Low Carb Chipotle Shrimp Tacos

These Keto Shrimp Tacos are made with a homemade spice rub and served with a crunchy slaw made with cabbage, avocado, cilantro, and lime juice. These easy tacos are a great addition to your Taco Tuesday rotation along with these Fish Tacos and Chicken Soft Tacos.

I could easily eat shrimp tacos every day and be happy. Growing up in New England, we ate a ton of seafood but I never had a shrimp taco until moving out to California.

Immediately I fell in love with the combination of the sweet shrimp, smoky heat, and the obligatory creamy crunchy slaw. It's really a perfect marriage of flavors. I also love making this with fish to create the perfect fish taco bowls.

The Best Keto Shrimp Tacos

• Quick and easy: These tacos come together in less than 20 minutes, including the avocado cilantro slaw. Making them perfect for any busy weeknight. 
• Versatile: Easily turn this recipe into a tasty shrimp taco bowl using cauliflower rice, shrimp lettuce wraps, or a Mexican shrimp salad.
• Meal prep friendly: his dish works great for meal prep. The shrimp will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. The slaw also stores well, just wait to add the avocado until it is being served. 

Love Mexican-inspired seafood recipes? You'll want to try this Shrimp Ceviche, Coctel de Camarones, and Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

These Chipotle Shrimp Tacos get their spice from ancho chili powder, which is made from smoked jalapenos (also known as chipotle peppers.) Then the shrimp are quickly cooked in a pan (you could also grill them) and paired with a quick and easy slaw packed with cilantro and avocado. Throw this all in some slightly charred keto-friendly tortillas and it makes one delicious meal. 

Here's what you need:

• Shrimp: Any size of shrimp can be used for tacos, just make sure they are fully defrosted with the tails removed. Normally I use medium or large shrimp when making tacos. 
• Taco spices: To amp up the smokiness and spiciness of these shrimp tacos, I like to use ancho chili powder. If you don't have that on hand, regular chili powder works. To that, you'll add paprika, oregano, and coriander. Swap in taco seasoning if you prefer.
• Cabbage: Fish and seafood tacos are typically served with shredded cabbage instead of shredded lettuce. Use regular cabbage, red cabbage, or Napa cabbage. 
• Cilantro and green onions: Cilantro is standard for most Mexican taco recipes and green onions add a mellow onion flavor. Feel free to swap in pickled red onions or diced onions.
• Avocado: Avocado makes these keto tacos more filling and adds healthy fats. 
• Lime: Don't skimp on the lime juice in the cabbage slaw. It helps to soften the cabbage and brightens up the whole dish.  Lemon juice works as well but doesn't have the same traditional flavor. 
• Low carb tortillas: Use any low-carb tortillas you like including those made with cassava flour, almond flour, or cauliflower. Jicama tortillas and lettuce also can be used. 

Is shrimp low carb?

Shrimp is a great option for anyone following a low-carb or keto diet since it has less than one gram of carbohydrates in a 4-ounce serving.

What are the best low carb tortillas?

• Low carb tortillas: There are lots of different low-carb tortillas on the market depending on your needs. You can find options that are similar to traditional tortillas like Carb Counters Tortillas by Mission or La Tortilla Factory High Fiber Tortillas. You can also find options made using coconut flour, almond flour, and even cauliflower flour in specialty grocery stores or online.
• Lettuce wraps: For a truly low-carb option, you can use lettuce wraps. I find that butter/Bibb lettuce and Romaine lettuce work the best. You can also use collard greens or cabbage.
• Cauliflower tortillas: Another option is to make your own low-carb tortillas using cauliflower or zucchini.
• Jicama: For something crunchy and slightly sweet, use very thinly sliced jicama for your tacos.

Recipe Ideas

• Switch up the spice level: It's easy to adjust the amount of heat in these tacos. For more spice, add some extra chipotle chili powder, and cayenne pepper, or add fresh jalapenos to the slaw. To tame the spice level, use regular chili powder instead of chipotle chili powder. You can also leave out the chili powder completely and add some extra paprika for color and flavor.
• Add sweetness: Depending on your carb needs, this is delicious with some fresh mango or pineapple. Just fold right into the slaw.
• Try other proteins: If shrimp isn't your thing, this spice rub will work with all kinds of protein. Use it on salmon, chicken, pork, or steak.
• Make a bowl: Instead of serving tacos, make a taco bowl. Start with a bed of cauliflower rice, add the shrimp, slaw, sliced avocado, and some canned black soybeans. Top everything with extra lime juice and some queso fresco.

Easy Shrimp Taco Seasoning

Shrimp tacos are a great quick and low-carb meal that you can whip together for a quick weeknight meal. Having your taco seasoning ready to go in the cabinet makes this process even faster.

Use this seasoning on shrimp, chicken, fish, pork, steak, and even tofu. Great for the saute pan, oven, or grill. Use 1-2 tablespoons for each pound of protein.

• 4 tbsp. ancho chili powder (chipotle chili powder)
• 2 tbsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. paprika
• 2 tbsp. oregano
• 1 tbsp coriander
• Directions: Mix together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Kick up the flavor with onion powder and garlic powder as well.

Low Carb and Keto Side Dishes 

How to grill shrimp for tacos?

Grilling shrimp is another great option for tacos. However, they can be a little tricky to grill since they are small and cook quickly. The best way to grill shrimp is either using a grill basket or skewers. This way you are sure they won't fall through the grill grates.

Once you are ready to grill, they will take about 2 minutes per side. Shrimp cook very quickly, so keep an eye on them to make sure they don't burn or overcook. It is also important to spray or oil the grill so the shrimp doesn't stick.

In a pinch, you can also grill shrimp on a piece of foil. Simply grab some heavy-duty foil and make a small basket using the foil. Place the shrimp in a single layer and cook right in the foil basket. Cook for about 2 minutes and then shake and continue cooking until the shrimp are ready. Do not seal the foil or the shrimp will steam.