Easy Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Lime Dressing

Easy Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Lime Dressing are loved by so many and for a very good reason! They are loaded with flavour and texture, so versatile and easy to bring together for a quick weeknight meal! It’s perfectly seasoned shrimp, creamy coleslaw, avocados, juicy cherry tomatoes, and a deliciously addictive chipotle lime dressing wrapped in a warm tortilla and is sure to hit the spot!

Grab the Grocery List: Ingredients Needed

The Ingredients – you can truly choose whatever you love and enjoy to load your tacos with. However, I love the simplicity of this recipe using shrimp, creamy coleslaw, avocados, cherry tomatoes, cheese and a delicious dressing!

Shrimp

• Raw Shrimp
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Cumin
• Oregano
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt & Black Pepper
• Butter

Creamy Coleslaw

• Coleslaw Mix Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage, and Carrots
• Mayonnaise
• Sour Cream
• Garlic
• Fresh Cilantro
• Lime Juice
• Granulated White Sugar

Chipotle Lime Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Sour Cream
• Chipotle Seasoning
• Cayenne Pepper
• Salt
• Garlic
• Fresh Cilantro
• Lime Juice

Other Ingredients

• Soft Flour Tortillas
• Avocado
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Red Onion
• Feta or Cotija Cheese

Recipe Tips and Notes

The Shrimp – my number one rule is to never overcook your shrimp! They cook extremely fast 2-3 minutes each side, a visual cue that your shrimp is done is the bright pink colour, as well as turning from a U shape to a C shape…but definitely not a O shape – O means it is probably overcooked.

The Cooking Order – start with the cilantro lime dressing, set aside. Move onto preparing the toppings, cook your shrimp, and lastly warm your tortilla and assemble. That’s it, that’s all!

Shrimp FAQ

What Type of Shrimp to Buy

• Wild Caught Shrimp – look for medium or large wild caught shrimp as opposed to farm-raised for the best flavor and texture.
• Raw Deveined Shrimp – opt for raw (not precooked), peeled and deveined shrimp. This will save you loads of time, as the only prep you need is to defrost and season the shrimp.
• Frozen Shrimp – frozen shrimp is frozen shortly after it’s caught which means it’s frozen at peak freshness! It’s often more economical and quite easy to find. Also, shrimp behind the counter is typically frozen and thawed in most cases.

How Do I Defrost Shrimp?

Here are two options for how you can defrost shrimp:

• Refrigerate Overnight Method (Easy): one of the simplest ways to defrost shrimp is in your refrigerator overnight. Simply remove the desired amount of frozen shrimp, place in a covered bowl and let them defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
• Cold Water Method (Quick): the quickest way to defrost shrimp is to add the desired amount of shrimp to a large enough bowl, then fill the bowl with cold tap water and let it sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, replace the water with new cold tap water and allow the shrimp to sit once again – repeat after 10 minutes if needed until fully thawed.

How Long Does Defrosted Shrimp Last in the Refrigerator?

After you have defrosted your shrimp, store them in the fridge for 1 to 2 days.

Should You Devein Shrimp?

Deveining shrimp is when you remove the dark line you see on the backs of shrimp which is their digestive tract. Removing it is a matter of personal preference and choice as it is not harmful to ingest. However, it can have an unappealing look and taste (adds a gritty/sandy texture).

What’s the Easiest Way to Peel and Devein Shrimp?

It is highly recommended that you purchase shrimp that is already peeled and deveined. However, in the event that you purchase shrimp that is not, follow these simple steps to get the job done:

1. Pull Off Head and Legs – if applicable, pull off the head and the legs.
2. Remove Shell – . remove, starting on the head end, the outer shell leaving the tail attached if desired.
3. Remove and Discard Vein – locate the vein in the shrimp running along its back (also underneath – however this is optional) and make a shallow cut about 1/4 inch deep and use the tip of the knife to lift it out and discard.
4. Rinse & Rest – rinse the shrimp and lay on a paper towel to dry until ready to use.

TSS Good to Know – larger shrimp often have grittier veins, which can have an unappealing texture and look.

Should I Cook Shrimp with Tail On or Off?

You can cook shrimp with the tail on or off, depending on your personal preference. For this recipe however, I do recommend tails off unless you want to take aesthetically pleasing photos, then tails on!

How to Know When Shrimp is Done Cooking?

Shrimp like most seafood cook fairly fast around 2-3 minutes per side, as opposed to other kinds of protein. There are two visual cues you can use to ensure you don’t overcook your shrimp – colour and shape.

Colour – when done, shrimp turn pink and opaque in colour with some pink and bright red accents as opposed to their translucent gray raw state. Remove the shrimp from the heat source once it is fully opaque without any gray left.

Shape – as shrimp cook, their muscle contract which cause them to curl this is the second indicator of doneness. Often it is said that perfectly cooked shrimp have “C” shape while over cooked shrimp have an “O” shape. However, most shrimp unless using jumbo shrimp can be perfectly cooked with a “C” shrimp as well. Once your shrimp begin to curl, they are usually done cooking.

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