Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos

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These Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos, made with tender, succulent, and zesty shrimp wrapped in soft tortillas, make the perfect easy dinner recipe. Just don’t wait for Taco Tuesday to make them; they’re delicious any night of the week!

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Originally published July 2017 – Updated February 2024

Three shrimp tacos on a white plate.

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos Recipe

I’m always looking for quick and flavorful dinner ideas and these easy shrimp tacos are the perfect answer. These are not your average shrimp tacos though. This delicious recipe takes zesty, marinated shrimp, creamy avocado, a hint of purple onion, and a generous sprinkle of gorgonzola and tucks it all into a cozy tortilla.

Then they get even better! Before serving, we drizzle them with a cilantro lime dressing that ties all the flavors together and adds perfect amount of creaminess. Once you try them, you’ll understand that these tacos aren’t just a simple meal; they’re loaded with flavor and sure to become a family favorite!

And if you love easy shrimp recipes as much as we do, be sure to check out this recipe for Shrimp Scampi and these Shrimp Stuffed Peppers.

Three shrimp tacos on a white plate.

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Easy recipe: With a few simple steps and a handful of ingredients, this recipe is a breeze for anyone to make.
  • Incredible flavors: These delicious shrimp tacos are filled with fresh flavors from the limes and cilantro.
  • Perfect anytime: Whether it’s for an easy weeknight dinner or for a dinner party, you can’t go wrong with this great recipe.

Ingredients

A group of bowls of food.
  • Raw shrimp
  • Limes
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Avocado cut into chunks
  • Purple onion – cut into thin slices
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Gorgonzola cheese
  • Cilantro-lime dressing
  • Small tortillas

How to Make Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Tacos

Step 1. First, peel and devein your shrimp. Then, combine the shrimp with chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice in a large bowl. You can also add some lime zest for extra flavor.

Tips: Save the shrimp tails and peels and freeze them to make seafood stock later.

Shrimp and cilantro in a glass bowl on a white marble table.

Step 2. After marinating for at least an hour, cook the shrimp in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

A wooden spoon holding three shrimp

Step 3. Next, add the shrimp and avocado to a flour tortillas.

Tip: Heat your tortillas in the microwave if you prefer them warm.

A tortilla with shrimp and avocados

Step 4. Add purple onion, shredded lettuce and gorgonzola cheese.

Shrimp tacos with lettuce and purple onion

Step 5. Finally, drizzle the cilantro lime dressing over the top. I just used a store-bought dressing, but if you have extra time, you can always make your own.

A person is drizzling cilantro lime sauce over shrimp tacos.

Step 6. Serve with lime wedges on the side and enjoy!

Three tacos on a wooden cutting board with lime wedges.

How to Store Leftover Shrimp Tacos

You’ll want to keep the shrimp and veggies stored in the refrigerator in separate airtight containers. When ready to serve again, just reheat the shrimp in the skillet until warm, then assemble your tacos.

I don’t recommend freezing these because the texture tends to turn rubbery.

A plate of shrimp tacos.

Shrimp Taco Variations and Add-ins

  • Add some heat: If you like spicy shrimp tacos, try adding a dash of hot sauce or siracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  • Sauces: Instead of the cilantro lime sauce, you can drizzle crema or a sour cream thinned with lime juice over the tacos. You can even drizzle them with ranch dressing if you prefer.
  • Lettuce: Instead of regular lettuce, try cabbage slaw or shredded cabbage to add a little crunch to the tacos.
  • Salsa: For extra flavor, add a spoonful of your favorite salsa or mango salsa over the top of the filling.
  • Other seasonings: Give these a more Tex-Mex flavor by seasoning with smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin. You can also just use a packet of store-bought taco seasoning.
A group of tacos with shrimp

Shrimp Taco Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe in advance?

You can make the shrimp a day in advance and keep them in the fridge. Reheat them in a skillet just until warm. For the best results, wait to assemble them right before serving.

Can I use frozen shrimp?

While we prefer fresh shrimp, you can use fresh or frozen, However, you really need the shrimp to be thawed when they are marinating. If you forget to thaw them, no worries. Just run them under cold water for a few minutes and they’ll thaw quickly.

How do I know when shrimp are done?

Raw shrimp are gray in color, but as they cook, they turn pink and opaque. The entire shrimp should have a consistent pink color with no gray areas remaining.

A group of shrimp tacos with sauces and vegetables.

More Delicious Dinner Recipes

Three shrimp tacos on a white plate.
5 from 4 votes

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos


Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
These cilantro lime shrimp tacos are and easy and delicious dinner that's perfects for Taco Tuesday…or any other day of the week!

Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 lb shrimp peeled & deveined
  • 1 1/2 limes juiced
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 avocado cut into chunks
  • 1/4 purple onion. cut into thin slices
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 2/3 cup gorgonzola cheese
  • 2/3 cup cilantro lime dressing
  • 6 small tortillas

Instructions

  • Combine shrimp, chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice in a large bowl. You can also add some lime zest for extra flavor.
    1/2 lb shrimp, 1 1/2 limes, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • Marinate for 1/2 an hour, then cook the shrimp in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  • Next, add the shrimp and avocado to a flour tortillas.
    1/2 lb shrimp, 1/2 avocado, 6 small tortillas
  • Add purple onion, shredded lettuce and gorgonzola cheese.
    1/4 purple onion. cut into thin slices, 1 cup shredded lettuce, 2/3 cup gorgonzola cheese
  • Finally, drizzle the cilantro lime dressing over the top. I just used a store-bought dressing, but if you have extra time, you can always make your own.
    2/3 cup cilantro lime dressing
  • Serve with lime wedges on the side and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can save the shrimp tails and peels and freeze them to make seafood stock later.
  • While we like to marinate the shrimp for extra flavor, you can skip this part if you’re in a hurry.
  • Heat your tortillas in the microwave if you prefer them warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 609mg | Potassium: 212mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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Looks very tasty!

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