Easy Shrimp Tacos With Slaw

Why I Love These Shrimp Tacos with Slaw

These shrimp tacos are easy to make in a matter of minutes and are loaded with mouthwatering fresh flavors. The slaw is so bright and zesty with red onions, cabbage, lime juice, and more. Plus, shrimp is always summery to me! While you can make these tacos any time you want (I live in Florida where sunshine and heat is pretty much year-round), they really shine during the summer months. Serving these up at pool parties or on the 4th of July is always a blast! Here’s what makes this shrimp tacos recipe a step above the rest:

• Customizable: You can personalize the toppings any way you’d like to create your best bite. We love our shrimp tacos topped with our fresh homemade purple slaw, fresh lime juice, some of our favorite cilantro lime crema and a little extra cilantro for good measure.
• Quick and Easy: You can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
• Perfect for Entertaining: These tacos are a great option for casual gatherings or taco Tuesdays.
• Budget-Friendly: Shrimp is an affordable seafood option that doesn’t skimp on flavor.

Key Ingredients

Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this easy shrimp tacos recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!

• Cabbage: You can use shredded purple cabbage or a bag of coleslaw mix. 
• Red Onion: Don’t use any other type of onion! Red onion has the most vibrant color and potent flavor. 
• Olive Oil: Avocado oil also works.
• Lime Juice: Always use freshly squeezed lime juice, especially for freshly flavored recipes like this one!
• Shrimp: You can use frozen shrimp, but they’ll need to be fully thawed prior to cooking. 
• Cajun Seasoning: While you can buy a store-bought container of this seasoning mix, our homemade recipe for cajun seasoning is seriously the BEST!
• Corn Tortillas: You can swap these for flour tortillas, but we find that corn tortillas best compliment the shrimp and slaw.

How To Make Shrimp Tacos

If you’re looking for a quick, flavor-packed meal that everyone will love, these easy shrimp tacos with slaw are the answer. Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions.

Cook’s Tips & Variations

• Prep ahead: Cooking shrimp is a very quick process and goes fast, so make sure all your ingredients are ready and prepped. You don’t want to have to reheat your shrimp, they will become gummy and less tender if reheated.
• Don’t overcook the shrimp: The most important step is making sure your shrimp are cooked perfectly. If they are in the oven too long, they will no longer be juicy and will be pretty tough. Shrimp are done cooking as soon as they are no longer translucent and have curled!
• Tortillas: If you can find them, we highly recommend raw corn tortillas that you cook yourself. I have found them recently at Walmart. They add a ton more flavor to tacos! If using regular store bought corn tortillas, we still recommend heating them in a skillet on the stove for better texture. Wrap warmed tortillas in foil to keep them warm until ready to serve.
• Cook the shrimp a different way: If you prefer to skip the oven, you can also make our grilled shrimp or easy air fryer shrimp for these shrimp tacos! All of these cooking methods work great, and are all equally as fast, so it’s really up to you and your personal preference.
• Spice it up: Add a dash of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or sliced jalapeños to the slaw for extra heat.

What to Serve with Easy Shrimp Tacos with Slaw

• Cheese: We like to use a salty Mexican cheese like Cotija or Queso Fresco. Crumble it with a fork and then sprinkle it on top of your tacos before serving. If you can’t find either of these, something like shredded mozzarella will also work.
• Crema: I highly recommend our very favorite cilantro lime crema. It makes an amazing shrimp taco sauce! However, you can also use Mexican crema or sour cream. If using sour cream, we recommend thinning it out a little with water so it’s more of a drizzle type consistency.
• Avocado or Guacamole: Either one is always great!
• Pico De Gallo: With the fresh homemade slaw we made, we didn’t use pico de gallo this time. However, if you want to skip the slaw and add some fresh pico, it will be just as delicious.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro always pairs great with seafood and these shrimp tacos are no different!
• Jalapeños: Fresh or pickled jalapeños can add a good bit of spice.
• Sriracha: Another great way to add some heat to your tacos is by drizzling on some Sriracha or adding a tablespoon of Sriracha to the cabbage slaw.
• Lime Wedges: A little extra lime juice is the perfect finisher for tacos!
• Fish Taco Sauce: Homemade fish taco sauce is SO good on these shrimp tacos.