bowls with Cauliflower Rice. The shrimp and the avocado salsa makes a healthy low carb choice.
Serve over Rice – After cooking the shrimp serve over rice. The combination of the shrimp and the avocado salsa is tasty over white rice or brown rice. This is my favorite way to eat shrimp.
Top a Salad – We love to add shrimp to our salad. The seasoning that we put on this shrimp combined with the avocado salsa is perfect on a salad.

Expert Tips:

You can use a grill basket or cast iron skillet. I love grilling the shrimp directly on the grill gates. However, if your shrimp is smaller and you’re concerned that it will fall through the grate. You can cook the shrimp on a cast iron skillet on the grill.
Do not overcook the shrimp. It does not take long for shrimp to cook. Be careful that you do not cook it too long or it will be tough.
Fresh lime juice is best. While bottled will do in a pinch, fresh is always best.
Place the shrimp in a single layer on the grill. This will ensure even cooking and that each shrimp has those gorgeous grill marks.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How to Store Leftovers:

These tacos are best served fresh but you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

What is the Best Tortilla to Use?

When we make these tacos we love to use corn tortillas or soft flour tortillas. My favorite thing to do is heat them on the grill to give it that charred taste to them.
But you can easily use crunchy taco shells or any type of tortillas that fit into your diet.

Can I Prepare on the Stovetop?

Yes, these shrimp tacos can easily prepared on the stovetop. Cook the shrimp in a skillet and then add to your favorite tortilla. Add your favorite topping, serve and enjoy.