Grilled Shrimp Tacos Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/11/23
Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Leah Maroney 

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 6 mins
Total: 26 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
302 Calories
21g Fat
9g Carbs
19g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 302
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 161mg 54%
Sodium 1556mg 68%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 9mg 43%
Calcium 166mg 13%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 255mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Nothing beats grilling in the summer heat. These fresh shrimp tacos use the grill and nothing else — no heating up your oven or stove top, just a quick cook on the grill and you've got dinner!

Top juicy shrimp with a spicy, garlicky aioli and serve on soft corn tortillas for a meal that can't be beat. Sprinkle on a little crumbled Mexican cotija cheese and squeeze fresh lime juice over the top for a fresh pop! Serve with a fresh salad, Mexican corn, or rice.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha

  • 1/3 cup cotija cheese, crumbled

  • 1/4 cup cilantro

For the Spicy Aioli Slaw

  • 1 package coleslaw

  • 1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed

  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha

  • 1 clove garlic

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather your ingredients.

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos
    Leah Maroney 

  2. Whisk together the garlic powder, paprika, Sriracha, salt, pepper, lime juice, and olive oil in a bowl. Throw in the shrimp and toss until they are completely coated.

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos
    Leah Maroney 

  3. Grill the shrimp on high heat until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. You can grill on an indoor griddle if you don't have an outdoor grill, or simply cook the shrimp in a large saute pan.

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos
     Leah Maroney

  4. Gather the coleslaw ingredients.

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos
     Leah Maroney

  5. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic clove, Sriracha, and lime juice to your blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos
     Leah Maroney

  6. Toss the dressing with the coleslaw in a large bowl until completely coated. Cover and refrigerate if you aren't using right away.

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos
     Leah Maroney

  7. Place the shrimp on top of the tortillas then add the coleslaw, cotija cheese, and cilantro. Then squeeze a little lime juice over the top. Dig in and enjoy!

shrimp tacos
 Leah Maroney

Variations

  • You can totally make your own corn tortillas if you'd like to make this completely homemade.
  • You can also shred your own cabbage. You can choose different colors of cabbage, and mix in shredded carrots, too.
  • Change up the toppings. You can use regular shredded Mexican cheese and add in toppings like avocado, diced tomatoes, or homemade pico de gallo.

Tips

  • You can grill the shrimp and make the coleslaw up to a day ahead of time for this dish. The tacos are delicious hot, cold, or room temperature!
  • Heat the tortillas in the microwave, covered with a damp paper towel right before you are ready to serve. This helps the tortillas stay flexible so they don't break when you eat them.
  • Skewer the shrimp before grilling, so they don't fall into the grill! If you are using a grill pan, it's not totally necessary.
  • You can brush on more of the marinade as the shrimp cook.

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