These shrimp tacos are made with tender, pan-fried shrimp seasoned to perfection and cooked in rich, golden butter. A creamy coleslaw, along with vibrant red onions, is nestled in warm corn tortillas. Squeezed with fresh lime juice, the succulent shrimp takes center stage and ties all the flavors together.

Shrimp tacos are one of the best ways to enjoy everyone’s favorite shellfish, and if you love them as much as I do, this is the recipe for you! It only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes. It’s also so delicious that it’s absolutely devoured in a flash! This is a shrimp taco recipe I just started making a couple of years ago, and it’s already one of the most requested recipes by my guy for Taco Tuesday. After you make it, you’ll see why!
Shrimp Tacos
These easy shrimp tacos start with fresh jumbo shrimp that I pan-fry in butter with garlic powder and black pepper until perfectly cooked. Then, I heat up tortillas and stuff them full of bagged creamy coleslaw, garlic butter shrimp, red onions, and a squeeze of lime. That’s all there is to it. It’s a quick, easy, and delicious recipe that comes together in about 15 minutes, and the flavors and textures are absolutely wonderful.

Why You’ll Love This Shrimp Taco Recipe
- These tacos are super easy to make and only require a few simple ingredients.
- The flavor combination of the seasoned, succulent shrimp with the cool creaminess of the coleslaw and the crisp red onions, along with the lime juice and corn tortillas, create a flavor profile you are sure to love.
- It’s an easy meal for those busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly.
Shrimp Tacos Ingredients
You’ll only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe. Everything you need is just one quick trip to the grocery store away!
- 1 pound cooked jumbo shrimp, peeled deveined
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 11.4 ounce bag Dole creamy coleslaw salad kit
- 1 cup red onion, finely diced
- 8 corn tortillas
- Fresh limes

How to Make Shrimp Tacos
Making these tacos is as easy as it gets. It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll be all done. Even beginners can make it with no problems!
Step 1: Make the Coleslaw
Combine the coleslaw ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
Step 2: Cook the Shrimp
Melt the butter over medium-low heat in a large pan or skillet. Then, add the shrimp and sprinkle them with half the seasonings. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flip, season again, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp is cooked through.
Step 3: Make the Shrimp Tacos
Heat the tortillas in a small pan or skillet over medium heat. Then, fill them with coleslaw, shrimp, red onions, and a squeeze of lime juice. Enjoy!

How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp
The best way to thaw shrimp is to leave them in the refrigerator overnight. If you need to thaw them more quickly, submerge them in cold water. NEVER thaw shrimp on the counter or in hot water, as it promotes bacterial growth.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure your shrimp are completely thawed, so they cook evenly throughout.
- Perfectly cooked shrimp should be shaped like a C. If they are shaped like an O, they’re overcooked.
- It only takes 2 to 3 minutes per side to cook the shrimp. Be careful not to overcook them!
- Keep the heat at medium-low, so the shrimp cook completely without getting tough.

Variations
- You can make these tacos with fish, crab, or lobster, as well.
- For an extra kick of heat and flavor, try adding red pepper flakes or diced jalapeno to the coleslaw.
- Use any kind of tortilla you prefer. You’ll find corn, flour, veggie, and keto options available at grocery stores.
What to Serve with Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp tacos are a classic Tex-Mex dish, and they pair well with all your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors like:
- Guac and chips
- Salsa and chips
- Pico de Gallo and chips
- Elote
- Corn dip
- Mexican rice
- Spanish rice
- Beans
- Queso
- Churros
Recipe FAQ
These classic tacos pair well with pretty much all of your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. They’re delicious with items like:
Salsa, guac, or Pico de Gallo and chips
Nachos
Elote
Mexican rice
Spanish rice
Thaw your shrimp overnight in the refrigerator if they’re frozen. Then, cook them over medium-low heat until they’re pink and shaped like a C. That’s all there is to it!
While both work well, corn tortillas are more authentic than flour tortillas. However, they’re both tasty!
Shrimp tacos can be topped with coleslaw, onions, cilantro, Pico de Gallo, lime juice, pineapple, or mango.
Shrimp tacos are delicious when paired with classics like chips with guac, salsa, or Pico de Gallo, rice, beans, or any of your other favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex sides.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Shrimp Tacos
If possible, store the shrimp, coleslaw, and tortillas separately from one another. The shrimp will last for about 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator, The coleslaw can be refrigerated for about 4 days, and the tortillas will last for about a week in an airtight container.
To reheat the shrimp, place it in a skillet on medium-low heat and sautรฉ until heated through. Then, make the tacos as you did before.
Try This Delicious Shrimp Taco Recipe Today
These shrimp tacos are as easy to make as they are delicious. It’s a quick and easy recipe that you can make in just a few minutes, and it’s a fun, fancy twist on classic tacos. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is. You’ll also love how quick it is! This is a winner, folks!
More Delicious Shrimp Recipes You’ll Enjoy
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Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked jumbo shrimp, peeled deveined tail-on
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 11.4 ounce bag Dole creamy coleslaw salad kit
- 1 cup red onion, finely diced
- 8 corn tortillas
- Fresh limes
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine coleslaw ingredients and set aside.
- In a large pan or skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat.
- Place shrimp in the pan and sprinkle with ยฝ of seasonings and flip shrimps over. Sprinkle with remaining ยฝ of seasonings and let cook for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp is thoroughly cooked
- Heat tortillas in a small pan or skillet over medium heat.
- Assemble tacos by filling with coleslaw, shrimp, red onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Notes
- Be sure your shrimp are completely thawed, so they cook evenly throughout.
- Perfectly cooked shrimp should be shaped like a C. If they are shaped like an O, they’re overcooked.
- It only takes 2 to 3 minutes per side to cook the shrimp. Be careful not to overcook them!
- Keep the heat at medium-low, so the shrimp cook completely without getting tough.











