Cajun Shrimp Tacos

These 15 minute Cajun Shrimp Tacos with cajun seasoning are the perfect quick and healthy meal with the perfect balance of spice and seasoning. Serve them with sliced avocado, grilled corn, a quick lime coleslaw, or shrimp taco sauce.

Last week I shared this easy Cajun Shrimp recipe and the next night for dinner I made tacos with the leftovers. They were so simple but they were so delicious that I just had to share them.

There is something so satisfying about the slightly spicy shrimp paired with creamy avocado and warm corn tortillas. Trust me, you'll love them. We also love to make them with crispy taco shells.

The other great thing about shrimp tacos is that they come together so quickly. Make a quick batch of Cajun seasoning (or buy store-bought), toss it with the shrimp, cook them in some butter or oil, and then add all your favorite toppings. That's it. 

They are spicy, smoky, packed with flavor, and taste like a restaurant meal. 

Now if you saw these shrimp tacos and immediately thought about topping them with some pineapple or mango, you are one step ahead of me.

Normally that would be the first thing I would make for these tacos but I couldn't find any mango or pineapple this week at the store. They are also great with a fish taco slaw.

Instead, I served the tacos with sliced avocado and some pico de gallo. They still turned out great, but if you can get some sweet pineapple or mango to balance the smoke and spice, you won't regret it.

You could also make them with this tasty cilantro slaw that I use with these more traditional shrimp tacos.

What to Serve with Cajun Shrimp Tacos?

Give the spicy and smoky flavor in the tacos, I like to serve these with side dishes that cool the palette. This includes traditional options like rice and beans or you can make something fresh like a green salad. Here are some ideas to try:

• For something light and healthy, make some Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice on the side and toss in a can of black beans to make it a bit heartier.
• To add some sweetness to the dish, serve this easy mango salsa on the side.
• This Black Bean and Corn Salad is easy to make and serves as a great side dish for shrimp tacos.
• To keeps things fresh, consider just making a big green salad to serve on the side. Consider adding something sweet like fruit to the salad to balance the spice in the tacos.

How to make blackened Cajun seasoning blend?

For the best tacos, make the Cajun seasoning at home using spices found in most pantries. Making the spice blend lets you control the amount of heat, smoke, and other flavors.

Plus it's normally more affordable and much healthier than buying store-bought spice blends that may contain unnecessary sugar and preservatives. For the shrimp, plan on using about one tablespoon of seasoning for every pound of shrimp.

• 3 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 4 tsp onion powder
• 4 tsp kosher salt
• 3 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1.5 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4-3/4 tsp cayenne (or to taste)

Mix everything together. Taste and adjust to suit your preferences and heat preferences. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. 

How to make fruit salsa for shrimp tacos

As I mentioned before, these tacos taste amazing with a fruit salsa to balance out the smokiness and spice. Here's a quick and easy fruit also to serve on the side.

• 2 cups pineapple or mango
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste

Can these be made with frozen shrimp? 

This recipe works greats great fresh or frozen shrimp. If you are using frozen shrimp, make sure to defrost it fully before cooking. When you cook shrimp from its frozen state, it will usually overcook on the outside and remain raw on the inside.

To quickly defrost shrimp, add them to a large bowl in the sink. Cover with cold water and let the water continue to trickle into the bowl. After about 10 minutes, check the shrimp to see if they are defrosted. If they aren't, continue for another five minutes or until shrimp are defrosted fully. Drain and pat dry.

One quick note about frozen shrimp - unless you live somewhere shrimp is caught, almost all grocery store shrimp is previously frozen. It has simply been defrosted before being sold from the fish counter. Therefore, I usually just buy the most affordable option, usually frozen, and defrost on my own.

More Cajun Style Recipes

• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Cajun Salmon
• Baked Garlic Cajun Chicken
• Roasted Cajun Potatoes