Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Sauce

Shrimp tacos with spicy cilantro lime sauce are restaurant-quality tacos that you can make at home. The perfect recipe to make for a quick and flavorful dinner.

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Zesty shrimp tacos are perfect for your next taco Tuesday or any day of the week when you’re craving a fun family dinner. Fast and flavorful, you can make restaurant-quality, spicy sauteed shrimp tacos at home in just 20 minutes.

MORE RECIPES: Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta | Shrimp Fried Rice | Spicy Garlic Shrimp

Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Lime Sauce

Who doesn’t love tacos? The best shrimp tacos are made with spicy tender shrimp, creamy cilantro-lime sauce, guacamole, and feta cheese. 

Bound to get rave reviews, serve your tacos with Mexican street corn dip, salsa, and tortilla chips. Cool things down with a tall glass of iced tea with your meal or an Oreo milkshake for dessert. 

Delicious and easy, these tasty spicy shrimp tacos only require a few simple steps and are ready to eat in a quick 20 minutes. Bursting with flavor, these tacos are perfect for a quick dinner on a busy weeknight. 

Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Lime Sauce Ingredients

• Shrimp - medium raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Chili powder
• Basil - dried basil
• Butter - salted butter
• Lime - lime juice
• Soy sauce
• Sour cream
• Buttermilk
• Jalapeno - seeds removed
• Cilantro leaves
• Hot sauce
• Salt
• Tortillas - flour or corn tortillas
• Guacamole - optional
• Cabbage - green cabbage
• Cheese - feta cheese

Top your spicy tacos with your favorite taco toppings Try adding sliced avocado, salsa, cojita cheese, or sour cream. 

You can use either fresh lime juice or lime juice from concentrate. In addition to lime juice, you could also substitute lemon juice for your tacos. 

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand you can easily make your own. Combine milk, either 2% or whole, with 2 teaspoons of lime or lemon juice to sour the milk. Buttermilk can also be substituted with milk or cream.

How to Make Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Lime Sauce

FIRST STEP: In a small bowl mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and dried basil. Use this mixture to thoroughly coat all the shrimp.

SECOND STEP: In a large skillet over medium-high heat melt the butter. Add in the shrimp, lime juice, and soy sauce. Cook the shrimp until pink on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from heat and set aside.

THIRD STEP: In a food processor or blender, blend together the sour cream, buttermilk, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Set aside.

FOURTH STEP: To assemble the tacos, warm the corn tortillas and then start with a layer of homemade or store-bought guacamole and spread it on the bottom center of each tortilla. Then layer it with a small bunch of green cabbage followed by the cooked shrimp. Drizzle some of the cilantro-lime sauce over each taco and then top with a squeeze of lime juice, feta cheese, and chopped cilantro.

FIFTH STEP: Plate and enjoy!

What type of shrimp is best? 

Purchasing peeled, deveined, and tail-removed shrimp make the tacos easy to make. Either fresh or frozen shrimp can be used. 

Why do my shrimp taste chewy? 

For the best texture make sure not to overcook your shrimp. Shrimp that has been overcooked can taste chewy or rubbery. 

What should I serve with spicy shrimp tacos? 

For a delicious meal, you could serve your shrimp tacos with rice, beans, salsa, queso, and tortilla chips. 

How to Store Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Lime Sauce

IN THE FRIDGE: If you have shrimp or sauce leftover they can be stored separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Then ingredients can be assembled when ready to enjoy.

Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Lime Sauce

5 from 2 votes

Author: Shauna

Shrimp tacos with spicy cilantro lime sauce are restaurant-quality tacos that you can make at home. The perfect recipe to make for a quick and flavorful dinner.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 9 tacos

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Ingredients

  

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For the Shrimp

• 1 pound medium raw shrimp peeled, deveined, and tails removed
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

For the Sauce

• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup buttermilk
• 1 jalapeno seeds removed
• ½ bunch cilantro leaves, chopped (~1cup)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ½ - 1 teaspoon hot sauce adjust based on spice preference
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Taco Assembly

• 7-9 (4-inch) flour or corn tortillas
• Guacamole optional
• ½ Green Cabbage
• ¼ Feta Cheese
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Additional chopped cilantro

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and dried basil. Use this mixture to thoroughly coat all the shrimp.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat melt the butter. Add in the shrimp, lime juice, and soy sauce. Cook the shrimp until pink on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a food processor or blender, blend together the sour cream, buttermilk, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Set aside.
• To assemble the tacos, warm the corn tortillas and then start with a layer of homemade or store-bought guacamole and spread it on the bottom center of each tortilla. Then layer it with a small bunch of green cabbage followed by the cooked shrimp. Drizzle some of the cilantro-lime sauce over each taco and then top with a squeeze of lime juice, feta cheese, and chopped cilantro.
• Plate and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 648mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

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