Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

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Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa are packed with sweet and spicy flavors from an easy homemade spice rub for the shrimp and the best mango and black bean salsa on top.

389 CAL 63g CARBS 5g FAT 31g PROTEIN
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These easy Mango Shrimp Tacos are a delicious, quick, and healthy meal that will make any taco night something special. Other Taco Tuesday ideas include Steak Tacos, Grilled Chicken Tacos, and Fish Tacos.

This is one of those meals that you will start to crave on a weekly basis, especially during the warm weather months. It's light and refreshing and easy. Plus the combination of sweet mango salsa and spicy, smoky shrimp is just so good.

We are partial to serving it in warm corn tortillas with shrimp taco sauce but it's good enough to eat on its own, over rice, in lettuce wraps, or thrown on a nice bowl of greens.

There are two things that make this shrimp taco recipe really shine. The first is the quick homemade spice rub. It's made with spices you already have in your pantry like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and oregano. It's smoky and spicy and delish. You could also take a shortcut and just use your favorite taco seasoning

Then comes the mango salsa. The sweetness of the mango is perfect to stand up against the spiciness of the shrimp. To that, you will add some black beans, cilantro, red onion, and plenty of lime juice. It's exactly what you want to eat with the shrimp. Plus once you learn to make it, you can serve it with anything from chips to chicken to pork or grilled salmon.

These Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Slaw are also a great option if you are looking for tacos with slaw. Planning a taco night?  Don't miss all our delicious taco recipes

Shrimp tacos with mango salsa and black beans in corn tortillas with limes and green onions.

How to Make Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

When it comes to easy meals, these tacos are at the top of the list. Here's what you need to do:

  1. Season the shrimp: Start by getting the shrimp tossed with olive oil, lime juice, and spice rub. Letting them marinate in this mixture for 15 minutes will greatly enhance the flavor. Thue are also delicious with Cajun shrimp like in this shrimp taco recipe.
  2. Make the mango salsa: Make the black bean and mango salsa. Start by chopping everything and then toss it together. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and more lime juice as needed.
  3. Prepare toppings: Prep any extra toppings you want to serve with the tacos. For us, this usually includes diced avocado, some cabbage slaw with lime juice, extra cilantro, and extra cilantro.
  4. Warm the tortillas: Get your corn tortillas ready to go. The best way to heat them up is right on the flame of your gas stove or on a grill.
  5. Cook the shrimp: Finally cook the shrimp. Add them into a single layer in a hot skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. They are finished when they are curled in the shape of a "C." If they get tight and start to form a circle, they are overcooked.
  6. Assemble the tacos: Finally, assemble the tacos with cooked shrimp, mango salsa, and all your favorite toppings.

Easy Mango Salsa Recipe

Adding mango salsa to your shrimp tacos is always a good idea. The sweet fruit salsa is the perfect complement to the spicy shrimp. This recipe uses a black bean and mango salsa, but you can also use this simple mango salsa instead.

  • 2 ripe mangos, diced
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
  • Up to 1 jalapeño, minced (remove seeds for less heat)
  • 1-2 limes, juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Directions: Mix everything together and season as needed. If possible, let sit for 30-60 minutes for flavor to combine.
  • Recipe ideas: Add avocado, cucumber, black beans, pineapple, or jicama as well.

Side Dishes For Shrimp Tacos

There are so many options when it comes to creating side dishes for shrimp tacos. Here are some of the sides we make most often:

Tacos with spicy shrimp and mango salsa with cilantro and lime juice.

How to defrost shrimp for tacos?

Let's start by saying that the best way to defrost frozen shrimp is to leave it overnight in the fridge. However, if you need to defrost shrimp more quickly you can do so in about 15 minutes. Start by placing the shrimp in a large bowl in the sink. Fill it with cold water and let the water continue to trickle slowly into the bowl. Check the shrimp after 10 minutes to see if it is defrosted. It will likely take 10-15 minutes. Then just drain out the water and dry the shrimp using a towel. 

What is the best shrimp to buy for tacos?

You can use almost any shrimp for tacos, but I recommend using raw medium to large shrimp that have already been peeled and deveined. This keeps the dish affordable since medium and large shrimp tend to be cheaper than the extra large/jumbo. Plus prep is easier since you don't have to spend time removing the shell and deveining the shrimp. You will have to remove the tails, but that is pretty quick and easy. 

Also, if you are wondering if you should buy fresh or frozen shrimp, remember that almost all the shrimp you find in supermarkets is previously frozen. Sometimes markets will sell it defrosted, but it's all frozen shrimp unless you are buying it right off a boat. Usually, the bagged frozen shrimp is cheaper than at the fish counter, so I always buy that. One more tip, consider stocking up on shrimp when you see it on sale, and then just keep it frozen until you are ready to use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions about making these shrimp tacos.

If you do not want to make mango salsa, consider swapping in another fruit like pineapple or peaches. You could also make the salsa with cucumbers, avocado, or tomatoes. 

If you want to make spicier shrimp tacos, then you can either add more heat to the shrimp seasoning or to the mango salsa. To add it to the shrimp, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix or swap in ancho chili powder. To add spice to the mango salsa, add a diced jalapeno or serrano pepper. 

The Recipe
Shrimp tacos served with mango salsa served in corn tortillas with fresh lime wedges.

Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

389 CAL 63g CARBS 5g FAT 31g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 15 Min
TOTAL TIME: 20 Min
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1.5 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 tsp oregano
  • 2 limes, juice (divided)
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 mangos, diced
  • 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup red onions, diced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, diced
  • 1 jalapeno, minced (seeds removed for less spice)
  • Salt to taste
  • 8 corn tortillas

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Instructions

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1

Toss the shrimp with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, oregano, and half the lime juice. Let the shrimp marinate for 10-15 minutes.

2

Make the mango salsa. Combine the mango, black beans, red onions, cilantro, jalapeno, remaining lime juice, and salt. Taste and season as needed.

3

Heat up the tortillas and wrap in foil so they stay warm. Prepare any other toppings you will be using.

4

Heat a skillet over high heat. Add the olive oil. Once hot, add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes per side until cooked through.

5

Assemble the tacos with the mango black bean salsa and cooked shrimp. Top with extra lime juice and cilantro if desired.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 2 tacos
Amount Per Serving
Calories 389
Calories from Fat 47
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g
8%
Saturated Fat 1g
4%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 183mg
61%
Sodium 703mg
31%
Total Carbohydrate 63g
21%
Dietary Fiber 12g
46%
Sugars 25g
Protein 31g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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